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CICLO is the musical unit made up of Masaharu Iida (contrabass etc.), Ichiko Habu (percussion), and Toru Ohogiyanagi (variety of recorder/fife, kantele, bodhran etc.). They are taking an active part of Otaru Soko No.1's live music performances.

CICLO means "cycle" in English, which suggests a musical cycle (loop or repeat), a life cycle (linkage of life and recycling). Ciclo is also the name of the man powered tricycle taxi used in Vietnam.

"Nishin Goten" or Herring Mansion is the popular name to call a residence of herring fishery proprietor called "Amimoto". Otaru in Hokkaido was once a prosperous town on herring fishing. However, Otaru’s Herring Mansion was originally built in Tomari Village on Shakotan Peninsula where also thrived on herring fishing in the late 1880s.

It was in 1958 that the building was reconstructed in the present place.

"Otaru no Doughnuts-yasan" or Otaru's Doughnuts Shop is not an outlet of major doughnut company. It's a small shop of self-employment in Otaru Hokkaido, but you will find a few different doughnuts that a chain doughnut shop does not have.

The doughnuts in the photo are one of the examples. The one on the left is 'corn doughnut' topped with cornflakes. The texture of doughnuts and crispy cornflakes go very well. The right is 'savory doughnut'. The doughnut, however, is not as salty as you expect.

Otaru Aquarium in Otaru Hokkaido, has variety of fish, marine mammals and creatures from around the world. It always attracts tourists and the locals as a popular recreation and educational facility of Otaru during the season.

This year's opening is from March 17 (Sat.) through November 25 (Sun.). Opening hours are 9:00-17:00 from March 17 to October 31, and 9:00-16:00 from November 1 to 25.

In the aquarium, marine animals show takes place several times a day.

After leaving the Temiya-sen site, I went to the Märchen crossing through the Sakaimachi-dori Street in Otaru, Hokkaido.

The Steam Clock had a presence as always in the light of the snow candles.

There were many snow artifacts along the street.

Some of them were almost melting or disappearing after playing their roll during the period of the festival.

I got to the Chuo-bashi bridge in Otaru, Hokkaido.

The darkness around here enhanced the beauty of candle lights on the water.

Chuo-bashi bridge's Gaien (detached court) is one of the popular souvenir-shot spots.

I walked along the canalside walkway appreciating a lot of snow artworks.

Snow candles illuminated footpath warmly.

I found such a big towering snow candle!

It was made by the staffs of "TARUPON", a local community publication of Otaru, Hokkaido.

The Snow Gleaming (Yukiakari) 9th OTARU in Hokkaido ended on a high note. According to the executive committee, this year's Yukiakari gathered about 568,000 visitors over last year's record that had been all-time high.

On the final day of the fesival, I walked around the Canal site and the Temiya-sen site and took some photographs.

I started at Asakusa-bashi bridge that is famous as a nice viewpoint of the canal.

Otaru canal was beautiful as always.

Asarigawa Hot Spring Village is the resort area of Otaru in Hokkaido, where you can enjoy skiing in winter on the skiing ground with a magnificent view of the sea. Hot spring open-air bath that many hotels in this area provide must be another pleasure after skiing here.

In addition to the above, you can also enjoy beautiful shimmering lights of the candles in the Asarigawa River during the Snow Gleaming Festival time.

Unicla is the unit made up of Akiko Nagasaki (clarinet) and Ryoich Tobisawa (guitar). They are taking an active part of Otaru Soko No.1's live music performances.They released their first mini album in June 2006.