Snowboard Season Begins: “KENTARO KENNY MATSUDA PHOTO EXHIBITION [22–25]” Opens Dec 10
This year, ski resorts across Hokkaido are opening one after another, and snow days are starting to increase even in the city of Sapporo.
The long-awaited season for snowboarding fans is finally here.
To coincide with the start of the 2025 snowboarding season, Bar Ignis Sapporo, on the 10th floor of our hotel, will be holding a photo exhibition by professional photographer Kentaro Kenny Matsuda on Wednesday, December 10th.
This photo exhibition, taken between 2022 and 2025, will feature impressive photos of snowboarders riding and breathtaking snow-capped mountain scenery, and Kentaro Kenny Matsuda will also be on-site for the event.
To commemorate this event, we will also be welcoming professional snowboarder Ken Otsuka as a special guest.
The venue, Bar Ignis Sapporo, is a bar with a fire theme.
You can enjoy a bonfire on the attached rooftop terrace, and inside the restaurant, which is dotted with antique furniture, you can feel the warmth of the wood and relax as if you were in a lodge.
Before the season starts, everyone who loves snowboarding culture can gather together.
Along with the photo exhibition, you can also enjoy a special time immersed in snowboarding culture while listening to the soothing sounds of a DJ and enjoying drinks prepared by our hotel bartenders!
■ PROFILE
Kentaro Kenny Matsuda
Born in Obihiro, Hokkaido.
He started working as a freelance photographer immediately after graduating from vocational school in 2014. Since then, he has continued to photograph snowboarding in the winter, focusing on advertising photography.
At the young age of 25, he signed with Red Bull Photography, a global action sports photographer agency, and is currently in charge of global photography for Burton Snowboards. Though based in Japan, his work reaches beyond borders and reaches the world.
His works capture the energy of a moment while also displaying a unique sensibility that reflects the photographer’s true essence. His stoic spirit of inquiry and passion for striving for greater heights give his photographs an overwhelming power.
■ GUEST PROFILE
Ken Otsuka（大塚 健）
Born in Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
He started snowboarding at the age of 7 and was active on the world’s highest stage at a young age.
At age 17, he made his debut at X Games Norway 2018 (Big Air), becoming the first Japanese to win and the youngest winner in the competition’s history. He went on to win back-to-back titles at X Games Aspen 2019 (Big Air) the following year, but suffered a serious injury in February 2019, damaging the ligaments in his left knee.
After a long period of rehabilitation, he made a comeback at the 2021 FIS Snowboard World Cup, returning to the world stage.
Currently, while continuing to compete, he is also appearing in video productions such as “PAVED” and “IGNITE,” expanding his range of expression.
■ Event Overview
- EVENT：KENTARO KENNY MATSUDA PHOTO EXHIBITION［22-25］
- Date and Time：December 10, 2025, 19:00 ~ 23:00 (Last Order 22:45)
- Venue：UNWIND HOTEL & BAR SAPPORO, 10th floor Bar Ignis Sapporo
- Participation fee： Free (one drink order required)
Bar Ignis Sapporo
Bar Ignis Sapporo, located on the 10th floor of UNWIND HOTEL & BAR Sapporo, was named IGNIS, meaning “flame,” inspired by the bonfires that are essential to the hotel’s theme of “lodge worldview.” The rooftop terrace, where guests can enjoy the bonfire all year round, will be open and bar menus will be served.
The interior is decorated with antique furniture and the warmth of wood, allowing you to enjoy a relaxing time. Guests are welcome to use the bar alone, or simply enjoy Hokkaido wine, whiskey, and original cocktails in a sophisticated urban lodge setting.
- Location：UNWIND HOTEL & BAR SAPPORO 10th floor Bar Ignis Sapporo
- Business hours：18:30-23:30 (last orders 23:00)
UNWIND HOTEL & BAR SAPPORO
UNWIND HOTEL ＆ BAR SAPPORO is a sophisticated lifestyle hotel with a rustic yet chic atmosphere, offering the extraordinary feel of a lodge and the comfort of home.
<Facility Overview>
- Facility name：UNWIND HOTEL & BAR SAPPORO
- Location：289-111, Minami 8-jo 5-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
- Access：4 minutes walk from Nakajima Park Station on the Namboku Line