Fukushima Prefecture

Because Japan is over 70% mountainous and located in the temperate latitudes of the western Pacific where the moist ocean air continually does battle with dry, cold Siberian and Mongolian air coming in from China, the Japan Alps enjoys a healthy dusting of snow every winter. No part of Japan (even Okinawa) is less than a few hours by car, plane, or train ride from enjoying a winter wonderland. For some, that means skiing or boarding the slopes, but for others, it means turning those frozen crystals into works of art in the form of snow and ice sculptures. Taking place in more places than you may have thought, you can usually find one in many places in the snowy parts of Japan. Sapporo Snow Festival Let’s start with the 900-pound gorilla that perhaps is the most famous snow festival in the world, if not just Japan. The first week in February has the whole downtown section of Sapporo in the northernmost island of Hokkaido turned into a frosty fantasyland with ice sculptures and even small replicas of famous buildings standing 15 meters tall or more. Most sculptures will be centered on Odori Park in the middle of town and…