The giant straw sculptures of Japan 【Photos】

Many of you have probably heard about the massive snow sculptures of the Sapporo Snow Festival, adding a fun event to look forward to in the dead of the harsh winters of Japan’s northernmost prefecture. But what about the straw sculptures of the Wara Art Festival in Niigata Prefecture? To celebrate the end of the rice harvest and the abundance of straw that is produced as a result, the folks in Niigata put all that extra dried stuff to creative use, making huge straw sculptures that tower over the thousands of people who come to visit them.

The sculptures are actually made much like a thatched roof, but the straw is instead attached to frames to create enormous figures.

The effort it takes to erect these straw sculptures is amazing! Let’s take a look at a few more from Niigata, Japan.

▼ Stepping back, you can really begin to appreciate the shear size of these straw beasts.

▼ Only the brave dare enter.

▼ Not quite as impressive as the other straw sculptures, but definitely the most fun.

▼ When giants walked the earth.

▼ Look closely, you might find a little butterfly friend.

▼ The best seat in the house.

Source: Kotaku
Images: Haikai Nikki, Miniriver, fujiko, hataimi3, 123ikko, kohebi