Otaru Lantern Festival

Otaru "is a city and port in Shiribeshi, Hokkaidō, Japan, northwest of Sapporo. The city faces the Ishikari Bay, and has long served as the main port of the bay. With its many historical buildings, Otaru is a popular tourist destination." ~ Wikipedia

This is the Otaru Canal. "Otaru Canal (Otaru Unga) used to be a central part of the city's busy harbor in the first half of the 20th century, when large vessels had to be unloaded by smaller ships, which then transported the goods to warehouses along the canal. The canal became obsolete, when modern dock facilities allowed for direct unloading of larger vessels. Thanks to a citizens' movement, however, a part of the canal was beautifully restored in the 1980s instead of being landfilled, while the warehouses were transformed into shops, cafes, museums and restaurants." ~Japan-guide

And now you are about to find out why this is my new favorite city on Hokkaido... maybe in all of Northern Japan... maybe in all of Japan...

Otaru Canal  

Otaru is famous for its glass works. There were a handful of shops where people were actaully blowing glass and you could make your own beads. This was one of those shops, they have the rods of colored glass to pick from then then you sit at these tables and they help you make your own beads.. this kid looks like he is making one for his girlfriend... he looked pretty stressed out! 

There were also dozens of shops that sold the glassworks. Shelves and shelves and more shelves of super delicate tiny glass things... they made me nervous... plus I had a camera bag and a tripod strapped to my back so I was sure I would crash into something... luckily I did not. 

This was on the main strip of shops, art galleries and restaurants right next to the canal... they called it snowman street because every shop had a snowman or two or three built outside... It was the cutest thing. Just imagine you are walking downtown or in your neighborhood and in front of every building there was a little wonky snowman... all lit with candles. It was so cute and intimate and I felt  like I belonged. 

This was in front of another building... snow shelves with mini snowmen and ice lanterns. This is why the festival is called the lantern festival... Because everything is aglow in soft candle light. It was so amazing. 

More ice and snow lanterns but these were located right on the main canal.

Nighttime Otaru Canal... it was so romantic

This is all on a third street in Otaru with glass floats ablaze and snow sculptures everywhere... they however weren't big like the Sapporo ones, they were small and intimate and really cool, the kind of cool that makes you think... "hmm next time is snows I am building this on my porch"

This is why this is my new favorite city!

Reasons Why I Loved the Otaru Lantern Festival:

Romantic Intimate and charming city

Really Delicious Food!!! 

Felt a personal connection like I was a part of the festival not just observing

Super easy to get to from Sapporo via Train

Reasons Why I Didn't Love the Festival:

None