Skiing and snowboarding are fun, but have you ever looked for a more laid-back winter activity? That's when I discovered the "Ice Carousel." Also known as an "ice merry-go-round," this attraction involves cutting a large circle into the thick ice of a frozen lake and slowly rotating it. This season, events are scheduled for February at Taisetsu Dam in Kamikawa Town and in January at Sakuraoka Reservoir in Kembuchi Town. Here's a sneak peek at the event details!

A Limited-Time Winter Event Inside Daisetsuzan National Park

The Ice Carousel event at Taisetsu Dam will be held from February 11th to 17th, 2024. The dam's lake, located within a national park, is normally off-limits. This makes it a special event unique to the frozen winter season. The location offers a majestic view of the vast nature of Daisetsuzan National Park, including Mount Asahidake. The winter mountain scenery is just as breathtaking as it is in summer.

Round and Round It Goes... The Ice Merry-Go-Round

The word "carousel" refers to a rotating platform or merry-go-round. True to its name, the Ice Carousel is created by cutting a circle about 15 meters in diameter into the ice of a frozen lake and manually rotating the floating ice. You can relax and enjoy the 360-degree panoramic view from the slowly turning ice, or capture some social media-worthy videos!

Other Activities Like Fat Biking Too!

In addition to the Ice Carousel, you can also try various activities with the all-you-can-play activity plan. The lineup is packed with fun snow activities like fat biking, snowshoeing, snow tubing, and snow rafting. If you can ride a bicycle, you'll be able to handle a fat bike with its thick tires, even if it's your first time. Let's ride across the pure white snowfields!

Enjoy a Magical Night of Snow, Ice, and Stars

As dusk falls, the venue is lit up, creating a magical atmosphere. The combination of the slowly rotating ice merry-go-round and the lights is incredibly romantic. With no artificial city lights around, you can look up to see a sky full of stars. A free shuttle bus runs from Sounkyo, so we recommend staying overnight at a hot spring resort to fully enjoy the experience!

The Ice Carousel event in Kembuchi Town is confirmed for Saturday, January 20th, 2024. Besides enjoying the ice merry-go-round at the town's Lake Sakuraoka, you can also join a snow trekking tour for bird watching. For more details, check out their website (http://www.kembuchi-kankou.com)!

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