With the colder months fast approaching, it’s time to start looking for the perfect winter wonderland to spend some time enjoying snow and ice. And while the countries of Scandinavia are well-known for their ice hotels, they’re not the only ones offering these unique experiences. If you look a bit further east, you’ll find the Japanese island of Hokkaido and on it the Tomamu Ice Village.
The Ice Village will stay open from December to March. Image ©Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU
The Ice Village lies just 150 km away from Sapporo, the capital of Japan’s northernmost island. If you want to explore an ice town where you can “enjoy the fantastical atmosphere of cold,” then the Ice Village might be the place for you – just make sure to bundle up, since temperatures can be as low as -30°C!
You can wander through the rooms of the Ice Hotel, where everything (except for bedding and covers) is made of ice and then sip a cocktail from an ice glass at the Ice Bar. The bookshelves at the Ice Café are, you guessed it, made of ice, as well as the very popular Ice Slide that overlooks the entire Village.
The Ice Bar serves more than 50 cocktails, all in ice glasses. Image ©Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU
“The mystical world of snow invites guests to experience the magic of winter,” the Ice Village staff told Lonely Planet. Winter magic is also tailor-made for kids, with a whole set of activities ranging from playing ice instruments to ice sculpturing classes. And what’s more winter magic than an ice chapel? You can take a trip and tie the knot at the same time!
Children can learn how to sculpt their own souvenir ice glass. Image ©Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU
The Ice Village is connected to the Hoshino Resort Tomamu, and it’s open both for day trips and longer stays for the resort’s guests— starting from the pre-opening in December and the official opening in January, going on until March 2019. The entrance fee is 500 yen, or US$5.
The slopes of the Hokkaido Power Belt are easily accessible from the village if you want to add a bit more adrenaline to your visit. Image ©Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU
If you want to know more about the Ice Village, you can check out the official website here.
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