3 Cafes to Visit in Otaru: Savor History and Enjoy Stunning Views
With its charming streets steeped in history and its undulating terrain overlooking the blue sea, the city of Otaru offers a variety of expressions and many unique cafes. Here, we introduce cafes you should definitely stop by when visiting Otaru, including one-of-a-kind cafes with spectacular views, as well as shops where you can enjoy photogenic, stylish sweets and limited-edition menus.
1Kitaichi Glass Sangokan Kitaichi Hall
A magical tea time soothed by soft light
Located on Sakaimachi Street, the mecca of Otaru tourism, is Kitaichi Glass Sangokan. Inside this shop, which was renovated from a fishing warehouse dating back to the mid-Meiji period, you will find the Kitaichi Hall cafe. In keeping with the history of Kitaichi Glass, which began with the manufacture of kerosene lamps, the interior lighting uses no electricity at all, relying solely on the glow of kerosene lamps. You can enjoy meals, sweets, and drinks in a dimly lit, fantastical atmosphere. The "Kitaichi Special Milk Tea Soft Serve," made with royal milk tea brewed carefully from tea leaves in Hokkaido milk, is a popular menu item loved by people of all ages. It is a treat where the smooth richness of the soft serve and the aroma of the tea create an elegant finish.
The lighting process that breathes life into 167 lamps is a must-see
There are 167 kerosene lamps adorning the interior. If you enter right when the shop opens, you can watch the staff light them one by one. As life is breathed into each lamp, the chandelier, with all its lamps lit, is slowly hoisted up to the ceiling in what feels like a solemn ritual. The space, where the wooden bones and stone walls of the warehouse emerge in the flickering light of the lamps, allows you to forget the hustle and bustle of daily life for a moment. The lamps and glasses used in Kitaichi Hall are sold in the adjacent shop, making them recommended souvenirs.
Local
Supporter
Kitaichi Glass Sangokan is said to be a pioneer in the renovation of stone warehouses in Otaru. In addition to the Kitaichi Hall, there are many other photogenic spots where you can feel the history, so please take your time to explore them.
- Kitaichi Glass Sangokan Kitaichi Hall
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7-26 Sakaimachi, Otaru City, Hokkaido MAP 
Approx. 10-minute walk from JR Minami-Otaru Station
9:00–17:30
Open every day
0134-33-1993
Contracted parking available
2LeTAO Pathos
Cheers erupt at the interactive dessert where cream flows out
Otaru LeTAO, popular for its mail-order sweets, operates seven stores with different concepts within Otaru City. Among them, LeTAO Pathos, which boasts the largest scale, features a cafe on the second floor where you can enjoy lunch, sweets, drinks, and more.
The most popular item is the "Fuwa-Toro Fromage Souffle." It is an interactive dessert where you pour plenty of separately served fresh cream over a dome-shaped cheese souffle wrapped in a film, and then freely draw patterns with fruit sauce to finish it off. Don't forget to get your camera ready to record when you lift the film at the end. You won't want to miss the moment when the soft fresh cream flows out all at once and the fruit sauce spreads out like a blooming flower.
Fully enjoy the charm of LeTAO at the first-floor shop
LeTAO Pathos faces Sakaimachi Street, which is crowded with popular tourist spots and souvenir shops. The shop on the first floor offers a wide lineup of products perfect for souvenirs, including popular sweets such as the "Double Fromage," which can be called synonymous with LeTAO. You can enjoy shopping at your leisure in the spacious store. There is also a takeout corner for items like "Crème Glacée" and the freshly baked cheese tart "Venezia Rendezvous (mini)," making it recommended for those who want to fully enjoy the charm of LeTAO all at once.
Local
Supporter
Since it is larger than the nearby LeTAO main store, it is often easier to get into even when the main store is crowded. It is also fun to visit both stores and enjoy their respective limited-edition menus.
- LeTAO Pathos
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- 5-22 Sakaimachi, Otaru City, Hokkaido MAP
- Approx. 10-minute walk from JR Minami-Otaru Station
- Shop: 9:00–18:00, Cafe: 10:00–18:00 (L.O. 17:30)
- Open every day
- 0120-31-4521 (9:00–18:00)
*Direct line for LeTAO inquiries - Contracted parking available
3View Cafe Your Time
A spectacular ocean-view cafe with a fun and extensive menu
Located about a 20-minute drive from Otaru towards Sapporo, "View Cafe Your Time" stands on a hill in the Hariusu area and is a cafe with a superb view overlooking the Otaru sea. With a wide variety of menu items including food, desserts, and drinks, deciding what to order is part of the fun. The "Kakuni-no-se Curry" (curry topped with braised pork belly), which has been popular since the cafe opened, is a curry that stands out for its aroma and spiciness, created by blending several types of spices. Everything is homemade, including the pork belly braised in black tea, seasoned boiled eggs, and sweet and sour pickled tomatoes. Limited-time dessert plates and drinks also appear each season, so there is always something new to look forward to whenever you visit.
Captivated by the seasonal seaside scenery
Taking advantage of its location atop a steep cliff, every seat offers an ocean view. Ebisu Island, floating serenely in Ishikari Bay, also presents a picturesque scene. The JR Hakodate Main Line, connecting Otaru and Sapporo, runs along the coast below, and the sound of trains occasionally mingling with the jazz playing from the speakers stirs a sense of wanderlust. The herring runs that herald the arrival of spring. The blue of the clear summer sky and the deep azure of the sea. The golden glow of an autumn sunset. The winter waves shining silver, reflecting the snowy sky. These ever-changing seasonal scenes, which never look the same for even a moment, are one of the reasons why people want to visit this shop again and again.
Local
Supporter
In addition to the superb view overlooking the sea from the hill, the limited-edition sweets that appear each season are also a highlight. You can feel the heartfelt hospitality in the delicate flavors that make the most of seasonal ingredients and the beautiful, photogenic presentation.
- View Cafe Your Time
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- 351 Hariusu-cho, Otaru City, Hokkaido MAP
- Approx. 7-minute drive from JR Zenibako Station
- 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
- Tuesdays (Tuesdays to Thursdays in winter)
- 0134-62-1239
- Free
MAP
- Nearby Hoshino Resorts facilities
Local supporter in charge of this article
OMO5 Otaru
Otaru City, Hokkaido
A boutique hotel renovated from a historical building. You can enjoy a retro trip in Otaru.
Access Approx. 9-minute walk from JR Otaru Station
- Accommodation rate example
- Per person per night From ¥6,000