SAPPORO: The annual Sapporo Snow Festival opened in the capital of Hokkaido on Sunday without any novel coronavirus-related restrictions for the first time in four years.
The 74th festival, one of the country’s biggest winter events, is being held at three venues in the city through Sunday, with about 190 snow and ice sculptures including some created by local residents.
The main venue, Odori Park in the centre of the city, features a 12-metre-tall snow sculpture featuring characters from the popular Golden Kamuy anime series that depicts the Ainu indigenous ethnic group of northern Japan. Food stands have returned at this year’s festival following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions.
“I’m coming to see this for the first time in four years. The sculptures are overwhelming not just because of their sheer size but their intricately carved details,” said Sana…
