Ahh the Sapporo Beer Festival.

It is one of the things I will miss about Japan.

Yes there is cheap beer but the great part is that there is also family. Lots of kids and kids events. Basically it is one big picnic.

This year there were not as many people as last year but it was still fun. It is basically a time to catch up with a lot of friends.

Kelly and Oewen always get there early so we always have the same spot. They always come with their home made beer coolers that are well used. They make beer trays so that they can carry the maximum amount of beer all at one time.

The day can not be complete without Kelly going into the pond and setting off alarms in the guards heads. Non of us are ever worried – one of Oewen’s students works for Sapporo. It is always nice to have an in.

Then there is the traditional wrestling match that usually involves our Sapporo English student getting dog piled and Kelly getting attacked by all of the children that are picnicking in the area. There is always a Frisbee being tossed with the kids in the area and sometimes a soccer game using a sponge ball.

Everything finishes at 3 and we all head out to the wonderfully organized shuttle buses.

JiXiang was a great girl and the weather was perfect.

Sapporo pictures.