February 8, 2014 morning
Today was our busiest day so far. The weather was supposed to be nice- and by nice I mean -2F in the morning, sunny and not snowing. We took a 45 minute train to Otaru, which is a town along the ocean which is famous for glass blowing. I'd been there once before, in the summer of 2007, and made my own little vase out of glass. I had forgotten that the train takes us along the ocean for a bit. It was incredible to see the snow meet the ocean, snow on the rocks out in the ocean and the mountains across the water, off in the distance. We even saw 2 (insane) surfers out in the water.
We started walking around Otaru with no real plan. It's a small town, so I figured we'd walk around for a few hours until we were tired and cold. We happened upon a snow sculpture filled street and decided to go down it. Apparently the Otaru Yuki Akari started on Saturday night. We could tell that candles had been lit all down the passage. There were votive type things made out of snow/ ice to hold the snow. Every night for the next week the town will light up the passage with candles. Unfortunately, we won't be back to see it.
We headed toward the ocean and down the major omiyage street (gifts and tourist shopping). The street was beautiful and there were tons of great shops with glass figurines, glass beads, as well as glasses, plates, vases, etc. The whole town was covered in snow, so it was cold out, but the sun definitely helped (so did going into shops every half block). The one thing that has surprised me is they don't really seem to shovel the sidewalks and definitely don't clear the roads. We have been walking on packed snow for days now.
The Otaru Yuki Akari festival started on Friday night, so we saw the melted, snow covered spots where the candles had been.
This park was over the old train tracks. Not sure if there is a running train during he summer.m
Crazy ducks chillin I'm the water and sleeping on the ice!
We bought several small glass pieces. Mom's paper shopping bag got a plastic "rain coat"... In times like this, "Oh Japan!" Is all that can be said. Lol
We actually saw people eating soft cream!
It's ONLY -2 C outside. The sun really did help... And the shops we went to every few steps.
Otaru canal. I have such a bad memory, none of this looked familiar!
Crab in the ice wall
Cuz sometimes, you just have to buy a snowman pastry!
Today was our busiest day so far. The weather was supposed to be nice- and by nice I mean -2F in the morning, sunny and not snowing. We took a 45 minute train to Otaru, which is a town along the ocean which is famous for glass blowing. I'd been there once before, in the summer of 2007, and made my own little vase out of glass. I had forgotten that the train takes us along the ocean for a bit. It was incredible to see the snow meet the ocean, snow on the rocks out in the ocean and the mountains across the water, off in the distance. We even saw 2 (insane) surfers out in the water.
We started walking around Otaru with no real plan. It's a small town, so I figured we'd walk around for a few hours until we were tired and cold. We happened upon a snow sculpture filled street and decided to go down it. Apparently the Otaru Yuki Akari started on Saturday night. We could tell that candles had been lit all down the passage. There were votive type things made out of snow/ ice to hold the snow. Every night for the next week the town will light up the passage with candles. Unfortunately, we won't be back to see it.
We headed toward the ocean and down the major omiyage street (gifts and tourist shopping). The street was beautiful and there were tons of great shops with glass figurines, glass beads, as well as glasses, plates, vases, etc. The whole town was covered in snow, so it was cold out, but the sun definitely helped (so did going into shops every half block). The one thing that has surprised me is they don't really seem to shovel the sidewalks and definitely don't clear the roads. We have been walking on packed snow for days now.
The Otaru Yuki Akari festival started on Friday night, so we saw the melted, snow covered spots where the candles had been.
This park was over the old train tracks. Not sure if there is a running train during he summer.m
Crazy ducks chillin I'm the water and sleeping on the ice!
We bought several small glass pieces. Mom's paper shopping bag got a plastic "rain coat"... In times like this, "Oh Japan!" Is all that can be said. Lol
We actually saw people eating soft cream!
It's ONLY -2 C outside. The sun really did help... And the shops we went to every few steps.
Otaru canal. I have such a bad memory, none of this looked familiar!
Crab in the ice wall
Cuz sometimes, you just have to buy a snowman pastry!
Location:Otaru, Sapporo
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