Sapporo Snow Festival opens with all COVID restrictions removed

I surprises me how Covid restrictions have lingered. Not until quite recently did one of our local hospitals drop the vaccine certificate rule for 面会.

Great, I will be up there soon. I heard many Chinese tourists are coming, I hope we don't have a repeat of 2020.

The Sapporo snow festival is the last remaining place or festival of interest I have yet to visit in Japan .... Next year.

I suggest you view the ice sculptures then go to a ski resort for a few days. Fantastic holiday.

"all Covid restriction removed"

It's just cruel deception prioritizing business and ignoring Covid19 domestic 10th wave and deaths surge including my family.

Japanese society cannot yet overcome Covid19 at all, only falsifying as if Covid19 was ended.

What were the restrictions? Masks?

The new covid variant is spreading like wildfire over here in Cali.

Looking at the photo there seem to be people wearing masks.

Covid restrictions may have been formally dropped (in many places) but that doesn’t stop hospitals (like my local one) from denying patients visitors and in my local supermarkets, all staff are walking around with masks on.

The virus is still around and there is a nasty flu also going around so the masks are still on.

Thank goodness !

Obviously if you have severely compromised immunity and have something like AIDs or stage 4 cancer, it makes sense to keep wearing a mask. Ghosh bress you all.

It could have opened without any COVID restrictions last year (or even 2 years ago) as well as things were already well under control - just saying.

Great news..

Wish it were so here in Tokyo, especially with staff everywhere. Also, would not mind seeing snow in Tokyo this winter!

It could have opened without any COVID restrictions last year (or even 2 years ago) as well as things were already well under control - just saying.

The experts in the field said otherwise, and they can present evidence of that risk being important even this year, they are a much better source of information than baseless claims from anonymous sources.

Great news.

Also, would not mind seeing snow in Tokyo this winter!

I understand your wish may come true today or tomorrow. Can't wait to see the porsches struggling through snowy streets with regular tires.

t could have opened without any COVID restrictions last year (or even 2 years ago) as well as things were already well under control - just saying.

Exactly. Baffling why it was cancelled.

Exactly. Baffling why it was cancelled.

The experts warned (and still do) that there is still risk present, even with the restrictions in place. Saying this risk is not there, or that it would not have been there even without restrictions is like trying to argue against using safety helmets using as an example how a construction worker was not hurt by a falling brick... while using a safety helmet.

Solid ice work !