Yuki Matsuri

As a few of you know that Jon and I, along with one of our friends, took a trip up to Hokkaido to go to the Yuki Matsuri, or "snow festival". It was such a nice break from our sunny warm island and actually refreshing to bundle up in warm coats, hats, and gloves and go out into the negative 2 degree (Celsius) weather. After saying all that, I wouldn't want to live somewhere where it snows so much! It would end up being a hassle. It snowed pretty much non-stop from the time we got there until we left! All the morning flights were delayed the morning we left due to a blizzard!

We saw many grand ice and snow sculptures and even some snowboarders, musicians, and power ranger type characters. One night when we were walking back to our hotel, pretty late, Kim and I got our picture taken with a cat character who was just walking down the street. It was very kawaii (cute). Not sure what the cat's companion (assistant, perhaps) thought of three gaijin (foreigners) running up to them at 11pm...



We even got one day to relax in an onsen, which is a Japanese style bath house. Kim and I knew little about what to do, other than be naked, wash thoroughly before entering the baths, and wash again once finished soaking. Which towel to use and where to go... we had no idea. Luckily a naked lady in the bath was kind enough to show us around. Naked. I don't think you'd ever find anything like it in the States. It was fabulous there though. Very hot. After a short time in one of the inside tubs, our self appointed tour guide told us to check out the outside bath. So we went, and thank goodness she told us about it! Nothing can come close to sitting naked outside in a steaming hot bath, surrounded by beautiful snow covered natural scenery with snow falling on my head. However, after about 30 minutes or so, Kim and I couldn't take the heat anymore, and left our little peaceful haven. As we were leaving, a mother and her daughter who was maybe 6 or 7 walked in. Another thing you wouldn't see in the US if there were onsens there.

One night we stopped in a quaint, kitch-y bar, Mu-Su, because we were freezing, windblown, and tired of walking. We made small talk with the bartender there. The bar only seated about 6 or 7, it was about the size of a walk in closet in California. We couldn't figure out where she went if she had to go to the restroom because Jon had to walk down the street to a convenient store. We got to try Hokkaido's version of Sake, like Okinawa's awamori... They make theirs from the shiso leaf, so it has a sweet flavor. It is much more drinkable than awamori, which I don't care for at all here on Okinawa.

The last day/night we were there we saw the rest of the festival. We also went up in the NHK TV Tower and looked down on the whole park. It was great.

All in all, the trip was totally worth taking, and I would recommend it to anyone who can take it!