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On the fourth day of Weebsmas, four foxes hopped in the snow. One mystical thing about Japan is how elegant it is when it snows. Many anime and movies have showcased the nation as a gorgeously deadly climate. But in the modern-day reality of Japan there are many special things that happen in the snowy season. With the culture of beauty in silence comes an active and lively setting.

Winter Solstice Festival

On the darkest day of the year, at a shrine called Ana Hachinmangū and a temple called Hōjōji in the Nishi Waseda area in Tokyo there’s a little night festival as a reminder to turn a negative into a positive. That the darkness only gets brighter from here.

Capybaras and yuzu

They like to take dips in the hot springs especially when the yuzu falls in the water. They also like to eat Kabocha squash just like everyone else.

A KFC Christmas

Japan loves KFC fried chicken as the Christmas meal. It’s a super strange tradition but I get it if it’s a Santa reference.

Sapporo Ice Festival

A true festival of artistry that is sculptures made of snow and ice is something that is a spectacular site to see. It’s truly incredible to see some of these at life-size and some of these scaled-down but still monstrous feats and hours of work to create. If you are one privy to play in the snow this may be the event for you! And just when you think it’s over another round of snow and ice sculptures are created to keep the spirit of winter going strong.

Yuki Matsuri “Snow Festival” in Sapporo

Is another breathtaking event that follows that begun in the 1950s when some highschools made some scultures on a street. From that year forward more scultures were made and now the city celebrates the white and fluffy stuff by shutting down some streets to allow more artists to sculpt and show off their work in front of the news station at Susukino site. (Pics by Japan Travel)

Otaru Snow Path of lights

Showcases a glowing winter wonderland of candles and lights in caverns of snow of places in snowy mounds all throughout the town.

It’s crazy to know what some people can do with copious amounts of snow and ice. I might do some research on how it doesn’t all melt… I’m sure there’s electric candles in some of these jars and igloos but it’s still incredible snow and ice is still water and bulbs gives off heat… Food for thought for another day!

Noboribetsu Onsen “Naked Man” Festival

I will say this as bluntly as possible. This is a festival in which men strip down to loincloths and commence in battle by throwing hot water at each other. Once a winner is declared they take the coldest run back to the dressing room and warm themselves up. They also carry a giant phallic penis statue with them. All of this is in the name of fertility where they give their washed loincloths to their wives/partners to use as a support belly band when they are pregnant and/or wear it again for next year.

Since the temperature is usually below 20 degrees when they throw the hot water into the air it’s like a cloud of hot steam. So the more you throw the warmer you are. Here’s a video if you’re really curious.

Anyways, I leave you with that.

AishiteLOVEru~

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