The Otaru Canal, lined with old brick warehouses and softly glowing gas lamps, it feels like stepping back in time, especially at sunset or under a dusting of winter snow. Walking along the canal, the water mirrors the warm lights, the town hums quietly around you, and the scene is impossibly picturesque. It’s classic Otaru, romantic, nostalgic, and impossible not to love.

The Otaru Canal gets even more magical each winter during the annual Otaru Snow Light Path Festival, held this year from February 7 to February 14, 2026. For about a week each early‑to‑mid February evening, thousands of handcrafted snow lanterns and candles light up the canal, Temiya railway path, and surrounding streets, turning the whole area into a glowing, dreamlike scene that’s perfect for strolling and photos. The lights usually glow from around sunset until about 9 PM.