Snow festival at Koiwai Farm

A few weeks ago we headed off to Morioka, our prefectural capital to have a weekend away. We stayed overnight in an onsen (hot spring) hotel and visited a famous local snow festival at the nearby Koiwai farm, one of Japan's oldest dairy and sheep farms. There were lots of people taking in the two-week event, but we still managed to get around to see everything and sit down in the restaurant for lunch (only a 45 min wait!). Conan and Leif enjoyed seeing the sheep and baby lambs and playing in the indoor kids' area. The ice and snow sculptures were impressive, and the sledding hill was fun as well. I hope we'll have the time to go every year.

Checking out the lambs and sheep

Leif enjoys playing in the "wool pool"

Conan drives the "Shinkansen" (Bullet train)

The sledding hill, with Mount Iwate in the background