Otaru Snow Light Path 小樽雪あかりの路

The Snow Light Path lights up the port city of Otaru every winter. This festival of flickering lights and glowing snow statues adds some warmth to the sometimes bitter temperatures. The canal and the Former Temiya Railway are the primary snow light paths, but this is a community festival, and lights can be seen all over the area.

The area can be accessed by train.

Take a 30- to 35-minute rapid train from Sapporo Station to Otaru Station and then walk about eight to 10 minutes to get to the Otaru Snow Light Path area.

Otaru's historic streetscapes are bathed in candlelight during the Otaru Snow Light Path illumination event, which is held every winter in February. It is held at the same time as the Sapporo Snow Festival , so visitors to the area can experience both.

The main event sites are the Otaru Canal, the Former Temiya Railway, and the Asarigawa hot spring village. The canal transforms into a floating sea of glass-blown candles, and the flames flicker like the stars in the sky. Along the old railway line, snow sculptures and other objects are bathed in the warm glow of candlelight. The third event site, along river in the Asarigawa hot spring village, feels special and is less-visited than the other venues.