Japan’s famous Sapporo Snow Festival kicks off on Wednesday.

Ahead of the event, artists brought their completed snow sculptures to one of the main festival grounds in Sapporo city.

This sculpture was built by members of Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force.

The title of this year’s 65th festival is “Winter Sports Heaven, Hokkaido!”

Japan’s northernmost island Hokkaido is known for its heavy snowfalls.

Sapporo is its biggest city, and hosted the winter Olympics in 1972.

Nearly 200 sculptures will be on show until the 11th of February.