The annual seven-day snow festival began...Japan

People walk past a huge snow sculpture of an Egyptian sphinx displayed at Odori park in central Sapporo on February 5, 2008. The annual seven-day snow festival began February 5, and more than two million people from across Japan were expected to attend.

People walk past ice sculptures at Odori park in central Sapporo on February 5, 2008. The annual seven-day snow festival began February 5, and more than two million people from across Japan were expected to attend.

Ice sculptures are displayed at Odori park in central Sapporo on February 5, 2008. The annual seven-day snow festival began February 5, and more than 2 million people from across Japan were expected to attend over the week.


Snow statues and ice sculptures are lit up at the Odori park in central Sapporo on February 4, 2008. The annual Sapporo Snow Festival will be held from February 5 to 11 with the hundreds of snow statues and ice sculptures.

Kimono clad Miss Tokamachi, Akiko Suga (L) and Mayumi Ota walk past an snow sculpture titled "Relics of Egypt" at the Sapporo Snow Festival in Sapporo, northern Japan February 5, 2008. The festival, in which about 300 snow and ice sculptures are being displayed, started Tuesday and is expected to attract some 2 million visitors until February 11, according to the organiser.

Kimono clad Miss Tokamachi, Akiko Suga (L) and Mayumi Ota, pose in front of a snow sculpture titled "Relics of Egypt" at the Sapporo Snow Festival in Sapporo, northern Japan February 5, 2008. The festival, in which about 300 snow and ice sculptures are being displayed, started Tuesday and is expected to attract some 2 million visitors until the event ends on February 11, according to the organiser.

Nankai Electric Railway Co. trains sit inside the Shin-Imamiya station in Osaka, Japan, on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008. Nankai Electric Railway Co. is a Kansai-based railway operator.

Kintetsu Corp. express trains run near the Tsuruhashi station in Osaka, Japan, on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008. Kintetsu Corp. is a Kansai-based railway operator.

Commuters stand on the station platform at Kintetsu Corp.'s Tsuruhashi station in Osaka, Japan, on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008. Kintetsu Corp. is a Kansai-based railway operator.