I come from a tropical country located in South America. Due to its geographical position, we don’t have seasons, rather snow. Even if there are some mountains with snow at the top, I have never been there, and the conditions to go are not the most favorable.

However, as I lived in Japan from 2019-2021, I was able to discover the snow and experience winter for the first time. And, with some friends, I went to Hokkaido in February 2020. Everything about the trip was incredible, and I will narrate it for you here.

The very first night I arrived at Sapporo, the city and the roads were covered in snow

That night there was a chill breeze, and I had the chance to walk the first time above the ice.

It was hard, and I remember being scared all the time, but the place where I stayed was close to the station and warm inside.

The next day of my arrival, I went with my friends to the Sapporo Snow Festival. Specifically, I walked along with the Odori Site, an open-air exhibition with several snow sculptures.

The art made by snow is unbelievable, and there are tents with food along the side. I visited it during the night, and illuminations were all over the place. It felt like Christmas again.

After two nights, I went with my friends to a nearby city called Asahikawa. We decided to go by train, and it was different from all the trains I have ridden in Japan. The landscape was covered in snow on both sides, and it was possible to hear it falling.

We stayed again in a cozy place and decided to walk outside as soon as we arrived. The temperature was extremely low, but even this rural had illuminations and art made by snow.

The next day, we walked along with the city and visited the Asahikawa Winter Festival, which has many sculptures made by snow. In this specific case, some of them were large and even included games for us to join. The festival was close to the river, and we could watch everything from the top.

The incredibleness of this festival was connected to the games inside. We slid from the top of a snow mountain and played in a maze with solid snow walls.

It sounds funny, isn't it? It was amazing, believe me, if you come you will never forget

Another special thing about this festival was the snowman made by the local kids. There were more than a hundred of them, with different clothes, faces, and designs.

Everything about my trip to Sapporo was unforgettable. The temperature was freezing, going to -27° Celsius, and snow felt everyday. But the landscapes, the art, the colors were the most impressive.

I wish that you join this festival soon, but good thermal clothes and enjoy walking around, or even if you go to a café, it will be lovely by the surrounding snow.