The Backpack Adventures

Week 120: February 12 – 16, 2024 Day 833: February 12, 2024 Monday – National Foundation Day x Rumoi It’s a beautiful Monday morning as the sun is up and there won’t be any snowfall today. It’s also National Foundation Day, a National Holiday here in Japan. Aside from that, it’s also our dear friend Ikuko-san’s birthday today. お誕生日おめでとう ! My wife is making reels for our family Facebook Page - JapaNice Adventures Had it been summer, we would probably be out on a road trip today, but it’s winter, so we just stayed home and enjoyed each other’s company. My wife and I made reels for our “JapaNice Adventures” Facebook page the whole morning. I also updated my blog and wrote several articles.  Lover, Stalker, Killer That afternoon, we watched the Netflix documentary Lover, Stalker, Killer . As a true crime fan, I enjoyed the documentary. I was presented nicely, although halfway, I already had a feeling about who the real criminal was, and I was right.  Grocery shopping at COOP The...

I experienced the Asahikawa Winter Festival for the first time on February 11, 2023 , which was my 467th day in Japan as an ALT under the JET Programme . I visited with the Tomamae Gang , and we had an amazing time, thanks to Hasegawa-sensei , who drove us there. At that moment, I wished my family could join me, knowing they would have loved it. Asahikawa Winter Festival 2024 A year later, on February 11, 2024 —my 832nd day in Japan —I finally had the chance to share the experience with them. We enjoyed the festival so much that we promised to return next year, and hopefully, we can stay overnight to fully immerse ourselves in the event. Asahikawa Winter Festival Details The first thing that hits you is the snow sculptures. And not just small ones, these are giant, jaw-dropping creations that transform the city into a winter wonderland. Each year has a centerpiece that steals the show and doubles as a stage for music and live performances. Fun fact: in 1994, Asahikawa carved ...