A Walk Through Otaru's Snow Light Path Festival
Take a stroll with us through this beautiful evening festival and see why it is such a popular day trip destination!
Looking down the Otaru Canal while everything is light up in the night.
The Otaru Snow Light Path Festival began in 1999 and brought in over 500,000 sightseers this past year alone. Set in the already picturesque Otaru Canal it transforms the beautiful area into something truly magical.
The Otaru Snow Light Path Festical is without a doubt one of the more romantic getaways during the Hokkaido winter season. It's close proximity to Niseko is a real bonus for guests to the Niseko area as it has become quite popular evening escape.
You can catch a train between Kutchan, Hirafu, or Niseko station and ride up to Otaru station for an evening walk, maybe dinner, and get back into the Niseko area before the trains stop for the evening.
Here are some of our photos from this year's Snow Light Festival!
Walk along the Otaru Canal during the cold and dark night. Your breath will glow in the light of the thousands of candles that run along the canal walkway. Each year, the displays become more and more intricate and elaborate.
While the setting is great for an intimate evening with your significant other, it is still a great place to go for a solitary walk or even a trip with the family. The views are truly stunning and can be quite calming and relaxing for a simple stroll.
An excellent spot for a photo, a romantic sight for a memorable night!
Still not sure what to make of the festival? We found an excellent video that provides a number of great shots from around the 2014 Otaru Snow Light Path Festival to give you more of an idea of what to expect.
