Kitami, Hokkaido ¨C Japan¡¯s northernmost prefectural capital, Sapporo, is often cited as one of the world¡¯s snowiest cities. However, the city¡¯s true winter charm will be on display in early February, when it hosts the world-renowned .
Running from Feb. 4 to 11, this year¡¯s festival is the 76th edition of the local tradition. In 1950, a handful of high school students designed and created their own snow sculptures in Odori Park, which cuts a narrow, 1.5-kilometer strip through the heart of Sapporo. That modest display laid the foundation for what would become the festival¡¯s defining feature: massive snow and ice sculptures that bring in tourists from across the country.
In recent years, a collection of 200-odd sculptures ¡ª some more than a dozen meters tall ¡ª has produced homages to historical and cultural icons like the city¡¯s former Red Brick Building capital building, Nintendo¡¯s Mario and baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani and his dog, Dekopin.
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