Day 5 PM : Ice Pavilion

Fourth stop of the day - Ice Pavilion
This is the first museum in the world to provide the chilling experience of Hokkaido through a whole year! Even when it's the height of summer and 30 degrees out there, you can go inside and experience a world of -41 degrees... and be surrounded by blocks and pillars of ice and marvelled at the beauty and wonders of ice.

Right: Entrance of Ice Pavilion. Lotsa cute snowmen welcome you.
Bottom Left: AG hibernating with a bear.
Top Left: AH posing with a gigantic snowman.

Before we entered the museum, the tour guide instructed us to prepare for an experiment that we should do when we were inside the -20 degrees room. First, paint cartoon character on special paper; next, fold the paper into half; and after that, place one half against a heater and viola, the colors on that half disappeared.

Apparently, this special paper reacts to temperature. If it's hot, colors will disappear and if it's cold, colors will reappear. We were told that once we were inside the -20C room, the colors will reappear. So exciting.

Special papers for our experiment.

You definitely need to wear a winter coat! Gloves are provided as well.

Ready to experience -20 degrees? Here we go!

Ice Pavilion is kept at a constant temperature of -20 degrees.
Here, you can walk through the ice tunnel...

... and marvel at the jagged rings of icicles hanging down from its frozen roof.
We were told that many of them took over ten years to form; wow!

Cute snowmen joined in the fun.
We should be given a chance to make a snowman; that would be very fun.. hahaha..
But then again, it's freezing cold and we shouldn't linger for too long!! Brrrr!

A hot air blower is available to warm your glasses which will definitely fog up once you come out from the room.

For the brave ones, you can challenge yourself by entering the coldest room (-40 degrees) naked! hahaha... Just check out the challengers. Amazing!