Since we arrived in Misawa, we wanted to make it to the Sapporo Snow Festival. A big draw for me is that my father once attended while on his LDS mission. He was at the festival in 1973, the 46th Festival. We were attended the 70th Annual Festival. I don't have a picture of him at the festival to share because he took his pictures in slides. I do have this jem from his mission:
I have not wanted to think of this year's experiences as my "lasts." I do know that I will keenly miss the connection I feel to my father when I am with the Japanese people at a festival. It has been a joy to travel to some of the places that he lived and taught in this amazing culture.
We were extremely cold at the festival. The kids seemed to enjoy it only when we were playing on the ice slides or getting free samples of apple cider and onigiri (rice balls). I did wonder at one point while people, namely me, would choose to travel to a snowy, ice covered place.
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| Stage for entertainment |
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| Wall of ice |
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| The detail on the sculptures was amazing |
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| Favorite Japanese characters- Sumikko gurashi |
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| Favorite characters- Pokemon |
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| I think this sculpture was the big draw but the kids were too cold to enjoy it. |
Luckily, under Odori Park is a subway line with lots of retail stores and restaurants. We stayed under until we warmed up enough to enjoy our day again. And when we emerged, we found ourselves in the land of glittering ice.
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| Ice sculpture for the upcoming Hina Festival on March 3rd |
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| We found their initials carved in ice! |
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| Frozen fish suspended in the ice wall |
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| Thank goodness for warm ramen in Ramen Alley! |
Another draw of traveling to Sapporo is having the opportunity to visit the temple. This time Josh took Bear to do baptisms. They did lots of family names and Josh got to baptize Bear and a Japanese youth. He tested his Japanese name deciphering skills.
We traveled over to the Tsudome Snow Play area. They had a huge sledding
hill for tubes, a snow maze, an area to make and display mini snowmen, snow
sculptures, ice slides, and tube rides behind a snow mobile. Again, we got cold, but I think the kids had
fun while the sun was shining.
