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Otaru Snow Light Path

Hokkaido · Snow and ice festival

For about a week each February, Otaru lines its canal and an old railway line with snow lanterns and candles, every evening from 17:00.

Dates

6 to 13 February 2027

Provisional, not yet confirmed by the organizers

The 29th edition. The Hokkaido tourism organisation lists these dates; the organisers had not announced them on their own site yet.

About a week in early February, from a Saturday to the following Saturday, lit 17:00 to 21:00.

Dates checked against the official site on October 29, 2026

The festival takes its name from a book of poems by Sei Ito, a writer who grew up in Otaru, and it has been held since 1999. There are two main sites. On the canal, around two hundred glass fishing floats with candles inside are set on the water below the old warehouses. Along the Temiya line, a disused railway that runs through the town, the tracks are lined with snow lanterns and small snow sculptures. Much of the lighting is done by volunteers, some of them from abroad, and side streets and shopfronts across the town put out their own lanterns. Entry is free. The dates usually overlap the Sapporo Snow Festival, and Otaru is a short train ride from Sapporo, so many visitors see Sapporo by day and come to Otaru for the evening.

Getting a good spot

The canal is busiest just after the lights come on at 17:00. The Temiya line site is a short walk inland and usually quieter. The organisers provide no parking, so come by train.

Where it happens

Otaru Canal Main site A canal lined with stone warehouses and gas lamps in the old port town of Otaru.

Access

Common questions

When is the Otaru Snow Light Path in 2027?

From 6 to 13 February 2027, according to the Hokkaido tourism organisation. It is usually lit 17:00 to 21:00 each evening. Check the organisers' site before booking.

Can you see the Otaru Snow Light Path and the Sapporo Snow Festival on the same trip?

Usually, yes. The two run at the same time in early February, and Otaru is a short train ride from Sapporo, so you can spend the day in Sapporo and the evening in Otaru.