The 76th Sapporo Snow Festival opened on February 4.

This giant snow sculpture at the main Odori site features a prehistoric “dogu” hollow clay figurine nicknamed Kaku from the Jomon period thousands of years ago.

There are 136 snow sculptures at the Odori site.

Among the highlights are unique citizen-made sculptures including those depicting L.A. Dodgers players Ohtani Shohei and Yamamoto Yoshinobu.

S/ Reporter / Which sculpture do you like?

S/ Visitor from Tokyo / (Osaka-Kansai Expo character) Myaku-Myaku. Last year, we went to the Kansai Expo, so we have a special attachment to it.

S/ Visitor from US / It’s very cool. It’s very fun and interesting, and we’re glad to see it.

The Sapporo Snow Festival will be held at Odori Park and two other venues until February 11.

It is a major winter event in Japan’s northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido and attracts numerous tourists, both domestic and international, every year.