This afternoon we decided to check out Otaru (小樽市), a neighboring city of Sapporo, known for their snow candle-lit path alongside a canal (yukiakarinomichi). The canal is draped in strands of globular glass lights and the path is adorned with snow structures that house little tea lights producing a magical winter wonderland effect.

I loved the little pressed flower ice votives and the warm glow from the candles buried in pockets of snow. What a romantic way to spend an evening just before Valentine's Day!





[1-4. c. lynn]

After the briefest introduction to Shanghai (where I think that I'd like to spend more time) we left China for Japan, settling in at a hotel in Sapporo (札幌市), on the northern island of Hokkaido (北海道) Japan.

One big bowl of Ippudo ramen (ラーメン) to warm our bellies later, we set out to photograph the enormous snow sculptures that have made the Sapporo Snow Festival or Sapporo Yuki-matsuri (さっぽろ雪まつり) a main attraction for both domestic and international tourists alike.

I loved the architecture of these two snow sculptures, first, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven (rendered in snow at half-size) and second, the Kiunkaku of Hongwanji (rendered in snow at almost full-size).




I was also enamored with several of the smaller snow sculptures of favorite cartoon characters and their cute friends. Contrasted against the buildings, the rabbits look almost sinister, as if they plan to take over the city with their rabbit mischief.



[1-5. c. lynn]