At Lake Shikotsu in Chitose City, Hokkaido, the winter tradition "Chitose Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival" is being held.
At the lakeside venue, 30 large and small ice objects made by freezing the water of Lake Shikotsu are displayed.
It is said that local volunteers worked around the clock from the beginning of the year, wiping the misty water and freezing it over and over again to complete the work.
Highlights include the 13-meter high Blue Tower, the symbol of the festival, and the ice wall, which shines blue in the sunlight.
The ice made from the water of Lake Shikotsu has few impurities, and the pale blue that can be seen when the sunlight shines is also called "Lake Shikotsu Blue".
Also, when the sun goes down, the venue is lit up with colorful lights, creating a magical atmosphere.
LED lights are used to prevent the ice from melting, and the ice sculptures are embedded in the ice to make them look more three-dimensional.
The "Chitose Shikotsu Ice Festival" will be held until the 23rd of this month and can be enjoyed from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.