第68屆札幌雪祭 / The 68th Sapporo Snow Festival

第68屆札幌雪祭於2017年2月6日到2月12日期間（Tsutomu會場是從2月1日開始）。薄野會場歷年都會展示將將海中生物放入冰中的「魚冰」。但是由於今年在北九州市有溜冰場將魚放入冰中受到眾多批評的新聞報導，今年宣布中止展出「魚冰」。然而也有許多人反應這種處理方式過於矯枉過正。

The 68th Sapporo Snow Festival will be held from February 6th to 12th at Odori Park and Susukino, and from February 1st to 12th at Tsu-Dome. One of the highlights of the Susukino Site is the ice sculpture "Sakana Goori". Sakana Goori, which literally means Fish Ice, uses frozen fish or crabs in transparent ice blocks. It is popular as a sculpture representing an aquarium. However, the Committee announced they won’t make this popular exhibition for at least the 68th festival. This is due to public outcry over an ice-skating rink in KitaKyushu which used fish. The committee has decided that some people may still be too nervous about this for the Sakana Goori to go ahead this time.

石狩 、空知、後志地區 / The districts of Ishikari, Sorachi and Shiribeshi

石狩 、空知、後志地區因為受到日本海上空所形成的雲霧和西北風的影響降雪量很多。雖然岩見沢市周遭是豪雪地區，札幌市也是一年中有數次一天中就可以降雪數十公分。從12月中旬開始雪就不會融化而成為硬的積雪。雖然有除雪車會除雪但也只是將積雪移到道路兩旁，因此道路寬度會變的狹窄。主要道路的積雪會用卡車將積雪載到丟積雪的場所。

The districts of Ishikari, Sorachi and Shiribeshi have a lot of snow in winter from the clouds coming in over the Sea of Japan and northwesterly winds. Iwamizawa City and the surroundings especially are recognized to have huge amounts of snow. Also, Sapporo City sometimes gets heavy snow - tens of centimeters a day. From the middle of December, snow typically doesn't melt on the ground. Bulldozers work to clear the snow, but the snow is left on both sides of roads. As the width of roads gets narrower, drivers should drive carefully. As for main roads, snow on both sides are sometimes cleared by dump trucks.

札幌慕尼黑聖誕節集市 / Myunhen Christmas Market

札幌慕尼黑聖誕節集市是從11月下旬到聖誕節為止在大通公園所舉辦的活動。可以就近感受到札幌的姊妹市-德國的慕尼黑的氛圍。有很多可以飲食的商店，也有販賣很有聖誕節氣氛的雜貨的商店。這個時期，在大通公園內也有舉辦被稱作光之藝術的札幌白色燈樹節。

Myunhen Christmas Market is held in Odori Park from the end of November till Christmas. Myunhen is the Japanese-style pronunciation for Munich. The proper name of this event in English is "German Christmas Market in Sapporo." Munich, in Germany became a sister city to Sapporo in 1972. Visitors can feel as if they are in Germany for the Christmas season. There are temporary shops selling drinks and snacks, such as Germany beer or wines, as well as unique goods related to Christmas. In the same period as this market, Sapporo White Illumination known as “Art of Light” is held in Odori Park, too.

札幌白色燈樹節 / Sapporo White Illumination

札幌白色燈樹節是從1981年時將1048個燈泡裝飾在大通公園2丁目開始的。年年擴大舉辦區域，到現今已成為札幌冬季的主要活動之一。總共有大通公園、站前大道、路面電車行駛的南一條通等三個會場。主會場的大通會場舉辦時期為11月中旬到聖誕節左右為止。

Sapporo White Illumination is a big, symbolic event for winter tourism. When this seasonal event started in 1981, 1048 light bulbs were used, and only in Odori 2-chome, which is the second block of Odori Park. However, the scale of the event became bigger year by year. Now, there are three sites - Odori Park 1-chome to 8-chome, Ekimae Dori (a street connecting Sapporo Station to Odori Park), and Minami 1-jo Dori where the streetcar runs. The Odori Park Site is illuminated from mid November to Christmas week. Ekimae Dori until the end of Snow Festival, and Minami 1-jo Dori until the Mid March.

Forest276大滝 / Forest 276 Ohtaki

Forest276大滝（位於伊達市）是位在國道276號沿線上的道路休息站。是位在支笏湖和洞爺湖相連區間的中間地點。在洗手間出入口的附近有鋼琴，鋼琴會自動演奏因此時常聽得到音樂。在休息站的腹地內有稱作「Horohoro 之恩惠」的湧泉地，可以免費飲用泉水。休息站內的商店、土產店也商品種類眾多。餐廳的著名菜色是披薩。

Forest 276 Ohtaki (Date City) is a road station on Route 276, halfway between Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya. There is a grand piano which plays on its own in front of the rest room, and it is always in action. There is a spring of pure water called Horohoro-no Megumi, which literally means the blessing of Mt. Horohoro. It is free to drink and take in bottles. The shop selling snacks, drinks and souvenirs is big. Pizza is popular at the restaurant. This road station is built with wood, like a huge log-house.

DATE歷史之杜 / Date Rekishi-no Mori

DATE歷史之杜（位於伊達市）是在國道37號沿線上的道路休息站。1869年，東北的仙台武家出身的伊達邦成（DATE KUNISIGE)受到當時日本政府命令開拓此地，被派遣到此。現今此地區以武家為主題來建立小鎮。道路休息站隔壁是以日式城堡作為形象的廣闊公園。園內的開拓紀念館參觀雖然需要費用，但展示著伊達邦成與其部眾的鎧甲和刀具等物品。

Date Rekishi-no Mori (Date City) is a road station on Route 37. In 1869, the government brought Kunishige Date from Sendai in the Tohoku Region under a command to cultivate the land and make a town. Kunishige Date and his family were from the hereditary samurai class. Because of his endeavors, this place was named Date 30 years after his arrival. Now, Date city promotes itself under a theme of warrior culture. There is a big park next to the road station. The historic museum in the park is a paid spot but personal belongings of Kunishige Date such as armor and swords are exhibited.

酪樂館 / Raku Raku Kan

酪樂館（位於鶴居村）是村內出資的食品工廠，製造使用鶴居村產的原料的起司、冰淇淋等商品。雖然要費用和事先預約，對於觀光客而言是可以在這裡體驗製作加工食品的好地方。這裡可以體驗起司、冰淇淋和香腸的加工製造。地點位在鶴居伊藤Sanctuary (丹頂鶴的參觀著名景點）的隔壁。

Raku Raku Kan (Tsurui Village) is a village-managed dairy product factory. The kanji characters in the name implies "happiness of dairy produce". They produce cheese, ice cream and even sausages - which use ingredients produced in the village. For tourists, there are one-day or half-day activities such as experiences of making cheese, ice cream or sausages. Please be aware that it's a paid service and it is is necessary to make reservations a month in advance. For private group tours, their activities would be interesting. This is next to Tsurui Ito Sanctuary which is famous for its wild red-crowned cranes observatory in winter.

Hinode 蕎麥麵 / Hinode Soba

「Hinode 蕎麥麵」（位於地下鐵大通站10號出口，日之出大樓地下一樓）是站食蕎麥麵·烏龍麵店。中午時間很多上班族會光臨而擁擠。沒有配料的「湯麵（Kake)」290日圓。「海帶芽麵（Wakame)」、「竹輪麵（Chikuwa)」、放一顆生雞蛋在麵上的「月見麵（Tsukimi)」340日圓。只有麵衣沒有放材料做的「天婦羅餅麵（Tenpura)」390日圓。天婦羅餅和生雞蛋的「天玉麵（Tentama)」440日圓。

Hinode Soba (located on the basement floor of Hinode Building which is directly connected to Exit 10 of Odori Subway Station) is a stand-up style soba and udon noodle shop. A lot of local business people eat there, especially around noon. “Kake”, which stands for no-toppings, is 290 yen. “Wakame” or seaweed, “Chikuwa” or tubular fish-paste, and “Tsukimi” or a raw egg are all 340 yen. Tsukimi - which stands for watching the moon - is a special term for soba and udon noodles. “Tenpura” is 390 yen, though it’s only batter. “Tentama” or Tenpura and a raw egg is 440yen.

City Light Fantasia

City Light Fantasia是使用光雕投影技術的表演秀。為了紀念札幌電視塔開業60週年，舉辦時間從2016年11月11日到2017年1月31日為止（展出時間為17點到21點）。附上參觀入場劵的展望台門票大人一位是900日圓。也有學生票折扣。這是與夜景融為一體的光之藝術表演。

City Light Fantasia is a show using projection mapping, or spatial augmented reality. This is a very special event to commemorate Sapporo TV Tower's 60th anniversary - the tower opened in 1957. The show is held in a room on the third floor which features big windows allowing people to view Odori Park. Visitors can enjoy the art of lights there from November 11, 2016 to January 31, 2017 (5 p.m. to 9 p.m.). The ticket for both the observatory and show is \900, and children can get a discount. The producer of this art is Mr. Ryotaro Muramatsu, the managing director of Naked Inc.

11月下旬的札幌 / In Sapporo at the end of November

11月下旬的札幌最高氣溫約為3度左右，最低氣溫約為零下3度左右。如果天空中有從北極方面來的冷氣團時，最高氣溫會降至零度以下便被稱作真冬日（真冬日是日本的氣象用語）。反過來說，如果有從南方過來的暖空氣時，最高氣溫可達到8度左右，對於這個季節來說是覺得溫暖的日子。在札幌市區內幾乎看不到積雪。

In Sapporo at the end of November, the highest temperature during a day is typically around three degrees with the lowest temperature around minus three degrees. However, it's not stable. When a cold air mass comes from the Arctic areas and settles over Hokkaido, the highest temperature stays below zero. These days are called Mafuyubi, which literally means 'day of the deep winter.' On the other hand, when warm air comes from the south, it reaches around eight degrees, which makes us feel quite warm. The snow isn't piled up in Sapporo at this time.

NIKKA 威士忌余市蒸餾所 / Nikka Whisky’s Yoichi Distillery

NIKKA 威士忌余市蒸餾所（位於余市町）是現今仍有製造威士忌的酒廠兼威士忌博物館。可以參觀實際用來製酒的工廠設施和設備，除了可以學習到威士忌的製造方法跟流程之外，也可以詳細的學到有關威士忌的歷史與文化。這裡也有展示創歷NIKKA的竹鶴政孝和出生於蘇格蘭的妻子Rita的住家。

Nikka Whisky’s Yoichi Distillery (Yoichi Town) is a big factory and museum. Visitors can learn about whisky through observing facilities and devices which are in use now. There is also a museum of whisky. It shows not only their products, ingredients, processes of producing, and whisky brands, but also the history of whisky, other whisky brands in the world and cultural things related to whisky. Masataka Taketsuru and his wife, Rita, who was born in Scotland, came to Yoichi and started an apple juice factory in 1934, and started whisky distilling from 1936. Their old house is also exhibited here.

北海道立近代美術館 / Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art

北海道立近代美術館（位於札幌市中央區）從1977年開幕以來，舉辦過各式各樣的展覽會。美術館會向國內·海外的美術館短期借出有名的作品來舉辦展覽會。美術館參觀雖然需要費用，但是也有免費的區域可以參觀。雖然種類比較少，但是在前面的庭院以及室內的免費休息場所都有放置北海道出身的藝術家們的作品。

Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art (Sapporo City Chuo-ku) has been holding various art exhibitions since it opened in 1977. This is one of the biggest museums in Hokkaido. They usually borrow masterpieces of famous painters, sculptors, or other artists from other museums in Japan or throughout the world, and show them in temporary exhibitions. Of course, those exhibitions are not free of charge, however, there are some free areas. In the public places inside the building or in the yard, they exhibit sculptures or paintings made by artists who were born in Hokkaido. There are seats for resting.