Our two Grand Hokkaido Snow Festival groups head out. Gene with tour managers Gwen and Jackie!
At the gate, we were greeted by balloons and a live band and hula dancer. It was JAL’s 70th anniversary.
We each get a goodie bag with lots of neat JAL items.
Visiting the Sapporo Snow Festival
We enjoyed the Sapporo snow sculptures.
Gotta try the local McDonalds!
Optional tour to see the ice sculptures at Susukino on our free day.
Susukino ice sculptures
Susukino ice sculptures
Everyone is getting used to the cold and learning to put on their cleats (which are great for grip in the snow once you get the hang of them).
Ready for our next delicious meal.
Dinner at Hotel Taisetsu Onsen & Canyon Resort with a fantastic bbq buffet!!
Polar Bear at Arashiyama Zoo
Group photo at the Sounkyo Ice Festival with its domes filled with icicles. It’s very cold here -10 degrees!!!
Sounkyo Ice Festival
Drift ice up close during the ice breaker cruise aboard the “Aurora.” Our guide Michiko said it’s the most ice she’s seen in all the years she rode that boat.
Our first Kaiseki dinner at Abashiri Koso hotel.
The gang at Mount Io, a volcano with the highest concentration of sulfur in Japan.
Roy and Lavern at Lake Kussharo Sunayu (Swan Lake). While the surface of the lake freezes over during the winter, a hot spring gushes at lake side, creating a bath area for the swans that flock to the lake.
Warren and Joanne making ice cream with milk straight from a local ranch!
Ice pond fishing for wakasagi (smelt fish) on Lake Akan.
Lake Akan ice pond fishing
After we are done fishing, we will fry this into wakasagi tempura!
Lunch at Kitano Gurumetei for fresh seafood and lots of crabs which was fabulous! Choon Hee with the giant crab.
Denise tubing