Seeing the canal only reinforces that I want to return again in the winter to see this festival. Moving on from that disappointment I still wanted to visit and so here I am. However, I was quite bummed to find that in 2023, the Snow Light Path Festival occurs a week after the Sapporo Snow festival. Normally the two run at the same time so visitors of one can see the other. I had learned of the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival and wanted to visit both the Sapporo snow festival along with this one.
Early in my planning process I was excited to visit the Canal. This is a beautifully restored area lined with shops and restaurants, or at least that’s what I imagine when its not covered in snow! However, I think the snow presents a different (and dare I say) and more beautiful scene. The one other spot I wanted to check out before leaving Otaru is the Canal. I wait about half an hour for the train to Yoichi and we are off again! After more beautiful snowy landscapes we finally arrive in the small town of Yoichi! Add the snowy backdrop and you have the makings of a beautiful coastal winter train ride! After a short while we arrive in Otaru. As you can see from the map above, a good chunk of the ride is along the water. What I didn’t expect is how scenic the trip is. So bright and early, I make my way over to Sapporo Station to catch one of the early trains to Otaru. Ultimately I would miss my appointment time for the distillery tour. This means if I miss my connection on the outbound leg It would be another hour or two wait for the next train to Yoichi. While the directions are simple enough, due to the time of year and weather, there is limited train service between Otaru and Yoichi.
It requires changing trains in Otaru in order to go onward to Yoichi. Yoichi, is a small town that is about an hour and a half west of Sapporo. So knowing that I will be in the vicinity of another famous whisky brand made it a must visit on my list. On my first visit to Japan one of my fondest memories is visiting the Suntory Yamazaki Whisky Museum. Ever since becoming a fan of Whisky, Japanese Whisky has held a special place for as long as I can remember. I will be visiting the Nikka Yoichi Distillery. Today I am taking a day trip from Sapporo to Yoichi.
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