SAPPORO -- The 55th Sapporo Snow Festival opened Thursday amid tightened security due to the Iraq dispatch of Self-Defense Forces troops, most of whom are based in Hokkaido.
Organizers said they expect more than 2 million people to visit the annual seven-day event, which features snow and ice sculptures.
Metal detectors have been installed for the first time to check the baggage of visitors to one festival site in the Makomanai district, which is located inside an SDF base.