A 4-day long weekend and a big crew of friends from Izumikyo made for an awesome first trip to Sapporo. The goal was to eat as many amazing things as I could and to visit the snow festival. The snow festival was particularly amazing at night when the larger sculptures had light show projections on them. Okonomiyaki, dorayaki, taiyaki and ramen we some of the food highlights while exploring the city, its nightlife and shopping districts was its own particular pleasure. Also a special mention to the Sapporo Museum of Modern Art and the other interesting art galleries I happened across.

A few days later and another adventure into Otaru for an evening wandering their light show installations along the canal and the more impressive light pathway installation a few streets away. Sipping steaming hot amazake while walking among the glittering candlelit snow sculptures brought back memories of drinking cups of atole de arroz in Central America while wandering festivals and night markets with Megan.