As soon as we got off the bus from Kimobetsu and were looking for our hotel address, Goggle maps had us walking straight through the Susukino part of the Sapporo ice festival.
The welcome gate. This was of 3 sites that was divided into 4 sections over four street blocks containing about 60 sculptures.
They still had plenty of snow around in this major city on the Island of Hokkaido. One of the locals we talked to while skiing did say they often get so much snow it causes major traffic jams.
I did not realise it the time but 
Hive account@consciouscat picked up that all the sculptures in this area were made of clear ice and in the shapes of real animals.
During the day the sculptures stood barricaded off in the middle of the street with traffic zipping up and down the roads but at night the roads were closed off and when the lights came on the tourists were everywhere. A big international crowd with people from everywhere. We were lucky enough to see it in both the day and night time.
The other part in Odori Park were made of white snow and more like cartoons. The Susukino section was not as big as odori park but just as impressive if not better.
First prize.
Fish Owl.
Late Autumn Bear.
The making of a new sculpture with a chain saw.
I have seen a single ice sculptures before maybe in a fancy restaurant or at another ski resort but never this many and so large. If I had to pick a favourite it would be the eagle or dragon.
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