Special Gift and Discount in Girl's Festival

↑ @ Canal Plaza

During the Girl's festival, "Hina Meguri", we can see lots of Hina Dolls in Otaru city.

In addition, if you visit some facilities with guide map of this event, you can get special gift and discount!!

I'm going to introduce some of them today.

【Music Box Museum】 Map# 5

★Get Original Mobile Charm by purchase over 3,000 yen

Address... 4-1, Sumiyoshi cho, Otaru City

Access... 10 minutes walk from JR Minami Otaru station

Tel... +81 134 22 1108

Open... 9:00 ~ 18:00

URL... http://www.otaru-orgel.co.jp/

【Kahisakan Cafe】 Map# 8

★Get 100 yen discount for Cake set menu, 10% discount for Coffee Bean

Address... 5-30, Sakaimachi, Otaru City

Access... 15 minutes walk from JR Otaru station

Tel... +81 134 24 0000

Open... 9:00 ~ 18:00

URL... http://www.kahisakan.jp/index.html

【Otaru Bine】 Map# 20

★Get special gift by eat or drink @ Wine Cafe

Address... 8-6, Ironai 1 chome, Otaru City

Access... 10 minutes walk from JR Otaru station

Tel... +81 134 24 2800

Open... 10:00 ~ 22:30 (Cafe 11:00~)

URL... http://www.otarubine.chuo-bus.co.jp/

【Hokkai Aburiyaki Grilled Seafood】 Map# 24

★Get discount for lunch 1,280yen → 980yen OR 10% discount for your check

Address... 5-4, Minatomachi, Otaru City

Access... 15 minutes walk from JR Otaru station

Tel... +81 134 25 8810

Open... 11:00 ~ 14:30, 17:00 ~ 20:00

URL... http://www.aburiyaki-ungasouko.com/

【Yabuhan Soba Restaurant】 Map# 25

★Get 5% discount for your check

Address... 19-14, Inaho 2 chome, Otaru City

Access... 5 minutes walk from JR Otaru station

Tel... +81 134 33 1212

Open... 11:00 ~ 20:30 (Close on Tuesday)

URL... http://www.yabuhan.co.jp/

【Otaru Craft Beer】 Map# 26

★Get 10% discount for your check

Address... 5-4, Minatomachi, Otaru City

Access... 15 minutes walk from JR Otaru station

Tel... +81 134 21 2323

Open... 11:00 ~ 23:00

URL... http://otarubeer.com/jp/

Please don't forget to bring the leaflet of this event :)

Have Fun!!

Would you like to try wearing Kimono?

I posted about the event named "Hina Meguri" before, and I'm going to introduce the great opportunity for kids to enjoy one of Japanese cultures in Otaru.

That is ... Wearing Kimono!!

During this event, many kinds of events have been held at many places in Otaru and on 26th of February, your kids can try wearing Kimono at Otaru Canal Museum.

Actually, wearing Kimono is difficult for us because we have to wear a layer of Kimono, in addition, wearing Kimono belt is not easy.

However your kids can enjoy it easily at Otaru Canal Museum because simple Kimono to wear will be prepared on the day.

A tea will be held on the same day too.

Why don't you enjoy it???

【Otaru Canal Museum】

Address... 1-20, Ironai 2 chome, Otaru city

Tel... +81 134 22 1258

Access... 10 minutes walk from JR Otaru station

Admission fee... Adult 300 yen, High School Student 150 yen

Business Hour... 9:30 ~ 17:00

Schedule for wearing Kimono... Feb 26 (Sun) 10:30 ~ 15:00

Japanese Traditional Girl's Festival

Hello :)

Have you ever seen these kinds of dolls in the above picture?

In Japan, there is a special festival for girls.

The festival for girls is held on March 3 which is called "Hina Matsuri" (Matsuri means festival).

It is held to pray for young girl's growth and happiness.

Lots of Japanese girls have dolls named "Hina Ningyo" (Ningyo means doll) and from a few days before of the festival, they display them in their houses.

Now, we are having an event named "Hina Meguri" (Meguri means looking around) in tribute to the girl's festival, and you can see lots of "Hina Ningyo" everywhere in Otaru.

Our three tourist informations have Map of "Hina Meguri".

Please don't forget to get it when you walk around Otaru:)

Also you can get special gift or discount at many facilities in Otaru with this map.

"Hina Meguri" Festival

Term... Feb 11 ~ Mar 4

Places you can see dolls... 50 places in Otaru. Please find pink color's flag in front of facilities. This is a sign of Hina Dolls.

During this event, some glass shops and souvenir shops sell pretty pottery Hina dolls and Glass Hina dolls.

Have fun ★★★

Making Wax Bowl

Hi, how are you?

Have you ever heard "Wax Bowl"?

Wax Bowl is quite important thing for our winter event, "Otaru Snow Light Path".

It is a kind of Candle Pot made from wax.

During this event, lots of this Wax Bowl are placed along each lighting path.

I did try making this Wax Bowl with my friends. Volunteers taught us how to make it.

First, do you know what are there in this huge pot?

Actually, this is melted wax which is around 70 degrees.

Let's put the balloon of water!

After repeating for 15 minutes, it becomes thick layers of wax.

Remove the balloon by cutting, cut the mouth of wax bowl to make its look better.

And then put beautiful pressed flowers on the surface of Wax Bowl and coat with melted wax by brush.

We got finished!!

I lit up it at my house.

Lovely isn't it?

Would you like to try making wax bowl?

During this event, you can try it at ease.

Place: Office of Otaru Snow Light Path Planning Committee (Otaru Literary Museum Bldg.)

Time: 18:00~20:00 (Feb. 3~12)

Charge: 800yen

Get Special Service with Official Guide Book

The book I'm holding in above picture is an Official Guide Book for "Otaru Snow Light Path" Festa.

Please don't forget to get it when you enjoy this festa because if you have it, you'll be able to get great services!!

【Shop List &

Their Special Services】

◆Otaru Grilled Food Tsukushi

~ Get a free glass of Beer!! ~

Address: 9-8, Ironai 1 Chome, Otaru City

Tel: +81 134 29 0200

Open Hour: Lunch 11:30~14:00 Dinner 17:00~23:00

◆Soba & Food Yabuhan

~ Get a dessert by order Soba Sake !!~

Address: 19-14, Inaho 2 Chome, Otaru city

Tel: +81 134 33 1212

Open Hour: Lunch 11:00~20:30 (Close 16:00~16:30)

◆Hokkai Aburiyaki Grilled Food

~ Get a free Seafood Soup !!~

Address: 5-4, Minatomachi, Otaru city

Tel: +81 134 25 8810

Open Hour: 11:00~22:00

◆Five Sushi Restaurants (Nihonbashi, Masazushi, Yamatoya, Shikama and Machino)

~ Get a piece of Roasted Medium Fatty Tuna !!~

Every restaurants are located within walking distance.

Please ask us the location when you visit.

Four main venues of Otaru Snow Light Path

Hello, how are you?

The snow came on in Otaru.

I'll introduce you about four main venues of

"Otaru Snow Light Path"

(小樽雪あかりの路)

Feb 3(Fri) ~12(Sun)

★★★Four Main Venues★★★

☆1. Temiya Railway Venue

Access: 5 minutes walk from JR Otaru station.

◆There are many kinds of snow statues such as snow slide, snow tunnel, Ice bar, and so on. Also you can get official goods of this event at this venue. Many volunteers will let you know how to make WAX BOWL here.(Wax Bowl is a kind of special candle for this event.)

☆2. Canal Venue

Access: 10 minutes walk from JR Otaru station.

◆I think the scene of this venue is the most famous because lots of guide book, postcards, leaflets and posters use the picture of Canal Venue. Several hundreds of Floating Glass Candles are floated on the surface of the canal by volunteers. It's amazing view.

☆3. Mt.Tengu Venue

Access: 20 minutes by bus from JR Otaru station bus terminal. 5 minutes to the mountain top by ropeway. Bus fare 210yen. Ropeway fare 1,100yen. Bus#9, Gate#3.

◆One of attractions of Mt.Tengu is the heart shaped tree.

☆4. Asarigawa Onsen Venue

Access: 30 minutes by bus from JR Otaru station bus terminal. Bus fare 320 yen. Bus#13, Gate#2.

◆A number of candles are lit up along the Asari river. Asarigawa Onsen is a hot spring area in Otaru. During this event, you can get 100 yen discount for bathing charge by our official guide book. Lots of facilities have this guide book, please don't forget to get it for your visit.

I'm going to keep posting special information of

"Otaru Snow Light Path".

Have Fun!!

What is "Otaru Snow Light Path"?

"Otaru Snow Light Path" is took place at many places in Otaru city.

There are four main venues that the canal which has supported the development of Hokkaido, The Japan's third railway-The former Temiya Railway, one of the three best nightscapes in Hokkaido-Mt.Tengu, and Asarigawa Onsen area with hot spring and ski resort.

In frigid February, lots of volunteers (not only local people but also many foreign volunteers) take part in this event to make Otaru city romantic by candle light and snow arts with warm hearts.

One of sights you should see is several hundred of floating glass candles on the surface of the canal.

These glass balls were used for herring fishery in previous times.

We will get this event started with opening ceremony and during the period, many kinds of events are held at each venues.

I'll introduce them in derail by little and little.

Have fun!!

MAP of Otaru Snow Light Path Festa

Finally, Otaru's winter romantic event, "Otaru Snow Light Path" will be held from tomorrow for 10 days!!

So far, we has not made maps of other languages but, this year we made them ourselves in English, Koren and Chinese.

There are four main venues, I introduced about the access etc simply.

Would you like to print out this image as a map for your visit?

Or, our three tourist information centers have these maps.

We are looking forward to seeing you in Otaru!! :)