A demonstration experiment of "Ice Carousel", which is popular in Northern Europe as "ice merry-go-round", cuts out a circle from the surface of a frozen lake and rotates with people on it, was conducted in Nakasatsunai Village, Hokkaido.
It is expected that it will become a new tourist attraction.
"Ice carousel" is a game in which a circle of ice from a lake that freezes in winter is cut out and people are placed on it and rotated.
In order to make this "ice carousel" a new tourist attraction, the Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau conducted a demonstration experiment at the Satsunai River Dam in Nakasatsunai Village, and about 20 people, including staff and local tourism officials, participated.
Using a chainsaw, the frozen lake is cut into circles about 10 meters in diameter, which are then rotated by a human foot.
Participants riding on the spinning ice took pictures of the scenery of the lake and mountains, and enjoyed themselves while lying down.
In Hokkaido, events are already being held at the Onuma Quasi-National Park in Nanae Town in southern Hokkaido, inviting tourists.
Yoshihito Suga, Director of the Obihiro River Office of the Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, said, "By creating new value at the winter dam, I think it will be more familiar to local people and tourists. Everyone can enjoy the local resource of the dam. I want to make it a place where I can get it."
The Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau will continue to consider holding a full-scale event in the future based on the opinions that came out of this demonstration experiment.