Photo Special: Seeing the light in Hokkaido
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Stars streak the night sky over Sapporo in this image composed of 2,383 exposures taken from the summit of Mount Moiwa over about four hours. (Mainichi) -
The "Sapporo White Illumination" light display at Odori Park in Chuo Ward, Sapporo. (Mainichi) -
A family takes in the "Sapporo White Illumination" light display at Odori Park in Chuo Ward, Sapporo. (Mainichi) -
The view of Odori Park in downtown Sapporo from the observation deck of the Sapporo TV Tower, 90.38 meters above the ground. (Mainichi) -
A ski jumper takes flight at Sapporo's Okurayama Jump Stadium. The lounge at the top of the run doubles as an observation point overlooking the center of the city. (Mainichi) -
Visitors snap photos of lights decorating the Otaru Canal in the city of Otaru, Hokkaido. (Mainichi) -
People are seen on a tour boat as it travels along the Otaru Canal in the city of Otaru, Hokkaido. (Mainichi) -
Otaru, Hokkaido, is seen from the heights of Mount Tengu, about 532 meters above the city. Mount Tengu is one of Hokkaido's "three nightscape mountains," along with Mount Moiwa and Mount Hakodate, and boasts several lookout points. (Mainichi) -
Steam rises from a JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp. petrochemical plant in Muroran, Hokkaido. The Hakucho Bridge can be seen in the background. (Mainichi) -
Broadcasting towers are seen illuminated atop Mount Sokuryo in Muroran, Hokkaido. (Mainichi) -
Hakucho Bridge stretches 1,380 meters across the Port of Muroran, as seen from a lookout point in the city's Shukuzu-cho area. The span was completed in 1998. (Mainichi) -
Visitors look out over the city of Hakodate, Hokkaido, from an observation point on Mount Hakodate. (Mainichi) -
Hakodate, Hokkaido, curves southwest to meet the steep slopes of Mount Hakodate, top right, in this photo taken from Shirotai farm in the town of Nanae. (Mainichi) -
The Goryokaku star fort in Hakodate, Hokkaido, is seen from the observation deck of Goryokaku Tower. The edges of the moat have been lined with some 2,000 light bulbs as part of the fort's winter illumination festival, which runs until Feb. 29, 2016. (Mainichi) -
The "Ice Candle Museum" event is seen in the Shimokawa district of Kamikawa, Hokkaido. (Mainichi) -
Structures of ice are seen lit up in the Sounkyo hot spring resort in Kamikawa, Hokkaido, as part of the town's 41st "ice fall festival" running from Jan. 23 to March 27, 2016. (Mainichi) -
The "Aurora Fantasy" illumination event is seen in Shari, Hokkaido. The lighting event, first put on in 1987, uses lasers and smoke to mimic the aurora seen over the nearby Shiretoko Peninsula in 1958. The Aurora Fantasy runs from Feb. 5 to March 12, 2016. (Mainichi) -
Colored, illuminated cones and spheres are seen during the Tokachigawa Hakucho Festival in Otofuke, Hokkaido. There are about 670 of the little structures in the festival, which runs from Jan. 23 to Feb. 28, 2016. (Mainichi) -
Illuminated ice structures are seen during the Lake Shikotsu Hyoto Festival in Chitose, Hokkaido. The event runs from Jan. 29 to Feb. 21, 2016. (Mainichi)
