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Sapporo, Japan
Long overshadowed by Tokyo and Kyoto, this young Japanese city is finally coming of age. It has a thriving food scene, and is world-famous for its ramen and beer. Every February, thousands flock to the Sapporo Snow Festival which features concerts, snow sculptures, snow rafting, and other winter festivities. Fun fact: Sapporo is the second snowiest city in the world, receiving about twice as much snow than Buffalo, New York.