Hokkaido
Japan's Sapporo will host its renowned Snow Festival from February 4 to 11, showcasing over 200 snow sculptures in Odori Park. This 76th edition builds on a tradition started in 1950 by local high school students. The event draws crowds to the snowy city, highlighting winter charm amid cold weather.
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At Obihiro Racecourse in Hokkaido, draft horses began early morning training for traditional banei keiba races amid severe cold on Monday. With temperatures dropping to minus 15.9 degrees Celsius by 7 a.m., the horses pulled sleds to build cardiovascular endurance.
An explosion struck Nippon Steel's plant in Muroran, Hokkaido, around 1:10 a.m. on Monday, shaking nearby homes. The blast occurred on a hot stove supplying air to the blast furnace, with no injuries reported and the fire controlled after about seven hours.
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Visiting Farm Restaurant Cuore in Hokkaido's Shiranuka requires careful planning due to its remote location, but it rewards adventurous food lovers. Chef Yuya Urushizaki employs a nose-to-tail method, transforming overlooked sheep cuts into gourmet dishes. The restaurant draws on the Charo Sheep Farm, established in 1987 in prime pastureland.