What is the Otaru Snow Light Path?
Otaru is a small port city on the coast of Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island, about half an hour from Sapporo. It is known for its canal, lined with old stone warehouses, its glassworks and its music boxes. Every February, when the city lies under deep snow, it lights up with tens of thousands of candles for the Otaru Yuki Akari no Michi, the Snow Light Path.
The festival began in 1999 and takes its name from a work by the Otaru-born writer Ito Sei. It is run largely by volunteers, including many from abroad, who build snow lanterns, sculptures and candle displays across the city. Unlike the giant ice sculptures of the Sapporo Snow Festival nearby, the Snow Light Path is quiet, intimate and romantic.
The two main venues are the Otaru Canal and the Temiya Line, a disused railway line. Along the canal, glass floating candles bob on the water beneath the old warehouses, and snow lanterns line the paths along the banks. On the Temiya Line, the old tracks become a path of snow lanterns, snow sculptures and small domes lit from within. Other venues, including Otaru Art Base and Mount Tengu, add more displays.
The candles are lit each evening from 5pm to 9pm, and the soft glow against the snow, with gentle snowfall and the warehouses in the background, makes it one of the most beautiful winter scenes in Japan.
Otaru itself is worth the trip. Once one of Hokkaido's busiest ports, it kept many of its stone warehouses, banks and merchant houses from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and its canal, glass shops and sushi restaurants make it a favourite day trip from Sapporo all year round.
What to expect
The festival runs for eight days in early February, with candles lit each evening.
Late afternoon
Lighting the candles
Volunteers light the candles around 5pm as darkness falls, and visitors start to walk the paths.
Evening
The canal
Floating candles glow on the Otaru Canal, with snow lanterns along the banks and the old warehouses lit up behind.
Evening
The Temiya Line
Along the old railway, snow lanterns and sculptures light the way, with small domes and displays made by volunteers.
Snow lanterns on the Snow Light Path
Photo by redlegsfan21 / flickr · CC BY-SA 2.0
Planning your trip
Getting there
Otaru is about 35 minutes from Sapporo by JR train, and about 80 minutes from New Chitose Airport on a direct train. The canal is about a 10-minute walk from Otaru Station, and the Temiya Line venue is nearby.
Where to stay
Otaru has hotels and traditional inns near the canal, which fill up during the festival. Many visitors stay in Sapporo and come for the evening, but staying in Otaru lets you enjoy the candles without rushing for the last train.
What it costs
The festival is free. Otaru is moderately priced, with excellent seafood, sushi and sweets, though February is a busy season in Hokkaido.
Go like you know
- Eat sushi on Otaru's Sushi Street, famous for fresh Hokkaido seafood.
- Visit the glass workshops and the Otaru Music Box Museum by day.
- Try the warm drinks and snacks sold by volunteers along the paths.
- Arrive just after 5pm, when the candles are freshly lit, to see the paths at their best.
- Walk the Temiya Line first, then the canal, for a loop of about an hour.
- Visit Otaru's old stone warehouses, now shops and cafés, before the candles are lit.
- Bring hand warmers; you'll want to stay outside longer than expected.
- Catch a train back to Sapporo before the evening rush, as trains fill up when the candles go out.
- Bring a camera with a good low-light setting; the scenes are magical.
- The Sapporo Snow Festival is Hokkaido's great winter festival of snow and ice sculptures.
- China's Harbin Ice and Snow Festival is the world's largest ice festival.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Otaru Snow Light Path in 2027?
The 29th Snow Light Path is scheduled for February 6 to 13, 2027. The candles are lit each evening from about 5pm to 9pm. The festival usually overlaps with the Sapporo Snow Festival, which runs from February 4 to 11 in 2027.
Is it free?
Yes. The Snow Light Path is free to visit, and the venues along the canal and the Temiya Line are open to everyone in the evenings. There is no parking for visitors, so take the train. You only pay for food, drinks and souvenirs from the shops and stalls.
Can I volunteer?
Yes. The festival is run largely by volunteers, including many from abroad, who build the snow lanterns and light the candles each evening. Check the festival's website in the autumn for information on volunteering, which usually requires registering in advance.
