Travel | Feb 05

Sapporo Snow Festival begins; open to public for first time since 2020

SAPPORO, Feb 05 (Japan Today) - The 73rd Sapporo Snow Festival began in Sapporo, Hokkaido, on Saturday. The festival, featuring more than 160 ice and snow sculptures, is open to the public for the first time since 2020. It was held online only in 2021 and 2022 due to the coronavirus.

This year’s event also marks the 100th anniversary of Sapporo being incorporated as a city.

The festival, which runs until Feb 11, is being held at two venues — Otori and Susukino. The Tsudome venue is not being used this year.

Organizers said that some anti-coronavirus measures will be in place. There will be no food and beverage booths, visitors are asked to wear masks, while the number of people at viewing spaces and on walkways will be restricted to prevent crowding. ...continue reading


MORE Travel NEWS

World Heritage Site Himeji Castle has confirmed the blooming of cherry blossoms since Friday morning, with enough of the pink petals to satisfy lucky visitors.

Ryohei Suzuki, famous as a voice actor for playing Buzz Lightyear in the Japanese dubbed version, visited the historic Hasedera Temple in Nara, which dates back to 736, highlighting the temple's spiritual significance and artistic beauty.

POPULAR NEWS

Japan's Meteorological Agency announced the blooming of the Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms in Tokyo at 2 p.m. on Friday, five days later than average.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) announced a formal plan on March 28 to establish priority lanes for autonomous vehicles along expressways stretching from Tohoku to Kyushu within the next ten years.

JAXA has announced the revival of the unmanned explorer "SLIM" following its successful hibernation after making Japan's first moon landing. The probe successfully endured a second lunar night, a period during which temperatures can drop to as low as minus 170 degrees Celsius.

Seven-Eleven have extended the expiry date of its hand-rolled onigiri (rice balls), including salmon, plum, kelp, spicy cod roe, and tuna mayonnaise varieties.

The Japanese government finalized a new strategy on Wednesday aimed at the development of next-generation domestic aircraft, including initiatives for eco-friendly aviation technologies.

FOLLOW US