Forget the traditional snowman—these sculptures take things to the next level with designs ranging from hilarious animals to bizarre shapes you’d never expect to see crafted out of snow.

Created by Team North Dakota Snow Sculpting, the eight-by-eight-by-10-foot sculpture showcases traditional Scandinavian rose patterns in a swirl of flowers, animals, and chaotic beauty.

Visitors are flocking to Sapporo, northern Japan, to see frozen sculptures at the festival, which marks its 70th anniversary this year. Almost 200 snow and ice sculptures are on display at three ...