A hotel and chapel made from seamless ice domes opened Tuesday for the winter season in Hokkaido's Tomamu ski resort area. The attraction aims to let visitors enjoy the cold through immersive experiences.
In central Hokkaido's Tomamu ski resort area, the ice hotel and chapel operated by Hoshino Resorts Tomamu opened for the winter season on Tuesday, with outdoor temperatures around minus 10 C.
The Ice Hotel is constructed by spraying water and snow onto balloons during cold nights, freezing into dome structures about 8.5 meters in diameter and 3.5 meters high. Inside temperatures range from minus 5 C to minus 7 C, with lodging limited to one group per day. Guests from other resort hotels can access it for an additional 28,000 yen per person. The facility runs until February 20 and is already fully booked for the season. According to its website, the ceiling and walls are entirely ice, but insulated sleeping bags are provided to endure the overnight cold.
"We want people to enjoy the cold through the experience," said Iwao Watanabe, general manager of Hoshino Resorts Tomamu.
The Ice Chapel, located in one corner of the Ice Village row of domes, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and has hosted more than 660 wedding ceremonies.
This annual attraction forms part of the broader Tomamu resort, offering visitors a chance to immerse in the region's harsh winter conditions.