Joanna James
Draping the Ishikari Bay is Otaru, a picturesque port city in Hokkaido, Japan. It is the ultimate destination for that much-awaited family getaway. The Otaru Snow Light Path Festival is something that you must witness to experience the magical ambience of a full moon day.
Otaru Snow Light Path Festival is celebrated rather festively under the harsh winter conditions that are usual in the city during February. The white backdrop of Otaru during this period contributes to the enchanting atmosphere of this festival. This festival makes this city shine a little brighter among the other lesser-known cities in Japan.
There are two main venues that this dazzling festival is celebrated in Otaru each year. One of them is a place near the historic Otaru Canal, Unga Kaijo, to which the crowds attract the most as the night strolls towards the dawn. The other is the former Japan National Railways Temiya Line (Temiyasen Kaijo) that keeps the history of Otaru alive. These two are located within a fifteen-minute walking distance from many an Otaru hotel near JR Station the likes of Grand Park Otaru.
Starting from around the second week of February, the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival is celebrated in a winter wonderland where thousands of light-emitting devices bathe the whole region in a calming yellow haze. From five in the evening until nine in the night, the two areas are lit up, highly reminiscing of a scene from a fairy tale.
The Otaru Snow Light Path Festival was first celebrated in the last year of the 20th century, and it has continued further into the next for exactly two decades on a yearly basis.
The dates of the Otaru Snow Light Path Festivities are fixed to roughly coincide with its blockbuster relative, the Sapporo Snow Festival. Those who are visiting Otaru festivities can also look forward to experiencing the extravagant celebrations in Sapporo as the two cities lie less than an hour away from each other.
Lying about 300 metres along the Otaru Canal, an iconic landmark of the city, Unga Kaijo is the most famous of the two areas. The newly-refurbished warehouses and the twinkling gas lamps floating along the lake paves the way for a magical atmosphere, which succeeds in transporting the onlookers to an entirely different world that feeds on stardust. Beside the canal, one would be able to see intricately carved snow sculptures that hold candles that create a mystic aura about them.
Between the Otaru JR Station and the canal, one would be able to walk into the Temiyasen Kaijo, which stretches for about half a kilometre along the former Japan National Railways Temiya Line. During the festival, this place gets bathed in a warm glow that is emanated by the lanterns and the pretty snow carvings placed everywhere. Few food stands offer warm drinks and delicious bites to heighten the experience.
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