EDITORIALS
An ice merry-go-round? Enjoy the "Ice Carousel," a relaxing activity to enjoy Hokkaido's snowy landscape!
Skiing and snowboarding are fun, but are there any winter activities that are more relaxed and enjoyable? I was looking for a more relaxed winter activity when I found the Ice Carousel. Also known as an "ice merry-go-round," this attraction involves cutting thick ice from a frozen lake into a circular shape and slowly rotating it. This season, events are scheduled to be held at the Daisetsu Dam in Kamikawa Town in February and at the Sakuraoka Reservoir in Kenbuchi Town in January. Here are the details of the events ahead of time!
Limited winter events in Daisetsuzan National Park
The Ice Carousel event at the Daisetsuzan Dam will be held from February 11 to 17, 2024. The dam lake in the national park is, of course, normally inaccessible. This event is only possible in winter when the ice freezes over. Asahidake and the other natural wonders of Daisetsuzan National Park are magnificent locations. Asahidake and the Daisetsuzan National Park is a magnificent location with spectacular views of the mountains in summer and winter.
Spinning - Spinning - Ice Merry-Go-Round
Carousel is an English word meaning a turntable or carousel. As the name suggests, the ice carousel is made of ice from a frozen lake, cut into a circular shape about 15 meters in diameter, and the ice floating on the water is manually rotated. Visitors can leisurely gaze at the 360-degree panorama on the slowly spinning ice, or shoot a video that will look great on social networking sites!
Fat bikes and other activities are also available!
In addition to the ice carousel, you can also experience various activities with the "All-You-Can-Enjoy Activity Plan. Fat bikes, snowshoes, snow tubing, snow rafting, and other snow activities are available for you to enjoy. Fat bikes with fat tires can be ridden by anyone who can ride a bicycle for the first time, so let's ride around the pure white snow field!
At night, enjoy the fantastic snow, ice, and starry sky!
When the sun goes down, the venue is lit up to create a fantastic atmosphere. The slow-moving ice merry-go-round and the interplay of lights are very romantic. Since there is no artificial light, you can look up and see the stars in the sky. A free shuttle bus runs from Sounkyo to the venue, Daisetsu Dam, so it is recommended to stay overnight at a hot spring to enjoy the festival!
The Ice Carousel event in Kenbuchi Town will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2024. Visitors can enjoy an ice merry-go-round at Lake Sakuraoka in the town, as well as snow trekking for bird watching. For more information, check out the website ( http://www.kembuchi-kankou.com )!
Taisetsu Dam de Ice Carousel & Winter Fun
Date: February 11 - 17, 2024 10:00-17:30
Venue: Taisetsu Dam (Sounkyo Daigakuhei, Kamikawa Town)
Ice Carousel Experience
■Fees:
Adults 2000 yen (advance purchase 1900 yen), children 1000 yen (advance purchase 900 yen), free for children under elementary school age
Ice Carousel Experience & All-You-Can-Enjoy Activity Plan
■Fees:
Adults 5,000 yen (4,600 yen in advance), Children 2,000 yen (1,800 yen in advance), Free for children under elementary school age
Hours: 10:00-15:30 (until sunset)
Fat bike (30 minutes), snowshoe (30 minutes), snow tube (30 minutes), snow rafting (10 minutes)
*Please note that no one other than those participating in the various contents will be allowed to enter the venue inside the Taisetsu Dam Lake.
Free shuttle bus】 【Free shuttle bus】: No reservation required, free of charge, first-come, first-served
No reservation required, free of charge, first-come-first-served basis
Free shuttle buses will run 6 times a day between the venue and each hotel in Sounkyo.
Official HP: https://sounkyo.net/event/taisetsu_carousel/
Inquiries: Sounkyo Tourist Association 01658-2-1811
Click here for details and map information of "Taisetsu Dam de Ice Carousel & Winter Fun
Kembuchi Winter Village Sakuraoka - Ice Merry-Go-Round
Date：January 20, 2024 (Sat) 10:00-17:00
Venue: Sakuraoka Lake (5173 Higashi-machi, Kenbuchi Town)
■Fees:
Adults junior high school students and older: 1,000 yen (with hot spring bath ticket), elementary school students and older: 500 yen (with hot spring bath ticket), preschool children: free (without hot spring bath ticket)
Official website: http://www.kembuchi-kankou.com/
Check it out as well!
Writer Profile
Editor & Writer Yuka Takashima
After working at an advertising agency and then in the magazine editorial department, she became a freelance editor and writer. She has worked on travel magazines, housing construction magazines, music-related articles, and various advertising articles. She is a Hokkaido native living in Sapporo who loves to eat delicious food.
