Local Guide
7 recommended sightseeing spots in Otaru area to enjoy with children.

Otaru, which attracts many tourists from Japan and abroad, has many sightseeing spots that can be enjoyed safely even when traveling with children. From activities that allow you to fully enjoy the great outdoors to experiences that stimulate creativity and curiosity, we will introduce you to the perfect spots to make your family trip a memorable one.

Sliders on the mountain in the great nature

The train moves slowly and automatically to the starting point, so you can enjoy the smell of the trees and the chirping of birds.
The train moves slowly and automatically to the starting point, so you can enjoy the smell of the trees and the chirping of birds.

Mt. Tengu is a 15-minute drive from downtown Otaru. Climbing to the top of the mountain by ropeway, you will be greeted by a spectacular view overlooking Otaru City and the Sea of Japan.
There are five observation decks and many other spots for both children and adults to enjoy. The "Mt. Tengu Slider" is one of the most popular attractions, where visitors ride a bobsled down a 400-meter-long course. The speed can be adjusted with the attached brake, so parents and children can either ride together in a leisurely manner or experience the thrill of a maximum speed of 40 km/h. It is an exhilarating experience to ride through the great outdoors while enjoying the refreshing breeze.

A variety of fun activities from healing spots to thrilling activities

The chipmunks at the Chipmunk Park are used to people, so you can get up close and personal with them.
The chipmunks at the Chipmunk Park are used to people, so you can get up close and personal with them.

Chipmunk Park is recommended for animal lovers. You can see cute chipmunks up close as they run around the park and peek out of their burrows. Visitors can also experience feeding the squirrels by purchasing a "squirrel feeder" for 300 yen. Children and adults alike cannot take their eyes off the adorable squirrels as they dexterously peel and eat sunflower seeds.
Other activities include a 1.6-km walking path called the "summit forest bathing course," a "tengu plaza" where visitors can exercise and play, a thrilling zip line, and hot-air balloon rides. There is also a café where you can enjoy a meal, so you can fully enjoy your family holiday.

Local Guide Comment
In winter, Tenguyama is very popular as a "ski resort with a view of the sea. Ski equipment and clothing rental services are available, so you can enjoy skiing and snowboarding without any equipment.
Otaru Tengu Ropeway
  • Address 2-16-15 Mogami, Otaru City, Hokkaido (Sanroku Station) MAP
  • Direction Take a bus from Otaru Station Terminal and get off at "Tenguyama Ropeway".
  • Business hours Late April - early November 9:00 - 21:00 (last ropeway up 20:48)
    Operation periods and hours are subject to change.
  • Closed Ropeway: Early November to late April *Other services may be suspended.
  • Admission Fee Ropeway (round trip): 1,400 yen for junior high school students and older, 700 yen for elementary school students, one preschool child free per adult
    TENGUUU zipline: 1,000 yen per ride
    TENGUUU hot air balloon: 3,000 yen for junior high school students and older, 2,300 yen for 4-year-olds to elementary school students and younger, free for 3-year-olds and younger
  • TEL 0134-33-7381
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Age limit TENGUUU Zipline: Elementary school students and older (no experience allowed for children under 120 cm in height or over 120 kg in weight)
    TENGUUU Hot Air Balloon: No age limit
  • Memo TENGUUU zipline and TENGUU hot air balloon are closed from early November to late April (hot air ballooning may be cancelled due to wind).
    *Please check the website for details.

All-you-can-eat seasonal fruits "Fruit Picking

The fruit in the park is all-you-can-eat. There is also a course where you can take home fruits you picked by yourself.
The fruit in the park is all-you-can-eat. There is also a course where you can take home fruits you picked by yourself.

Nitori Kanko Orchard, which opened in 1870, grows a variety of fruits using organic compost, which requires a lot of time and money.
Fruit picking" is a popular program that allows visitors to pick strawberries, cherries, blueberries, peaches, grapes, Japanese pears, and apples, all of which bear fruit from spring to late fall, at different times of the year. Visitors can enjoy all-you-can-eat seasonal fruits in the garden with no time limit (30-minute time limit for high strawberries). The experience of eating fruits picked by their own hands will be an unforgettable memory for children.

Spectacular location overlooking the mountains and sea of Yoichi

The
The "Transparent Apple," a monument where you can take a commemorative photo with the sea and sky of Yoichi in the background.

Nitori Kanko Orchard boasts a large scale of about three times the size of the Tokyo Dome. In front of the direct sales shop on the hilltop, a whole field of fruit trees spreads out, offering a panoramic view of Yoichi's mountains and the sea. The monument "Invisible Apple," located in the second Parking, honors Mr. Lewis Boehmer, a leader in the development of apple cultivation in Yoichi. It is a photo-worthy spot where you can take commemorative photos with the tourist attraction "Cape Siripa" in the background.
After playing to your heart's content, take a breather with juice made from apples and grapes from the orchard. You can also taste fresh lamb Jingisukan at the rest house "Season" (reservation required at least 3 days in advance).

Local Guide Comment
The "apple pie" made from Fuji apples picked in the orchard is also a recommended item. If the timing is right, you can enjoy a freshly baked hot apple pie.
Nitori Kanko Orchard
  • Address 1102-5 Noboru-cho, Yoichi Town, Hokkaido MAP
  • Direction 8 min. drive from JR Yoichi Station
  • Business hours 9:00-17:00
  • Closed Open daily (in winter, only the store is open until 16:30, closed on Sundays)
  • Admission Fee Fruit picking: from 1,500 yen for junior high school students and older, from 1,200 yen for elementary school students, from 600 yen for infants
  • TEL 0135-23-6251
  • Parking Free of charge

Cute seals welcome you at the ocean pool

Seal feed
Seal feed" is sold at the museum, and visitors can experience feeding the seals.

The aquarium is located in "Niseko Shakotan Otaru Kaigan National Park," the only marine park in Hokkaido. Facing the Sea of Japan, the "Marine Animals Park" has a pool that is simply partitioned off from the sea, where seals and Steller's sea lions live freely in near-wild conditions.
Many creatures that can only be seen here are also on display, including Japan's only porpoise on display in captivity and the northern salamander, which lives only in the Kushiro Marshlands of Hokkaido. The touch area, "Touch and Ezone," has the coldest touch pool in Japan with a water temperature of 3°C, allowing visitors to experience the resilience of life in the frigid sea (as of 2022, some areas are closed).

Free admission to the amusement park where even small children can have fun!

Shukatsu Marineland, an amusement park with a slightly retro and heartwarming atmosphere
Shukatsu Marineland, an amusement park with a slightly retro and heartwarming atmosphere

Next to the main aquarium building is the amusement park "Shukutsu Marineland. Admission to the park is free, and the system is to purchase a ride ticket to ride the rides. Rides such as go-carts, motor boats, and a Ferris wheel are reasonably priced at 200 to 300 yen each, and there are also rides that small children can enjoy.
Otaru Aquarium has private nursing rooms equipped with sofas, cribs, and dressers, as well as a diaper changing area and hot water supply facilities. Baby strollers can be rented free of charge, making leisure activities with babies a worry-free experience.

Local Guide Comment
To get to Otaru Aquarium, you can use a car, bus, or ocean sightseeing boat (from Otaru Port to Shukutsu Port). You can feed the seagulls on the boat, which will delight children.
Otaru Aquarium
  • Address 3-303, Shukuzu, Otaru City, Hokkaido MAP
  • Direction Take a bus from JR Otaru Stn. and get off at Otaru Aquarium.
  • Business Hours 9:00-17:00 (10:00-16:00 in winter)
    *Closing hours may change depending on the season. Check the website for details.
  • Closed Late February to mid-March, late November to mid-December
    Kaijyu Park and the amusement park are closed in winter.
  • Admission Fee 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).
  • TEL 0134-33-1400
  • Parking Admission charged (free in winter)

A variety of hands-on experiences for both children and adults

Experience to think of a design by combining parts is an opportunity to nurture children's creativity.
Experience to think of a design by combining parts is an opportunity to nurture children's creativity.

Otaru Music Box Store operates five stores around the popular tourist spot "Otaru Sakai-machi-dori Shopping Street". One of them, "Handmade Experience Youkobo" offers a variety of hands-on experiences such as making handmade music boxes and glass crafts.
The handmade music box experience, in which visitors can enjoy decorating their own music boxes, is open to elementary school students and younger (elementary school students and younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian). There is also a full-fledged experience menu that includes assembling a music box movement from parts, stained glass and sandblasting, which is unique to Otaru, the city of glass, allowing parents and children to fully enjoy the fun of handmade crafts together.

Create your own one-of-a-kind music box with your own ideas.

A variety of small parts to choose from in the
A variety of small parts to choose from in the "Topping Free" course.

The handmade music boxes come in a variety of hand-wheeled and spring-operated models, and feature a lineup of more than 200 songs. The handmade music boxes come in a variety of shapes, tunes, and styles, and are available in a wide range of styles, including hand-turned and spring-operated.
In addition to "Topping Free," in which you can freely choose the shape, tune, and parts of the music box, there is also a "Topping Kit," which comes with a music box case and accessories, so it is recommended for those who want to have a handmade experience within a limited itinerary. The experience of making your own one-of-a-kind music box with its lovely sound will remain in your memory forever.

Local Guide Comment
Each of the five Otaru Music Box stores in Otaru City has a different concept and introduces the various charms of the music box. Please visit each store.
Otaru Music Box Museum "Handmade Experience Youkobo
  • Address 1-1-5 Irifune, Otaru City, Hokkaido MAP
  • Direction 7 min. walk from JR Minami Otaru Stn.
  • Business hours 9:00-18:00
  • Closed No
  • Admission Fee Handmade music box making Experience:
    ［Free toppings: Varies depending on the combination (approx. 2,500-5,000 yen)
    ［Topping kit] 1,500 yen and up
  • TEL 0134-21-3101
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Memo Some Experiences require reservations, so please check the website in advance.

Free factory tour of a long-established fish cake store

A behind-the-scenes look at the process of making fish cakes. The skilled craftsmanship fascinates both children and adults.
A behind-the-scenes look at the process of making fish cakes. The skilled craftsmanship fascinates both children and adults.

Kamakoe, a kamaboko store, was established in 1905. In addition to four stores in Otaru City, there are also stores in department stores in Sapporo City and at New Chitose Airport.
The Kamakamakae Factory Direct Store, located near the Otaru Canal, is popular for its corner where visitors can freely observe the kamaboko making process through a glass window. All products are made by hand, except for the chikuwa, which is made by hand. The vivid handiwork of molding the fish paste into the mold is unintentionally fascinating. In the tour area, there are explanatory videos and panel displays about kamaboko, allowing visitors to experience the Kamakae philosophy that has been passed down for more than 100 years.

Enjoy freshly fried fish paste at the eat-in space

Bread rolls
Bread rolls" made by rolling up surimi with pork and onions in thin bread and deep frying them: 226 yen *Scheduled to change to 237 yen from November 2022.

The factory store sells a variety of Otaru and Hokkaido souvenirs, including deep-fried fish paste and plate fish paste. At the "Kamaei Café," an eat-in corner inside the store, you can taste freshly fried fish paste on the spot. The most popular item, the "bread roll," is an addictive combination of light and crispy bread and the elasticity of the fish paste. The short shelf life of the bread roll means that it cannot be shipped to local markets, so it is definitely something you want to try on site.
The Kamaei Cafe is stroller-friendly and has a diaper changing area in the restroom. Parking is also available, making it safe for visitors traveling with children.

Local Guide Comment
The best time to visit the factory is in the morning, when most of the work is done.
Kamaei Factory Direct Store_Otaru Sightseeing with Children
  • Address 3-7 Sakai-cho, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido MAP
  • Direction 13 min. walk from JR Minami-Otaru Stn.
  • Business hours May-October: 9:00-19:00
    November-April: 9:00-18:00
  • Closed Store：January 1
    Factory tours: Wednesdays and Sundays (varies depending on the season)
  • TEL 0134-25-5802
  • Parking 1 hour free per use of store

A relaxing space that brings the history of shipping to life

Former Otaru Branch of NYK Line,
Former Otaru Branch of NYK Line," a nationally designated important cultural property standing in front of the park *Conservation and repair work is underway as of October 2022 and scheduled to be completed in June 2024.

The park is located near the northern area of Otaru Canal, commonly known as "Kita Canal. This was where the Otaru branch of the former NYK Line loaded and unloaded cargo through the Otaru Canal from the late Meiji period to the early Showa period. In front of the park, the building of the former Otaru Branch of NYK Line still remains.
In the park, there is a fountain pond that is a quarter-size replica of the "Funairima" of those days and benches with the form of an anchor that tell the story of the history of shipping. The park is usually quiet, but in summer, it is crowded with children playing in the water and musical events.

Inside the stone warehouse is a playground that enthralls children.

Playground equipment building
Playground equipment building" reused from the "former Nippon Oil Corporation warehouse," a historical building of Otaru City.

The park is dotted with properties that have been reused from stone warehouses built in the Meiji and Taisho periods. In the "playground equipment building," there is an athletic facility with a sailing ship motif, which is very popular among children. The "Rest Building" is a wooden frame structure with a wooden floor and a wooden floor. The "Rest Building" is a spacious space that makes use of the wooden framework as it is. With tables and benches, it is the perfect place to take a break between sightseeing tours.
Near the Canal Park is the Otaru City Museum, where you can learn about the history and science of railroads.

Local Guide Comment
Although the Otaru Canal has undergone land reclamation and other changes, the North Canal area remains the original width of the canal, and the work boats moored there are said to be the original scenery of the Otaru Canal.
Canal Park
  • Address 3-6 Shikinai, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido MAP
  • Direction Take a bus from JR Otaru Station, get off at Nishiki-cho bus stop, and walk about 4 minutes.
  • Business hours Playground equipment building, rest area, restrooms 9:00-17:00
  • Closed November - early April
  • TEL 0134-32-4111（Port Operations Section, Port Office, Industry and Port Department, Otaru City Hall)
  • Parking None

A variety of valuable railroad materials that will captivate vehicle enthusiasts

The outdoor exhibition area, which resembles a station platform, is lined with nostalgic railcars that were active in Hokkaido.
The outdoor exhibition area, which resembles a station platform, is lined with nostalgic railcars that were active in Hokkaido.

The Otaru City Museum Main Building is located in the Temiya district, the birthplace of Hokkaido's railroads. The museum's grounds still contain railroad facilities from the Meiji and Taisho eras, and are designated as a National Important Cultural Property as the "Former Temiya Railway Property.
More than 50 valuable railroad cars, including the steam locomotive "Shizuka-go," which has been in operation since the dawn of Hokkaido's railroad system, are preserved and exhibited inside the museum and in the outdoor exhibition area. There are also exhibition rooms with themes such as science, history, and nature, as well as a digital planetarium where visitors can enjoy a realistic view of the starry sky, which is sure to arouse children's intellectual curiosity.

Take a small trip on a steam locomotive born in the Meiji era

The sight of the
The sight of the "Iron Horse" running with white steam makes even the most die-hard railroad fan's heart skip a beat.

In the outdoor exhibition area, visitors can experience a ride on the "Iron Horse," a steam locomotive built in the Meiji period (from the end of April to mid-October). From the spring of 2022, a reproduction of a first-class Guest room, a third-class Guest room, and a coal wagon from the Meiji period will also be available for children and adults who love vehicles to enjoy.
The Otaru City Museum Main Building holds various events and special exhibits every month, as well as hands-on craft classes to familiarize visitors with science on an irregular basis. Please check the website before your visit.

Local Guide Comment
In addition to the main building, the Otaru City Museum has a "Canal Pavilion" near the Otaru Canal. Direction is only a 15-minute walk from the main building, and there is also a special discount ticket for both buildings.
Otaru City Museum
  • Address 1-3-6 Temiya, Otaru City, Hokkaido MAP
  • Direction Take a bus from JR Otaru Station and get off at "General Museum".
  • Business hours 9:30-17:00
  • Closed 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.
  • Admission Fee 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.
  • TEL 0134-33-2523
  • Parking Free of charge

MAP

Hoshino Resorts facilities nearby
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The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.