The Sapporo Snow Festival is an annual event in Japan Now in its 60th year the festival runs for a week and attracts around two million visitors. About 270 snow and ice sculptures will be exhibited this year. The subjects portrayed in the snow sculptures vary from Disney characters to famous Japanese sports personalities. One of the largest sculptires this year is a reproduction of the Namdaemun, a South Korean national treasure which was badly damaged by fire in 2008.
The Snow Festival began in 1950, when local high school students built six snow statues in Odori Park. In 1955, the Japanese Self-Defence Force joined in and built the very first massive snow sculpture, for which the Snow Festival has since become famous. The massive sculptures are still constructed by the Self-Defence Force, using earth-moving equipment and wooden frames.
In 1974, the International Snow Statue Competition started, in which teams from countries around the world compete to produce the best snow and ice sculptures. The 2009 festival will be held in three venues around the city of Sapporo, Odori Park in the centre of town is the main festival site. The Sapporo Snow Festival runs from 5 to 11 February 2009.
The Snow Festival began in 1950, when local high school students built six snow statues in Odori Park. In 1955, the Japanese Self-Defence Force joined in and built the very first massive snow sculpture, for which the Snow Festival has since become famous. The massive sculptures are still constructed by the Self-Defence Force, using earth-moving equipment and wooden frames.
In 1974, the International Snow Statue Competition started, in which teams from countries around the world compete to produce the best snow and ice sculptures. The 2009 festival will be held in three venues around the city of Sapporo, Odori Park in the centre of town is the main festival site. The Sapporo Snow Festival runs from 5 to 11 February 2009.
