Summer heat in Hokkaido

Summer heat in Hokkaido

A child plays at a fountain in Obihiro, Hokkaido, on July 24, 2025, as the temperature reaches close to 40 C amid unusually hot summer heat in the northern Japan city.

Summer heat in Hokkaido

Summer heat in Hokkaido

A thermometer in front of JR Obihiro Station in Hokkaido shows the temperature reaching close to 40 C amid unusually hot summer heat in the northern Japan city on July 24, 2025.

Summer heat in Hokkaido

Summer heat in Hokkaido

A thermometer in front of JR Obihiro Station in Hokkaido shows the temperature reaching close to 40 C amid unusually hot summer heat in the northern Japan city on July 24, 2025.

Summer heat in Hokkaido

Summer heat in Hokkaido

A thermometer in front of JR Obihiro Station in Hokkaido shows the temperature reaching close to 40 C amid unusually hot summer heat in the northern Japan city on July 24, 2025.

Summer heat in Hokkaido

Summer heat in Hokkaido

A thermometer in front of JR Obihiro Station in Hokkaido shows the temperature reaching close to 40 C amid unusually hot summer heat in the northern Japan city on July 24, 2025.

Summer heat in Hokkaido

Summer heat in Hokkaido

A thermometer in front of JR Obihiro Station in Hokkaido shows the temperature reaching close to 40 C amid unusually hot summer heat in the northern Japan city on July 24, 2025.

Japan: Duck Family Guided by Police Crossing Road in Obihiro, Hokkaido

A family of spot-billed ducks was spotted being targeted by a crow on a busy road in Obihiro, Hokkaido, on Thursday, May 8. The police soon arrived at the scene after receiving a call and guided the ducky family crossing the road safely and heading to the nearby Obihiro River.

Japan: Hokkaido Receives Record-Breaking Snowfall 5

Heavy snowfall affected parts of Hokkaido from the night of Monday, February 3, into Tuesday, February 4. The Pacific side of Hokkaido recorded the highest snowfall on record in the country, with Obihiro receiving 120 centimeters of snow in just 12 hours on Tuesday.

Japan: Hokkaido Receives Record-Breaking Snowfall 6

Heavy snowfall affected parts of Hokkaido from the night of Monday, February 3, into Tuesday, February 4. The Pacific side of Hokkaido recorded the highest snowfall on record in the country, with Obihiro receiving 120 centimeters of snow in just 12 hours on Tuesday.

Japan: Hokkaido Receives Record-Breaking Snowfall 7

Heavy snowfall affected parts of Hokkaido from the night of Monday, February 3, into Tuesday, February 4. The Pacific side of Hokkaido recorded the highest snowfall on record in the country, with Obihiro receiving 120 centimeters of snow in just 12 hours on Tuesday.

Japan: Hokkaido Receives Record-Breaking Snowfall 4

Heavy snowfall affected parts of Hokkaido from the night of Monday, February 3, into Tuesday, February 4. The Pacific side of Hokkaido recorded the highest snowfall on record in the country, with Obihiro receiving 120 centimeters of snow in just 12 hours on Tuesday.

Japan: Hokkaido Receives Record-Breaking Snowfall 2

Heavy snowfall affected parts of Hokkaido from the night of Monday, February 3, into Tuesday, February 4. The Pacific side of Hokkaido recorded the highest snowfall on record in the country, with Obihiro receiving 120 centimeters of snow in just 12 hours on Tuesday.

Japan: Hokkaido Receives Record-Breaking Snowfall 3

Heavy snowfall affected parts of Hokkaido from the night of Monday, February 3, into Tuesday, February 4. The Pacific side of Hokkaido recorded the highest snowfall on record in the country, with Obihiro receiving 120 centimeters of snow in just 12 hours on Tuesday.

Japan: Hokkaido Receives Record-Breaking Snowfall

Heavy snowfall affected parts of Hokkaido from the night of Monday, February 3, into Tuesday, February 4. The Pacific side of Hokkaido recorded the highest snowfall on record in the country, with Obihiro receiving 120 centimeters of snow in just 12 hours on Tuesday.

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Momoka Horikawa of Japan competes in the women's 3,000 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Nov. 12, 2023.

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Tatsuya Shinhama of Japan competes in the men's 500 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Nov. 12, 2023.

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Wataru Morishige of Japan competes in the men's 500 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Nov. 12, 2023.

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

(From L) Silver medalist Momoka Horikawa of Japan, gold medalist Ragne Wiklund of Norway and bronze medalist Antoinette Rijpma-De Jong of the Netherlands pose for a photo during the award ceremony for the women's 3000 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Nov. 12, 2023.

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

(From L) Silver medalist Tatsuya Shinhama of Japan, gold medalist Wataru Morishige of Japan and bronze medalist Jordan Stolz of the United States pose for a photo during the award ceremony for the men's 500 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Nov. 12, 2023.

World Cup in Obihiro

World Cup in Obihiro

Japanese speed skaters -- (from L) Ayano Sato, Momoka Horikawa and Miho Takagi -- pose for a photo after winning the women's team pursuit event at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 11, 2023.

World Cup in Obihiro

World Cup in Obihiro

Japanese speed skaters -- (from L) Ayano Sato, Momoka Horikawa and Miho Takagi -- pose for a photo after winning the women's team pursuit event at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 11, 2023.

Speed Skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Speed Skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Japanese speed skaters -- (from L) Miho Takagi, Ayano Sato and Momoka Horikawa -- compete en route to winning the women's team pursuit event at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 11, 2023.

World Cup in Obihiro

World Cup in Obihiro

Japanese speed skaters -- (from R) Miho Takagi, Ayano Sato and Momoka Horikawa -- compete en route to winning the women's team pursuit event at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 11, 2023.

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Miho Takagi of Japan celebrates after winning gold in the women's 1,500 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 11, 2023

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Miho Takagi (C) of Japan poses after winning gold in the women's 1,500 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 11, 2023, alongside silver medalist Antoinette Rijpma-De Jong of the Netherlands (L) and bronze medalist Kimi Goetz of the United States.

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Masaya Yamada of Japan competes en route to winning the men's 1,500 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 11, 2023.

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Masaya Yamada of Japan competes en route to winning the men's 1,500 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 11, 2023.

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Masaya Yamada of Japan waves after winning the men's 1,500 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 11, 2023.

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Masaya Yamada of Japan competes en route to winning the men's 1,500 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 11, 2023.

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Miho Takagi of Japan competes en route to winning the women's 1,500 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 11, 2023.

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Miho Takagi of Japan competes en route to winning the women's 1,500 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 11, 2023.

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Miho Takagi of Japan competes en route to winning the women's 1,500 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 11, 2023.

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Miho Takagi of Japan competes en route to winning the women's 1,500 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 11, 2023.

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro+

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro+

Tatsuya Shinhama of Japan (C) poses after winning the men's 500 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 10, 2023, alongside compatriots Wataru Morishige (L) and Yuma Murakami, who finished second and third, respectively.

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro+

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro+

Tatsuya Shinhama of Japan competes en route to winning the men's 500 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 10, 2023.

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro+

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro+

Tatsuya Shinhama of Japan competes en route to winning the men's 500 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 10, 2023.

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Miho Takagi of Japan competes en route to finishing second in the women's 1,000 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 10, 2023.

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Speed skating: World Cup in Obihiro

Miho Takagi of Japan competes en route to finishing second in the women's 1,000 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 10, 2023.

Swan in river amid extreme cold in Hokkaido

Swan in river amid extreme cold in Hokkaido

OBIHIRO, Japan - Photo taken Jan. 20, 2015, shows a swan passing the winter in a river amid extreme cold in Obihiro on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido.

Photo opportunity board 2nd most popular Guinness record

Photo opportunity board 2nd most popular Guinness record

KUSHIRO, Japan - The world's longest photo opportunity board, at 280 meters, seen in this file photo taken in Obihiro in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on June 28, 2014, ranks second in the global popularity ranking of records acknowledged by the Guinness World Records in 2014. The biggest cork mosaic in France was the Guinness Fan Choice winner.

Japan's women 2nd in team pursuit World Cup

Japan's women 2nd in team pursuit World Cup

OBIHIRO, Japan - Japanese female skaters compete in the team pursuit at the season-opening World Cup meet in Hokkaido, Japan, on Nov. 15, 2014. Japan clocked 3 minutes, 4.78 seconds to place second at Hokkaido Tokachi Oval, behind the Dutch women, who won in 3:02.54.

Kodaira runner-up in women's 500 meters

Kodaira runner-up in women's 500 meters

OBIHIRO, Japan - Japan's Nao Kodaira smiles at the medal ceremony after winning silver in the women's 500 meters at the first World Cup meet of the season at Hokkaido Tokachi Oval in Japan. Winter Olympic champion Lee Sang Hwa of South Korea posted a time of 38.07 seconds, finishing 0.11 ahead of Kodaira.

Kodaira runner-up in women's 500 meters

Kodaira runner-up in women's 500 meters

OBIHIRO, Japan - Japan's Nao Kodaira competes in the women's 500 meters at the first World Cup meet of the season at Hokkaido Tokachi Oval in Japan. Winter Olympic champion Lee Sang Hwa of South Korea won with a time of 38.07 seconds, 0.11 ahead of Kodaira.

Kodaira runner-up in women's 500 meters

Kodaira runner-up in women's 500 meters

OBIHIRO, Japan - Japan's Nao Kodaira competes in the women's 500 meters at the first World Cup meet of the season at Hokkaido Tokachi Oval in Japan. Winter Olympic champion Lee Sang Hwa of South Korea won with a time of 38.07 seconds, 0.11 ahead of Kodaira.

Woman leads project to put hometown on Guinness list

Woman leads project to put hometown on Guinness list

KUSHIRO, Japan - Ayako Maura, a graphic designer and leader of a civic group that organizes local events to challenge Guinness records and help promote her hometown, poses on July 7, 2014, at her home in Obihiro in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido.

Send-off ceremony for GSDF troops before S. Sudan PKO

Send-off ceremony for GSDF troops before S. Sudan PKO

KUSHIRO, Japan - A send-off ceremony for Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force troops is held at a GSDF camp in Obihiro, Hokkaido, on May 20, 2014, before their dispatch to South Sudan for U.N. peacekeeping operations.

Pork bowl mascot plays with children in Hokkaido

Pork bowl mascot plays with children in Hokkaido

KUSHIRO, Japan - "Butadonman," a mascot for Hokkaido's Tokachi region made in the image of a pork bowl, a popular local dish, interacts with children at an event held in Obihiro, Hokkaido, on March 21, 2014, jointly with Kagawa Prefecture, in southwestern Japan, which has raised its profile in the country with its "sanuki" udon noodles.

Students gather around Tezuka's drawings

Students gather around Tezuka's drawings

KUSHIRO, Japan - A group of students at Obihiro Kashiwa Elementary School in Obihiro, Hokkaido gather around a panel with original drawings by the late cartoonist Osamu Tezuka on Feb. 18, 2014. The panel was donated to the school by a former comic magazine editor.

Swans in northern Japan

Swans in northern Japan

OBIHIRO, Japan - Photo shows swans in fog rising from an arm of the Tokachi River in Obihiro, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 20, 2014.

Swans in northern Japan

Swans in northern Japan

OBIHIRO, Japan - Photo shows swans in fog rising from an arm of the Tokachi River in Obihiro, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 20, 2014.