7 recommended sightseeing spots in Otaru to enjoy even on rainy days
The nostalgic streets of Otaru stir up a sense of travel. It is fun to stroll around with a camera in hand, but there are many places where you can fully enjoy Otaru's charms even in unfavorable weather. Here we introduce some of the sightseeing spots where you can enjoy the history and culture of Otaru as a prosperous port town, as well as the rich natural environment and experience programs at Property and other facilities.
1Otaru Aquarium
Aquarium with marine life and scale typical of Hokkaido
The aquarium is located about 15 minutes by car from downtown Otaru. More than 250 species of marine animals and fish are on display at any given time. The "Panoramic Migration Tank of the Sea," where schools of large sharks and rays swim around with ease, is something you will never get tired of seeing.
The only facility in Japan that keeps and exhibits harbor porpoises, which are rare in the world, and the largest number of seals and Steller's sea lions in Japan are also exhibited here. Itou, one of the largest freshwater fish in Japan, and halibut (a member of the flounder family) and Pacific octopus, which are among the largest in the world, are also kept in the aquarium, which is surprisingly large in scale for the vast island of Hokkaido.
Dolphin show time and a touch pool with a water temperature of 3°C
At the Dolphin Stadium, visitors can watch a show of bottlenose dolphins and otaries (a member of the sea lion family). Children and adults alike are sure to be enthralled by the power of the dolphins as they splash and jump, and the humor and laughter of the otaries as they perform.
The touch area "Touch Ezone" is a spot where visitors can touch starfish, northern sea urchins, and other sea creatures that live in the sea of Hokkaido. There is also a touch pool where the water temperature is 3 degrees Celsius, the same temperature as the sea in Otaru in midwinter, and visitors will surely feel the toughness of creatures living in the extremely cold sea.
- Otaru Aquarium
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3-303, Shukuzu, Otaru City, Hokkaido MAP
Take a bus from JR Otaru Stn. and get off at Otaru Aquarium.
9:00-17:00 (10:00-16:00 in winter)
*Closing hours may change depending on the season. Check the website for details.
Late February to mid-March, late November to mid-December
Kaijyu Park and the amusement park are closed in winter.
Winter (mid-December to late February): High school students and older: 1,300 yen, elementary and junior high school students: 500 yen, infants (3 years and older): 300 yen
Normal (mid-March to late November): 1,800 yen for high school students and older, 700 yen for elementary and junior high school students, and 350 yen for infants (3 years old and older).
0134-33-1400
Admission charged (free in winter)
2Otaru Art Village
Four museums in historical buildings
Otaru City developed as the core of Hokkaido's economy from the Meiji Period to the early Showa Period. The Otaru Art Village utilizes five historical buildings that retain vestiges of the city's prosperity and exhibits outstanding art and craft works from Japan and abroad.
The "Stained Glass Museum," which utilizes the former Arata Shokai and Takahashi Warehouse, exhibits approximately 100 pieces of stained glass windows produced in England from the late 19th to early 20th century. It is a rare museum where visitors can appreciate in front of their eyes the works that once decorated the windows of churches and made people look up to them.
Enjoy domestic and foreign art works and architectural styles reflecting the times to your heart's content
The Nitori Art Museum, housed in the former Otaru branch of the Hokkaido Takushoku Bank, exhibits Japanese paintings by Yokoyama Taikan and others, Western-style paintings by Kishida Ryusei and others from Japan and abroad, and modern and contemporary crafts. The Museum of Western Art, located in a former Naniwa warehouse on the Otaru Canal, features Western art, including glass art and furniture representative of the Art Nouveau movement. At the "Former Otaru Branch of Mitsui Bank," visitors can tour the interior of the bank building, designated as an important cultural asset by the Japanese government. Don't miss the projection mapping shown on the entire surface of the vaulted ceiling. We recommend that you take advantage of the special discount ticket for the four museums and enjoy the tour in detail.
- Otaru Art Village
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- 1-3-1 Shikinai, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido MAP
- 10 min. walk from JR Otaru Station
- May-October 9:30-17:00
November-April: 10:00-16:00
Admission until 30 minutes before closing
Opening hours are subject to change. - The 4th Wednesday of every month from May to October, every Wednesday from November to April (open if the Wednesday falls on a national holiday, closed the following day), year-end and New Year's holidays
*Subject to temporary closures or changes in closing dates due to the holding of special exhibitions or changes in exhibits, etc. - Common ticket for 4 museums: Adults 2,900 yen, college students 2,000 yen, high school students 1,500 yen, junior high school students 1,000 yen, elementary school students 500 yen
Museum of Western Art: Adults 1,500 yen, college students 1,000 yen, high school students 700 yen, junior high school students 500 yen, elementary school students 300 yen
Nitori Art Museum: Adults 1,500 yen, college students 1,000 yen, high school students 700 yen, junior high school students 500 yen, elementary school students 300 yen
Stained Glass Museum: Adults 1,000 yen, college students 800 yen, high school students 600 yen, junior high school students 500 yen, elementary school students 300 yen
Former Otaru Branch of Mitsui Bank: Adults 700 yen, University students 500 yen, High school students 400 yen, Junior high school students 300 yen, Elementary school students 200 yen - 0134-31-1033
- Discounts are available for parking in affiliated parking lots with the purchase of a ticket for all four museums.
3Otaru City Museum
The "Main Building" with a collection of railroad cars of high historical value
The Otaru City Museum is divided into two sections: the Main Building and the Canal Building. The main building is located on the site of the former Temiya Station on the Temiya Line, the birthplace of Hokkaido's railroad system, and preserves and exhibits over 50 valuable railroad cars, including the steam locomotive "Shizuka-go," which is designated as a railroad monument. There is also a science exhibition room and a special exhibition room, where exhibits on various themes such as Otaru's history, nature, and science are held from time to time. The projection mapping showing the history of Otaru's railroads and the planetarium with its realistic and beautiful 4K images of the starry sky are also well worth seeing.
The Canal Pavilion, a restored merchant's house that brings back to life the prosperity of bygone days
The Canal Pavilion is a 20-minute walk from the main building, and is located near the Otaru Canal, using part of the historical building, the former Otaru Warehouse. The museum exhibits the nature, flora, and fauna of Otaru, the history of the Kitamae Ship and herring fishing that connected Hokkaido and Honshu, and excavated materials from Jomon ruins. There is also a section that reconstructs a street scene from the late Meiji and early Showa periods when Otaru was prosperous, and visitors can even touch an old telephone and organ.
A common admission ticket that allows you to visit both the main building and the canal pavilion is valid for two days. Depending on the weather and your itinerary, you can take your time to visit the museum.
- Otaru City Museum
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- 1-3-6 Temiya, Otaru City, Hokkaido MAP
- Take a bus from JR Otaru Station and get off at "General Museum".
- 9:30-17:00
- Tuesdays (if Tuesday is a national holiday, the museum is open on Tuesday and closed the following weekday), Year-end and New Year holidays
Closed on weekends and New Year's holidays. - Adults 400 yen (300 yen in winter), High school students 200 yen (150 yen in winter), Free for junior high school students and younger
Winter admission applies from early November to late April. Some outdoor exhibits cannot be visited during this period. - 0134-33-2523
- Free of charge
4Kitaichi Venetian Art Museum
The elegant life of the Venetian aristocracy is recreated.
This museum is based on the concept of the aristocratic lifestyle of Venice, the ancient capital of Italy. Since Otaru and Venice have many things in common, such as canals, glass crafts, and maritime trade, the museum exhibits Venetian glass crafts collected by Kitaichi Glass, one of Otaru's representative glassworks, as well as traditional Italian furniture and furnishings.
The model for the stately exterior is the existing "Palazzo Grassi" in Venice. The exhibition rooms are divided into a reception room, a study, and a bedroom, reproducing the elegant life of the aristocracy. The "Aristocrats' Living Room" is decorated with table decorations for each of the four seasons, and some visitors come back season after season.
A Memorable Costume Culture Experience
The "Costume Culture Experience" corner on the second floor is a popular spot where visitors can take commemorative photos in Italian aristocratic-style costumes. The costumes are custom-made by an Italian dress manufacturer, and there are variations for both men and women, from adults to children. Choose your favorite one, put it on, and stand in front of the camera feeling like an elegant Venetian aristocrat.
In addition to the "Dress Experience," which includes full-fledged dressing, there is also a simple "Carnival Experience," in which you simply put on the dress over your clothes. You can also register on the day of your visit, but if you have limited time, advance reservations are recommended.
- Kitaichi Venetian Art Museum
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- 5-27 Sakai-cho, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido MAP
- 10 min. walk from JR Minami-Otaru Stn.
- 9:00-17:30 (last admission 17:00)
*Subject to change according to special exhibitions, etc. - Open daily
The museum may be closed for exhibition changes. - Admission: ¥500 for adults, ¥350 for college students, ¥300 for high school students, ¥100 for elementary and junior high school students
Costume Culture Experience: [Dress Experience] 2,000 yen for junior high school students and older, 1,500 yen for elementary school students and younger
［Carnival Experience: junior high school students and older: 500 yen, elementary school students and younger: 300 yen
［Photographs: Cabinets (2L size) 700 yen (1,500 yen with frame), B5 size 1,200 yen, A4 size 1,500 yen (3,200 yen with frame) - 0134-33-1717
- Special Parking available
Costume Culture Experience requires a photo fee (one photo per group is also acceptable). Photos can be handed in on the day or mailed at a later date.
5Hokkaido Wine Otaru Brewery
Premium tour of the factory to learn about the "present" state of winemaking
Since its establishment in 1974, Hokkaido Wine, a sake brewer, has been focusing on "Japanese wine" made from 100% domestically produced grapes. The company grows grapes on its own farm in Urausu Town, the largest of its kind in Japan, and brews wine at its main factory, located on a mountainside overlooking the Otaru Sea.
The "Premium Factory Tour" is a popular tour that takes visitors inside the factory with a guide who explains the winemaking process in detail. The tour includes a look at the huge fermentation tanks and wooden barrels, as well as the sorting machine and bottling line, which are rare in Japan, and you will realize the depth of the winemaking process.
Enjoy tasting and shopping for high-end wines
After the factory tour, visitors can listen to a wine lecture by a dedicated Staff/staff member and enjoy a tasting of four premium wines with Hokkaido snacks. For those who cannot drink alcohol, juice is served.
After enjoying the charm of Hokkaido wines with your eyes and taste buds, you can go shopping at Otaru Wine Gallery, a direct sales shop attached to the factory. In addition to about 100 kinds of wines, the shop offers a wide variety of locally produced cheeses, ham and sausages, smoked products, and other items for your shopping pleasure.
The premium factory tour requires advance reservations through the website, but reservations can also be made by phone on the day of the tour.
- Hokkaido Wine Otaru Brewery
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- 1-130 Asarigawa hot spring, Otaru City, Hokkaido MAP
- 13 min. drive from JR Otaru Chikko Station
- 9:00-17:00
- Year-end and New Year's holidays
- Factory tour premium tour: 1,500 yen per person (max. 15 people)
Time required: approx. 90 minutes (varies depending on the number of participants) - 0134-34-2187
- Free of charge
6Tanaka Sake Brewery Kamegokura
The Four Seasons Brewery, a rarity in Japan, is open for tours at any time of the year
Otaru's only sake brewery was established in 1899. The Kikkogura is a sake brewery built around 1905 in the former Okazaki warehouse, and is designated as a historical building by Otaru City.
Unlike regular sake breweries that brew during the cold winter months, the Kikkogura is a "four-season brewery," meaning that brewing takes place throughout the year. The brewery is open year-round, so visitors can tour the production area at any time of the year, and a tour route is provided on the second floor where, if the timing is right, visitors can watch the seriousness of the Staff/staff members engaged in the brewing process.
Taste the brewery's limited-edition sake and choose from a selection of souvenirs unique to the brewery
Tanaka Sake Brewery uses 100% Hokkaido rice and pure rice sake brewed with water from the Otaru Tengu Mountains. After the tour, visitors can enjoy free tastings of the representative brand "Takaragawa" and "Junmai Shiboritate Nama-nara Sake" directly from the brewery. Amazake (sweet sake) and black bean tea are also available for those who cannot drink sake.
The sales corner on the first floor offers a lineup of sake, including sake limited to the brewery and seasonal sake, liqueurs made from Shiribeshi fruit, and hon mirin, as well as sake manju and senbei (rice crackers) made from sake lees. Since none of these products are available in Sapporo or at the New Chitose Airport, they are recommended as souvenirs unique to Otaru.
- Tanaka Sake Brewery Kamegokura
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- 2-2 Shinkacho, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido MAP
- 5 min. walk from JR Minami-Otaru Station
- 9:05-17:55
Tours of the turtle warehouse are available until 17:30 (10-15 minutes) - No
- 0134-21-2390
- Free of charge
- Tanaka Sake Brewery Head Office
Address: 3-2-5 Shikinai, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido
Business hours: 9:05-17:55
Phone: 0134-23-0390
7Bank of Japan Former Otaru Branch Financial Reference Center
The culmination of Meiji Bank architecture that was unique in the Wall Street of the North
The former Otaru Branch of the Bank of Japan was completed in 1912 in the Ironai district of Otaru City, which was known as the "Wall Street of the North. It is now a financial museum that introduces the history of the Bank of Japan and its financial structure.
The building was designed by Kingo Tatsuno and his students, who also designed the red-brick Tokyo Station. The exterior of the building, with its four domes and watchtower on the roof, and architectural techniques that introduced steel frames, mortar, and concrete, the latest construction materials of the time, are said to be the culmination of bank architecture of the Meiji period. The majestic appearance of the building must have made it stand out on Wall Street in the north.
Various trivia about money that you might want to share with someone
The replica of the 100 billion yen vault is a realistic replica of the actual 100 billion yen vault that was used for banking operations at the former Otaru branch of the Bank of Japan until 2002. There is also a case filled with one billion yen worth of unusable and cut-up banknotes, and a corner where visitors can Experience the anti-counterfeiting technology of bills.
The museum store sells "new bill rice crackers" featuring the new banknotes scheduled to be issued in 2024, "banknote face towels" printed with the bills, and other items. They are sure to be appreciated as unique Otaru souvenirs.
- Bank of Japan Former Otaru Branch Financial Reference Center
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- 1-11-16 Shikouchi, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido MAP
- 10 min. walk from JR Otaru Station
- April-November: 9:30-17:00 (last admission 16:30)
December - March: 10:00 - 17:00 (last admission 16:30) - Wednesdays (open if Wednesday is a national holiday), Year-end and New Year holidays
*The museum may be temporarily closed for exhibition changes, etc. - Free admission
- 0134-21-1111
- None
MAP
- Hoshino Resorts facilities nearby
