Hello everyone.
Domingo is currently running a campaign in collaboration with SNOW MIKU 2021 from 1/26 (Tue) to 2/7 (Sun)!

The setting for "Domingo x SNOW MIKU 2021" is Otaru City.
Every year in Otaru City, "Otaru Snow Light Path" is held in February, when the city is lit by candlelight in the beautiful snowy landscape.
*Otaru Snow Light Path 23 has been cancelled.
Therefore, in this campaign, "Otaru Snow Light Path" original goods set will be given away to 5 winners by lottery!
We will inform you about the present campaign in the latter half of this article. Please read to the end.

In this issue, we interviewed Mr. Kondo, the chairman of the Snow Light Path Executive Committee, about "Otaru Snow Light Path," a wintertime tradition in Otaru.

Mr. Nobuhiro Kondo, Chairman of the Executive Committee

What is "Otaru Snow Light Path"?

Otaru Snow Light Path" is a fantastic event where candlelight gently illuminates the old streets.
From 5:00 p.m. when the sun sets until 9:00 p.m. when the streets go completely dark, handmade warm lights will envelop the entire city, with the Otaru Canal and the former site of the Temiya Line as the main venues.

Canal Venues

Tengu Line Venue

Mt. Tengu Venue

The 23rd Otaru Snow Light Path was started in 1999 by citizen volunteers to bring back vitality to the city of Otaru.

Every year, about 500,000 visitors come to Otaru to enjoy the beautiful scenery and warm lights during the 10 days of the festival.

The festival is not only a place for people from all over Hokkaido, but also from Tokyo, Kyoto, Taiwan, China, Korea, and other foreign countries, making it a place for exchange.

The Idea Behind "Snow Light

The beginning of "Otaru Snow Light Path," a wintertime tradition in Hokkaido, is deeply related to the history of Otaru.
The development of Otaru began in 1869 with the establishment of the Kaitakushi (Hokkaido Development Office) in Sapporo.

Otaru Port was positioned as the most important port for the development of Hokkaido and developed as the gateway to Hokkaido, and the Otaru Canal was born as the volume of cargo handled increased.

In 1882, Hokkaido's first railroad, the government-run Horonai Railway, opened to transport coal from the Horonai Coal Mine in the inland area. Otaru's role as a coal depot and shipping port expanded greatly, and the city developed further.

In the 1960s, however, the demand for coal declined due to the energy revolution, and Hokkaido's coal mines closed one after another, leading to the rapid decline of Otaru.
In addition, the number of large-scale stores such as department stores and mass merchandisers increased, and small-scale stores faced a difficult situation.

We want to overcome this suffering and bring back vitality to Otaru. We want to overcome this suffering and bring back vitality to Otaru, and for that purpose, let's work together and encourage each other in the town. Snow Light was a civic activity born from such a desire.

Thus, in 1999, Otaru Snow Light Path was born as a winter festival unique to Otaru.

The 1st Otaru Snow Light Path Poster

This year will mark the 23rd anniversary of the Snow Light Path, which was started by people who care about the town.

Snow Light is powered by the unseen efforts of our volunteer staff.

Some of the volunteer staff have been with Snow Light since its inception, while others are local elementary school students, a group of university students from Kyoto, and even working people from Taiwan who come every year for a month's vacation, representing a wide range of ages and regions.

Every year, a total of about 2,000 people participate as volunteer staff, making snow candles and lighting and watching over the candles.

Volunteers light the candles

The "Otaru Snow Light Path" is a warm, handmade event that would not be possible without the "passion" and "efforts" of many staff members.

(*For the 2021 event, we will not be recruiting volunteers as we have done in previous years in order to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.)

Otaru Snow Light Path 23 has been cancelled.

The 23rd Otaru Snow Light Path Poster

Many people have suffered from the effects of the new coronavirus over the past year.
The "Otaru Snow Light Path" had to be cancelled.

Snow Light Path was originally started as an event to overcome the pinch of the city's decline. It is precisely because of this situation that I believe the power of snow light will light a fire in the hearts of many people.

Akari has the power to heal people as well as to pray for Corona's recovery."

I don't think that snow lights are unique to Otaru. I hope this circle will spread all over the country.

Whether you live in Otaru or not, how about lighting a candle at home this winter?

What is the "Original Goods Set" to be won in the campaign?

In this present campaign, 5 winners will be selected by drawing from among those who have applied to win an "Otaru Snow Light Path Original Goods Set".
Click here to download the application!
Let's take a look at the contents of this set!

It is a wonderful set that allows you to feel the warmth of the Otaru Snow Light Path in the comfort of your own home.
We are looking forward to receiving your application from Domingo application!

Summary

How did the "Otaru Snow Light Path" start and what did you think of this year's event?

The Domingo editorial staff was very excited to learn that the event was created with the desire to restore Otaru's vitality and to overcome the pinch points of the city.

Please apply for the campaign and try to win "Otaru Snow Light Path Original Goods Set"!