This yukitouro (snow candle path) in Miyama Village awes thousands of visitors with stunning scenes of snow-covered thatched roofs lit with hundreds of lanterns.
Coming from Osaka or Kyoto? Try out this bus tour and get to the festival without any trouble.
What happens?
There will be snow lanterns, Japanese lanterns, flower lanterns, and LED lanterns, all lit at once to bathe the quiet town in a beautiful winter glow. Eighteen of the town’s thatched houses will also be illuminated, creating some pretty beautiful scenes.
Schedule 2025
The illumination will begin from 5 p.m. and continue until 7:30 p.m. From 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. each day, you can try your hand at making snow lanterns with the local residents (¥100) in front of Restaurant Kitamura.
On January 29, there will be a fireworks display from 6:30 p.m.
You can enjoy local street food and festival stalls from 2 to 7 p.m. every day.
How to get there
Take the JR line from Kyoto to Sonobe or Hiyoshi Station and then catch the Nantan city bus to Kita-village (takes about 1 hour). There are no late return busses though, so please check schedules or make alternative plans using private transport. There will also be a special shuttle bus from Sonobe Station. Details are announced on the official bus website here.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.
