# Otaru Snow Light Path

> 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.

- Prefecture: Hokkaido
- Type: Snow ice
- Admission: Free to attend
- Typically held: About a week in early February, from a Saturday to the following Saturday, lit 17:00 to 21:00.
- Official site: https://yukiakarinomichi.org/

## Dates

- 2027-02-06 to 2027-02-13
- Status: provisional
- Dates verified on 2026-10-29 from https://www.visit-hokkaido.jp/event/detail_11004.html

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.

## Where it happens
- Otaru Canal

## FAQ

### 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.

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Source: [Otaru Snow Light Path — Japan Voyage](https://travel.japanvoyage.jp/festivals/otaru-snow-light-path)
Last updated: 2026-10-29