A famed snow festival in the northern Japanese city of Sapporo, Hokkaido, opened on Saturday and is attracting large crowds. The event had been held online for the past two years due to the coronavirus.

The festival features five gigantic snow sculptures over 10 meters tall.

One depicts the new stadium of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters pro baseball team and manager Shinjo Tsuyoshi. The stadium will open in March.

Another shows a thoroughbred horse, as Hokkaido is known for its breeding stables.

The festival also features about 100 other snow sculptures.
The festival organizers are taking measures against COVID-19, such as making the footpaths at the site one-way.

A Japanese woman there with her family said she is glad the festival is back on this year.

A man from the United States said he came because he heard it is the largest snow festival in Japan. He called the snow sculptures "amazing."

The festival runs until February 11.