5 Otaru Markets to Enjoy Local Vibrancy and Delicacies from the Mountains and Seas
Otaru, which once flourished as the sea gateway to Hokkaido, had many markets; it is said that in the 1980s there were more than 20 such markets, but many have disappeared in recent years due to the spread of supermarkets and convenience stores. However, there are still markets that are beloved by locals and tourists alike. Many markets can be reached on foot from JR Otaru Station or Minami Otaru Station, making them easy to visit on your way to Otaru.
1Otaru Triangle Market
A convenient market near the station where you can enjoy seafood and gourmet food.
Otaru Triangle Market, which got its name from the triangular shape of its land and roof, was first opened by a few street vendors after the end of the war. The 200-meter-long market is gently sloping, and 15 stores line both sides of the narrow aisles, selling everything from high-end marine products such as crabs, scallops, and sea urchins to the seasonal fish and produce that grace the tables of the local people. Six of them are Dining Areas, where visitors can dine at any time during the market's hours of operation. Many of the eateries are directly operated by fresh fish stores, and the variety of menu items is almost overwhelming, including rice bowls with fresh seafood, daily set menus, and original rice bowls where the fresh fish you purchased is cooked on the spot. It is the only market in Otaru City that is open every day, so you can visit without worrying about your itinerary.
Local Guide
Supporters
The charm of market eateries is that they are less formal than sushi restaurants, and you can enjoy fresh seafood bowls. When shopping, you can also enjoy chatting with the shopkeepers, who are full of personality and bargaining with them for discounts.
- Otaru Triangle Market
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3-10-16 Inaho, Otaru City, Hokkaido MAP
3 minutes walk from JR Otaru Station
8:00-17:00 *Varies by store
January 1
1 hour free parking with purchase of 2,000 yen or more
2Otaru Central Market
Young and unique stores harmonize in a retro Showa-era space.
From the postwar period through the Showa 30s, the “Otaru Central Market” was said to have bustled with street vendors—commonly known as the “Gangan Troops”—who sold fresh fish packed in one-to cans (gangan). Because of this history, it is the only market to have been designated as a component cultural property of a Japan Heritage site.
The market consists of three shared buildings, housing 34 establishments—ranging from traditional shops selling fresh fish, meat, produce, and prepared foods to stylish cafes and stand-up bars.At “Gangan Gallery,” a free-access space within the market, art exhibitions and workshops are held regularly. The unique atmosphere—a blend of the retro Showa-era charm of a market that has long served as the city’s kitchen and the pioneering spirit of the younger generation—is the greatest appeal of Otaru Central Market.
Local Guide
Supporters
The direction is easy: it takes just 5 minutes to walk from Otaru Station. Every Tuesday and Friday, customers who spend 300 yen or more on a single purchase receive one coin to play the capsule toy machine. Why not give it a try alongside the locals?
- Otaru Central Market
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- 3-11-2 Inaho, Otaru City, Hokkaido MAP
- 5 min. walk from JR Otaru Sta.
- 9:00 AM–5:30 PM *Hours vary by store
- Sundays & Holidays
0134-22-5384- No parking (use nearby toll parking)
3Nantaru Market
The kitchen of Otaru citizens crowded with local customers from morning
A market deeply rooted in local life, featuring 23 shops selling fresh fish, meat, produce, and prepared foods.It attracts many customers not only from within Otaru but also from outside the city, such as Sapporo, and is brimming with energy from the moment it opens. Just strolling through the market and seeing items you won’t find outside Hokkaido—such as plump, fresh Atka mackerel and surprisingly affordable hairy crabs—is sure to get your heart racing.
True to its reputation as the “kitchen of Otaru,” the market’s extensive selection of prepared foods is particularly eye-catching. Seeing “tsubu-ni” (simmered fish) and “ika zangi” (fried squid) displayed alongside croquettes and kinpira is a sight unique to Hokkaido markets. There’s a spacious rest area inside the market, so we recommend purchasing any prepared foods that catch your eye and sampling them right there.
Local Guide
Supporters
There is also a sushi restaurant, a diner, a bakery, and a coffee shop on the premises, so you can enjoy plenty of shopping and gourmet food.
- Minamitaru Market
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- 12-1 Shintomi-cho, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido MAP
- 8 min. walk from JR Minami Otaru Sta.
- 9:00-18:00 *Depends on the store
- Sunday
- 0134-23-0722
- Free of charge
4New Nantaru Market
A variety of stores that support Otaru's dining and daily life
Built in 1999 (Heisei 11) in response to the growing number of customers at Minami-Otaru Market, this is the newest market in Otaru. Equipped with a spacious parking lot and open even on Sundays, it attracts not only local residents but also numerous tourists.With about 20 shops selling fresh fish, processed seafood, and produce, you can find Otaru’s seasonal delicacies here, including crab, scallops, shrimp, asparagus, corn, and melons.
In addition to shops selling food ingredients, there are also bakeries, kamaboko (fish cake) specialty shops, delis, and eateries—the ability to enjoy Otaru’s culinary delights right on the spot is a unique charm of the Shin-Minami Otaru Market.
Local Guide
Supporters
Since you can sample Otaru’s flavors just by walking around one floor, it’s also recommended for those who want to sightsee quickly and efficiently.
- New Minamitaru Market
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- 8-11 Chikko, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido MAP
- Approximately 12 minutes walk from JR Minami-Otaru Station
- 9:00 AM–6:00 PM *Hours vary by store; some stores close once they sell out
- Wednesday
- 0134-27-5068
- Free of charge
5Rinyu Morning Market
Enjoy a luxurious breakfast at the only morning market in Otaru
This morning market opens at 4:00 a.m.—earlier than any other market in Otaru. Two of the stalls inside are Dining Areas, and being able to savor sushi, seafood bowls, and set meals made with the market’s fresh ingredients is a luxury unique to this morning market.
From around 7:00 to 8:00 a.m., the market bustles with local customers seeking fresh fish that has just arrived from the wholesale market. The market is lined with specialty shops focusing on fresh fish, as well as crab, dried fish, and kamaboko (fish cake), and it’s fun to browse the different selections at each one.In winter, you’ll also find “izushi”—a Hokkaido specialty made by fermenting fish and vegetables with koji—and “pickled herring,” allowing you to experience the home-cooked flavors passed down through generations in Otaru.
Local Guide
Supporters
The freshness and prices of the products selected by the connoisseurs of the specialty stores are enough to convince even the locals. It is worth getting up early to go shopping.
- Rintomo Asaichi
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- 3-10-15 Shikinai, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido MAP
- 6 min. drive from JR Otaru Sta.
- 4:00-14:00 *Varies by store
- Sunday
- 0134-22-0257
- Free of charge
MAP
- Hoshino Resorts facilities nearby
Local Guide who was in charge of this article
OMO5 Otaru
Otaru, Hokkaido
A boutique hotel in a renovated historical building. You can enjoy a retro trip to Otaru.
Access by bus Approx. 9 min. walk from JR Otaru Sta.
- Example of Accommodation Rates
- 1 person per night From 6,000 yen