Otaru Snow Light Path Festival Day Tour from Sapporo

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Aside from enjoying snow and ice scupltures and some snow activities and shows in the Sapporo Snow Festival and Asahikawa Winter Festival, you can also enjoy the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival for a creative display of candles and snow statues in one trip on a February.

Otaru is easily accessible with just around a 30-minute train ride from Sapporo. Human rickshaws are waiting as you walk through their streets if you want to tour around Otaru in a different way.

The Otaru Snow Light Path Festival has two sites, the Unga Kaijo site along the Otaru Canal and the Temiyasen Kaijo site along the former Temiya line railway.

How to Go to the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival from Sapporo

1. Ride the JR Hakodate line train from Sapporo Station to Otaru Station (5 stops, 33 minutes, JPY1280 ~ Php600).

2. Walk to the former Temiyasen railway around 600 meters or six blocks from Otaru station for the Temiyasen Kaijo site.

3. Walk further to the Otaru Canal around 400 meters or three blocks from the Temiyasen Kaijo site for the Unga Kaijo site.

We reached the Temiyasen Kaijo site first as we walked from Otaru Station. I was easily overwhelmed by the beautiful displays of candles and snow statues.

Locals also volunteered to grill potatoes to give to the passers-by. Such warmth amidst the cold.

I cannot help but go through each display and every corner. Do the same to make the most of your visit to the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival at the Temiyasen Kaijo site, too.

Snow formed into hearts, igloos, snowman couples, and more will make you walk smiling all throughout at the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival. Smiles will just form on your face as you walk through the 500-meter stretch of creative displays starting at the Temiyasen Kaijo site.

As if the Temiyasen Kaijo site was not enough, we walked further for another set of candles and snow statues along the Otaru Canal for the Unga Kaijo site of the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival.

The Unga Kaijo site sets a different mood and ambiance as candles spread throughout the Otaru Canal and its surroundings.

I can’t help but smile as I look at the displays especially the snow igloos with couple snow statues inside, each of them creatively dressed up differently.

The snow hearts and candle light displays stretch to around 300 meters along Otaru Canal beside a bridge.

Walking through the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival sites is free. Prepare to smile a lot and feel warm as I did during my visit. Watch our vlog for our Otaru Snow Light Path Festival trip here for proof.