The Sounkyo Onsen Ice Waterfall Festival is one of Hokkaido's most popular winter events. The approximately 10,000m2 venue, which uses the riverbed of the Ishikari River, is filled with around 30 ice sculptures of various sizes, as well as a 13m-tall ice room, an observation deck, a tube slide, and an ice waterfall shrine. The ice sculptures, which take around three months to create, make use of the natural beauty of the deep gorge at the foot of Mount Daisetsu, and are lit up in seven different colors at night, creating a fantastical space. During the festival, various events are held on stage, and fireworks beautifully light up the frigid night sky.