Ultimate Guide to the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival, Japan
The Otaru Snow Light Path Festival was one of my favourite things I did in Japan. It’s held every year at a similar time to the more famous Sapporo Ice Festival. Here’s what I think you need to know before you go…
Igloos, snow hearts, snow mazes and canal side snowman lights – that’s what you can expect at the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival. For ten days in February Otaru lights up and it’s one of the sweetest, most charming, celebrations I’ve ever been to.
The Otaru Snow Light Path Festival
I was there on the first day and saw hundreds of people mucking in during daylight to help – making snow castles in buckets like they were on the beach, using cookie cutters to create the star shapes and packing snow to form the awesome snow maze. By the time darkness fell it was all ready and the streets of Otaru looked magical.
Most of the action is along the canal with the water flanked by lit up snow creations and floating lights out on the canal surface. Further up into town there are more snow light sites – one with a snow bar, another with a huge heart for the all important photos.
Every February, the snowy city of Otaru in Hokkaido, Japan comes to life in a dazzling display of winter lights. Picture a sleepy canal lined with floating lanterns contrasting to the fluffy snowbanks and warehouses of the canal’s walkways where more lanterns have been set. Once you’ve pictured this magical scene, you’ve got a pretty good idea of what to expect when you visit the Otaru Snow Light Festival.
This snowy wonderland happens for 10 days when the town comes together to light lanterns and decorate the romantic Otaru Canal. The warm lantern lighting filling the snowbanks and floating along the canal create a warm atmosphere that brightens up the bitter winter cold. In the city, many local shop owners decorate their storefronts to add to the magical ambiance that makes Otaru a wonderful winter destination.
There are two main areas to visit during the Snow light festival, each one is lit up every day at the same time and is within walking distance to each other, making the festival easy to experience.
When to go to the Otaru Snow Light Festival
The Otaru Snow Light Festival is held for 10 days in February every year and coincides with the more famous Sapporo Snow Festival which is held for 7 days. This allows visitors to experience both festivals very easily.
The best time to visit the festivals is during the period they overlap so that you are able to visit both at your leisure.
While the Sapporo Snow Festival has always been the showstopper, the Otaru allows an undeniable romantically quaint atmosphere that draws many visitors to the snowy city every year.
I actually much preferred the Otaru Light Festival.
Where to go at the Otaru Light Festival
The Unga Kaijo area
The main place to see these beautiful lanterns is the Unga Kaijo area. A 300-metre walking space along the Otaru Canal is lit up by mystical lanterns or candles located within beautiful snow sculptures.