Things I didn't try early on: Going to an ice festival

Growing up in a country where it barely ever drops below freezing, the idea of ice festivals seemed like something I'd never get to experience. However, living in Japan means that my life ended up on a different track, and I've had many cool wintery experiences -- one of which was going to an ice festival!

This was pure luck, as the event was on in Monbetsu, Hokkaido, when I was already there as part of a monitor tour. It's called the Monbetsu Drift Ice Festival, and some super cool sculptures are made using the drift ice that accumulates off the Monbetsu coast around this time of year. 

If by some miracle you're in Monbetsu or the general eastern Hokkaido area right now, the event runs from February 6th to 8th this year (tomorrow until Sunday). In the year I was there, they had so many cool sculptures, including an Angkor Wat replica, and character favorites like Donkey Kong, Kirby, and Totoro.