2026 Otaru Snow Light Path

 ⛄⛄⛄  2026 Otaru Snow Light Path⛄ ⛄ ⛄

           Feb. 7, 2026 (Saturday) ～ Feb. 14, 2026 (Saturday)

                         5:00 ～ 9:00 pm

The Otaru Snow Light Path, a major winter event in Otaru, will be held.

Amidst the bitter cold, let your heart be warmed by the fantastical glow of candlelight and feel the creators' heartfelt intentions.

Main Festival Sites

・The Canal Site

・Former Temiya Railway Line Site

・Otaru Art Base Site

Opening Ceremony 

February 7, 2026 (Saturday)  
5:00 pm ~

Otaru Art Base Site

Otaru Snow Light Path Website

[Notice]Final Train Departure Time Change from JR Otaru Station

* * * * * * *Notice* * * * * * * 

Final Train Departure Time Change from JR Otaru Station

 

Wednesday, January  28 and Thursday, January 29: Final trains will depart earlier to allow for snow clearance operations.

The last train from Otaru Station bound for Sapporo will be the 20:22 local train to Sapporo.

Please check the JR Hokkaido website for details.　

JR HOKKAIDO RAILWAY COMPANY

Otaru Liner-Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort

 

If you plan to travel from Otaru to Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort, a reservation-only bus service operates from within Otaru city.

Reservations must be made by the day before travel.

• Operating Period: December 19, 2025 - March 8, 2026
• Operating Section: Otaru city, Otaru-Chikko Station, Asarigawa Onsen ⇔ Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort

• Fare:￥2,000 one way
• Reservations:

Outbound: Until 11:59 pm on the day before travel

Return: Until 1:00 pm on the day of travel

• Operating  Company: Hokkai International Service Co.,Ltd.
• Inquiries: Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort

9:00-17:00

+81-11-598-4511

Please check the details on the ski resort's official website or on the booking site. 

 

Mochi-tsuki～ the mochi pounding event

Mochi-tsuki ～the mochi pounding event 

Would you like to come to 'mochi-tsuki' event?

The mochi-pounding is called 'mochi-tsuki' in Japanese and a traditional Japanese event where people make mochi together during the year -end and New Year holidays.

The pounding is done using a large wooden mallet, called a kine,and a hollowed-out stone or wooden mortar ,called an usu.

After pounding the mochi, we'll serve it as kinako mochi and sweet red bean soup.

*Closes as soon as mochi runs out

Mochi-tsuki～ the mochi pounding event

• Date: January 1st ,2026 (Thu)
• Time:①11:00　②13:00
• Place:Port Marche Otarue
• Address:5-3 Minatomachi,Otaru
• TEL:0134-64-1672
• Opening hours:9:00AM-8:00PM

                                9:00AM-5:00PM(New Year's Eve)

                                10:00AM-6:00PM(New Year's Day)

Otaru Canal Tourist Information Center

 Asakusa Bridge Tourist Information Center relocated to the first floor of the Ukiyo-e Museum in June and reopened as Otaru Canal Tourist Information Center.

Luggage lockers have been installed, and a new smartphone charger rental service has also started.

We have maps in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean, so please feel free to stop by . 

Otaru Canal Tourist Information Center

5-4 Minatomachi

9:00～18:00

*Hours subject to change depending on season and events

Open  365 days a year

Map

The 59th Ushio Festival Brochure 2025

 The 59th Ushio Festival Brochure 2025

59th Annual

USHIO MATSURI

July25(Friday)～July27(Sunday)

Otaru's biggest summer Festival 'Ushio Matsuri'  starts tomorrow.

 Hokkaido Otaru Miraisouzou High School Students (local high school) made a brochure in English.

Pick up a brochure at Tourist Information Centers or see below.

Have fun at Ushio Matsuri!

[Closure Notice Due to relocating] Asakusa Bridge Tourist Information Center

Asakusa Bridge Tourist Information Center close temporarily for relocating.

  Schedule 

       

CLOSED : ①May 7 (Wed) ～11 (Sun)

Open in Temporary prefab: May  12(Mon)～Jun 8(Sun)　< Temporary prefab in Asakusa Bridge  >

CLOSED : ②Jun 9  (Mon) ～16 (Mon)

Relocation and reopening : Jun 17(Tue)　

<inside OTARU ART BASE～UKIYOE MUSEUM>

 5-4 Minatomachi

*Subject to change due to construction progress, etc.

*June 17 is the date of the relocation and reopening of Asakusa Bridge Tourist Information Center, not the opening of the OTARU ART BASE～ UKIYOE MUSEUM.