Being the downtown area, there are a number of shops and restaurants. At a few crab restaurants in Japan, they want you to know that they serve crab by placing a huge replica outside their entrance. Some places animate said gigantor crustacean by having the legs and claws move further attracting attention.
Sapporo has a certain style of miso ramen made with the opaque tonkotsu broth. This is a milky white broth made from boing pork and sometimes chicken bones for hours. Then miso is added to enhance the flavors. In this same area, Ramen Alley caters to those wishing for a nice steaming bowl of soup and noodles. And, maybe a side order of gyoza and fried rice as well.
The narrow passageway is further constrict by lines outside of the restaurants that line this pathway between city blocks. Another favorite of the area is the butter corn ramen. Admittedly, it sounded wierd to me at first but we are all accustomed to having butter on an ear of corn. Butter is another specialty of the region as well as other diary products. Back to the butter corn ramen, it is quite tasty and the little pockets of sweetness from the corn cuts the heaviness of the butter.
The main attraction are the creations carved from stacked blocks of ice. Some are small pieces approximately 1 meter(3 ft) wide by 2 meters(6 ft) high. the more impressive displays tend to be longer and somewhat higher, but not higher by much.
During this years event, Baileys had set a up bar where you can purhcase various drinks that contain their Irish creme product. Very comforting is the Bailey's coffee. A steaming cup of coffee augmented by their silky concoction thats more viscous than normal cream. Our stay in 2011 will be at the Toyoko Inn location thats footsteps from here.
