Otaru

Understand

Approximately 30 km to the west of Sapporo, Otaru is a port city by the Sea of Japan with a canal and well-preserved architectures of early modern Japan in the Meiji era. Most of the attractions are found in the city center surrounding the Otaru port. Otaru's original name in the local Ainu language was "Otarunai" or "Ota-or-nai", meaning "river flowing through sand". The area's recorded history goes back to the 16th century, when an explorer from the Honshu island reported settlement. Otaru's early modern history as a port city started in 1871, when Japan's Meiji government opened a colonization office in Sapporo. Rapid development followed, especially after the first railway in Hokkaido was built in 1880 between Otaru and Sapporo. Still a busy port town, today's Otaru has a thriving tourism industry. Winter in Otaru is less severe than in most other cities in Hokkaido; the yearly average temperature is 8.6 °C.

Tourist information The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

Getting there

By train There are 3 stations in Otaru. 1 Otaru Station. (updated Nov 2020) is the closest station to downtown and a major station on the JR Hakodate Line. It is the terminus of most services from Sapporo and Niseko. All trains from Sapporo also call at 2 Minami-Otaru Station. (updated Nov 2020) and 3 Otaruchikko station. (updated Sep 2025).

From Sapporo Trains from Sapporo are frequent, approximately once every 20 minutes throughout the day. The fastest service, the Airport Rapid, takes 30 minutes from Sapporo; from New Chitose Airport it takes 70 minutes. In September, the Niseko (Limited Express) operates one daily trip from Sapporo to Otaru; seat reservations are mandatory.

From Niseko There are only 8 services a day from Niseko. All services are local trains, stopping at all intermediate stations. Travel time is approximately 2 hours from Niseko. In September the Niseko (Limited Express) operates one daily trip from Niseko to Otaru in the afternoon; seat reservations are mandatory.

By car Otaru is 25 minutes away from Sapporo by car.

By ferry Otaru is one of Hokkaido's key ferry ports, and the closest to Sapporo. Shin-Nihonkai Ferry(+81 6-6348-1120) operates a daily service between Otaru and Niigata (18 hours, ¥6,200+) and between Otaru and Maizuru near Kyoto (20 hours, ¥9,600+). Both services are overnight, and private cabins are available for a higher fare (the base fare buys sleeping space on the floor). All services depart/arrive from 4 Otaru Ferry Terminal. (updated Sep 2025).

Getting around

By foot Many of its historical buildings, restaurants and shops are within easy walking distance so walking is a very easy (and cheap) means of getting around. A suggested walking itinerary begins from the Otaru Music Box Museum at one end of Sakaimachihondori Street, follow the street until it crosses a small canal, walk up the street until the Museum of the Money, and then follow the canal down and then keep following the canal when it turns left and widens up.

By bus Chuo Bus (route page in Japanese) runs a number of bus services, useful for getting to attractions further afield. Most buses stop at the central bus station, located to your right immediately upon exiting the Otaru railway station.

See

1 Otaru Canal (小樽運河), 色内１丁目, ☏ +81 134 32-4111. The canal was completed in 1923. The canal has been developed as a walkway. It is lit at night by gas lamps and walkway lights. Located 10 minutes walk from Otaru Station. Free. 2 Otaru Music Box Museum (小樽オルゴール堂), 1-2-3 Irifune, ☏ +81 134 22-1108, fax: +81 134 21-2531, [email protected]. 09:00-19:00. A museum that contains exhibits about the development of music boxes, a collection of several notable music boxes, as well as an extensive store that carries many different types. For a fee, customers can build their own music boxes. The museum is also part of a larger complex of buildings in the surrounding area, which include a stuffed animal collection as well as an antiques museum. Free. 3 Steam Clock (蒸気時計 jōgi tokei) (at the "meruhen" intersection (メルヘン交差点, meruhen kōsaten)). Outside of the music box museum, the steam clock was a gift from Vancouver to Otaru. Powered entirely by steam, the clock plays a chime every 15 minutes, and features the main steam whistle on the hour. 4 Mount Tengu (天狗山). Named after the elusive tengu god, Mount Tengu is a popular viewpoint where you can see all of the city and the Sea of Japan. The view is said to be one of Hokkaido's top three night views. There is also a free Tengu Museum with information and artifacts about tengu, a Ski Museum, hiking trails, and restaurants. Mount Tengu can be accessed by the Tenguyama Ropeway (¥840 one way, ¥1400 roundtrip). (updated Feb 2021) 5 Otaru City Museum, 1 Chome-3-6 Temiya. 09:30-17:00 (closed Tu). Railway museum with examples of the snowplows used on Hokkaido’s railways. From May-Oct, there is a short ride on a steam train, running 3 times daily at no additional charge. Adults ¥400, concession ¥300. (updated Sep 2025) 6 Stained Glass Museum, 1 Chome-2-17 Ironai. May-Oct 09:30-17:00, Nov-Apr 10:00-17:00. The stained glass pieces that are owned by the Stained Glass Museum (former Takahashi Warehouse), inside the Otaru Art Base, were cra

Do

Create your own music box at the Music Box museum. 1 Otaru Snow Light Festival (小樽雪あかりの路 Otaru Yuki Akari no Michi). held annually in February. Called "Yuki Akari no Michi", this Winter festival features paths illuminated with lanterns made of ice. The most scenic view is from the Otaru canal. You can also view many ice lanterns clustered along the abandoned railway a few blocks away from the canal. The festival runs in the first-second week of February.

Buy

Music boxes. You'll find these in Hakodate and Sapporo as well, but shops dedicated to music boxes are especially prevalent here. The two museums selling music boxes are well worth a look, particularly for the hand-cranked variety which emit tunes using a piece of cardboard with holes punched in it. Antiques. If you walk from central station straight towards the canal district, you'll see a karaoke centre called Thriller Karaoke with a bat gargoyle above the sign. Turn right until you see an eatery called Kongetsudo on the left hand side. Across the road are two antique dealers, one male and one female, on the second storey of a small building that sell mainly kimono. This place is worth a visit as you can pick authentic kimono quite cheap here. Just remember that you may have to haggle up to 50% off the price of a kimono with the male dealer if you are a foreigner. Glassware. Otaru is famous among Japanese for its glassware. You can buy all types of articles made of glass, from useful cups, bottles and plates, to tiny decorative fishes.

1 Kitaichi Glass (北一硝子 Kitaichi Garasu), 堺町７−２６, ☏ +81 134 33-1993. 09:00-18:00. Otaru hand-made crystal is one of the most famous in Japan.

Eat

Otaru is the best town in Hokkaido for sushi, and it ranks high