Christy Gamache: Shikotsu Lake Ice Festival

After the Snow Festivals I moved on to Ice Festivals! I went with Yaeko-san, one of my fellow elementary school teachers, and a friend of hers on this very cold, yet beautiful adventure. After travelling by bus, then subway, then train, then bus, we finally arrived at Shikotsu Lake. It was night time, and these amazing ice-caves and tunnels and igloos beside the lake were all lit up with coloured lights. And to end off the night, they had a fabulous fire-works display.
I'll include some pictures but they don't do it justice. In real life it was so amazing.

Entering a huge tunnel-cave made of evergreen boughs...then sprayed with water, creating huge icy walls and icicles which hung down inside the eerie green cave.