Tomorrow, I will go to see the Sapporo Snow Festival for the 5th time. I’ve been there in 2010, 2011, 2014 and last year. I am so lucky to witness these amazing snow and ice sculptures, about 400 of them being displayed. This annual event is famous among local and international tourists. Millions of people are coming to Sapporo just to enjoy this winter festival. So one must book a hotel at least 6 months in advance or else there’ll be no place to stay.

Considered as one of the largest and most distinctive winter event, the Sapporo Snow Festival is held annually for a week in February (usually during the 1st to 2nd week). There are 3 main sites of the festival: Odori Park where the large snow sculptures are displayed, Susukino with the ice sculptures and Tsudome with the giant snow slides. There is also an international snow sculpture contest with participants from different countries. There are also food and drink stalls to enjoy while viewing the sculptures.

There are a musical performances being held in stages built in snow with the large snow sculptures as their background. Last year, they built a large Manila Cathedral snow sculpture and there are traditional Filipino dance performed by Philippine dancers. It was the first time that they featured a building from the Philippines.

This year, it will be the 67th year that they will hold this event. It began in 1950 with just six snow sculptures made by the local middle and high school students in Odori Park. The first massive snow sculpture was done by the Japan Self-Defense Forces from Makomanai base in 1955.

Of the 4 times I’ve attended the Sapporo Snow Festival, my most favorite is last year. Not only did they featured my country’s very own Manila Cathedral, they also made a big sculpture of Darth Vader, storm troopers and the Death Star as a tribute to last year’s premiere of Star Wars Episode VII. Let me see if this year will be able to top that.