Sunday, February 20, 2011
Japan! The Land of Winter Fun!
I wanted to share a little bit of what I’ve been doing throughout the past month or so!
Japan, while it isn’t as COLD as South Dakota, definitely has it’s own downsides in January and February (like NO CENTRAL HEATING, anywhere). In order to stay on the positive side through it all, as Japan is the land of countless festivals, they do WINTER FESTIVALS Here’s a look at a few I’ve been to recently.
1. YUKIGASSEN
Yukigassen is basically an organized snow ball fight! Our team competed in Muraoka, where the whole community turned up to watch a day of making professional snow balls, then playing to capture the other team’s flag before you get hit. Here are an explanation of the rules.
Making snowballs!
Our Team!
Carrying snowballs!
pictures by Michael Lee
2. YUKI MATSURI (雪祭り)
Snow Festival, Sapporo, Hokkaido
As some of you may know, I have a few friends up in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. I’ve waited to visit until now, but couldn’t pass up the chance to see the famous Snow Festival of Sapporo. Sapporo gets a LOT of snow each year, so they started their very own festival in which the snow is carved into elaborate scultures and buildings. People come from all over the world to participate in the international contest and I was lucky enough to see it! I also met up with a few South Dakotans, drank a lot of famous Sapporo Beer at the beer museum (where the old Sapporo beer factory was), and visited Otaru, a nearby port town with its own small light festival.
SAPPORO
I jumped up and down for the chance to win a prize bag! Unfortunately, I had to answer questions in Japanese to get them! Thankfully, people around me were nice enough to help me out and I won :)
CATCHING UP: I met up with a few old friends from the Mount Rushmore State.
South Dakotans!
picture by Kim Johnson
NISEKO: One day, we headed out to the world-famous Niseko ski resort. Sadly though, our train was delayed and we had a couple hours jut to play in the snow! This is usually how the snowball fights go. I mind my own business and end up getting covered in snow ;)
pictures by Gabe Chase
OTARU: We headed one day to Otaru where we looked at more lights, the harbor, and a smaller snow festival! And ate sushi! It is famous around Japan for having good sushi!
Sapporo Beer Museum
Well, that is all until the next post! Until then, I'll try to stay warm!
Peace.
M.
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Great pics!
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