Sapporo, capital of Hokkaido province, is the fifth largest city in Japan. Sapporo was the site of the Winter Olympic Games in February 1972 and still organizes international winter sports events. Its summers are cool, which ends up attracting many tourists from other parts of Japan to enjoy its pleasant temperatures, but its winters are very cold and harsh. In winter, the region attracts tourists from all over the world for its biggest annual event, the Yuki Matsuri (Snow Festival), which takes place during a week in early February.
On the way by train to the city of Sapporo, the snow accumulated on the streets surprises us with its whiteness and quantity. As we are not used to it, after a walk on the street, which on dry ground would not tire us, our legs become sore due to the greater effort in each step. Furthermore, you need to walk very carefully, as any distraction could mean a fall or serious bruises. The melting snow is quite slippery. I almost fell several times! At night, trucks pass through the streets removing some of the snow that makes traffic difficult.
Yuki Matsuri is known for its giant snow sculptures, which despite being imposing, appear fragile and delicate. There are around 200 snow sculptures that transform Sapporo into an open-air snow museum. There are many tourists of different nationalities who are going to watch the event, but many are Chinese and Koreans. The event also ends up being an excursion itinerary for Japanese schools. If the works are impressive during the day, at night their beauty is highlighted by the spectacle of colored lights that illuminate the sculptures. Shows by singers – famous or not – try to liven up the cold nights and the Festival program.
The tradition of sculptures began 61 years ago as a joke by a group of students. To alleviate the rigor and monotony of winter, the group decided to build different figures, in addition to the traditional snowman, in Odori Park. Since then, the event has grown, the sculptures have become increasingly surprising and military personnel have also started to take part in the work. The event gained fame and today attracts around 2 million visitors.
In this 61st edition, one of the works is a copy of the Baroque-style Dresden church in Germany. From base to dome, the snow church measures 26 meters, erected in a month and a half with the help of excavators, cranes and scaffolding, and retouched with patience and dexterity using a hammer and chisel. As I walked among the sculptures and felt the cold of the city, I was imagining how much work it must have been to prepare them. It is not enough to make the sculpture, it is also necessary to monitor and touch it up, as snow is frequent. The work does not stop after the sculpture is erected.
The German Wartburg Castle and the Korean Baekje Palace were also attractions at this year's Festival. In the case of the Korean palace, 3,900 people were involved in its construction, working 29 days on the 15-meter-high sculpture. An impressive sculpture measuring more than 11 meters high was also made with a Disney theme and images of giant Mickey and Minnie. Only 1,900 tons of snow were used to build this statue, transported to the city in military trucks from the mountains surrounding Sapporo, famous for hosting the 1972 Winter Olympics. Let there be snow!
Impressive snow sculptures.
The character Chibi Marukochan also had her space. His design celebrated its 20th anniversary. Other classic characters had their sculptures on display, such as Mario Bros, Pokemon, Ultraman and Doraemon.
After the Festival ends, early in the morning, the military and groups of volunteers destroy the works built. It appears that this year, for the first time, the snow that was used for the figures will be recycled in an environmental project, which foresees use for air conditioning systems.
During the Festival, ice sculptures are also displayed in Susukino. Each sculpture has its own charm and impressive details, it is difficult to choose the most beautiful or well made. There may be the most laborious, but who said that what requires the most work is always the most beautiful?
In Tsudomu, we can play making snowmen, go down the snow slide, take photos holding snowman plushies and interact with the sculptures. It is a space where children spend the whole day having fun and adults who like to remember their childhood enjoy the game.
Children playing with the snow.
However, Sapporo is not a place known only for the Snow Festival. The famous Sapporo beer is also highlighted and its old factory is one of the region's tourist attractions. It is possible to visit the Sapporo Beer Museum and at the end of the visit, enjoy some of the types of beer as if you were in a bar with friends. On the wall, beer advertisements are historically displayed and you can observe them while calmly tasting the drinks.
Beer tasting at the Sapporo Beer Museum.
Hokkaido is the province that leads in the production of rice and fish capture, also having a prominent place in the production of potatoes and dairy products. Seafood is also famous, especially salmon and crabs. Hokkaido sweets are also a hit among women, who are fans of sweets. Therefore, you can't talk about Hokkaido without commenting on its culinary delights. It was in Sapporo, for example, that the well-known dish of Chinese origin was named “ ramen” . In the 1950s, a new variation of ramen was created in local restaurants that included miso among its ingredients. For those who don't know, miso is the soybean paste used in several Japanese dishes, one of the most popular being miso soup , which is a simple soup, quite traditional and consumed daily by many Japanese people.
Indeed, Hokkaido has its peculiarities and that is why it deserves a visit for those who come to visit Japan. For those who have never seen snow, it is a great itinerary option.
© 2010 Silvia Lumy Akioka
