6 recommended sightseeing spots to keep in mind if you go to Otaru
Otaru played an important role in the pioneer days as the gateway to Hokkaido. Otaru attracts many tourists with its many historical buildings that create a nostalgic atmosphere, and its expressive townscape embraced by the sea and mountains. Here are some recommended spots that you must not miss when visiting Otaru.
1Otaru Canal
A representative sightseeing spot in Otaru that conveys the history of the port town to the present day
Otaru developed as the gateway to Hokkaido during the pioneering period. To support its shipping industry, the Otaru Canal was built in 1923. After the war, its role ended with the construction of a wharf at Otaru Port, but today it has grown to become a popular tourist attraction representing Otaru. The stone warehouses that remain along the 1,140-meter-long canal have been repurposed as tourist information centers and restaurants. Visitors can take a leisurely stroll along the cobblestone walkway or enjoy a small boat trip on the Otaru Canal Cruise. Everywhere you turn, you will find plenty of photo-worthy scenes.
The warmth of the gas lamps at night adds to the beauty of the area.
The Otaru Canal shows various faces depending on the time of day and the season. At dusk, the gas lamps along the path are lit up and the stone warehouses are illuminated, creating a nostalgic atmosphere. During the "Otaru Snow Light Path" event held every February, hundreds of floating candles float on the canal, creating a fantastic scene. The Asakusabashi Street, a popular spot for taking pictures, and the Kita Canal, with its old-fashioned atmosphere and port town atmosphere, are also attractive. Please bring your camera and find your favorite scenery.
- Otaru Canal
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Minato-cho, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido MAP
10 min. walk from JR Otaru Station
No parking (use nearby toll parking)
2Otaru Tengu Ropeway
Impressive panorama of human life and nature
Mt. Tengu is well known as a symbol of Otaru. Tengu, there are mountain climbing routes and sightseeing roads, as well as a ropeway connecting the foot of the mountain to the top. It is a small 4-minute walk in the air, but it is fun to watch the city of Otaru getting smaller and smaller, and the sea and sky intersecting on the horizon. After sunset, the jewel-like night view will leave you with a stirring sensation. In summer and late fall, fishing fires can be seen in the direction of the Shakotan Peninsula. In early summer, a sea of clouds may be seen if the weather conditions are right.
From Spectacular Views to Power Spots and Activities
There are five observation decks at the top of the mountain, and the Tengu Terrace at the Tengu Cherry Blossom Observatory is a spectacular spot with an unobstructed panoramic view. The view from the TENGUUU Terrace is a spectacular spot with an unobstructed panoramic view, and is a great place to relax with a take-out menu from the café. There are also many other attractions such as "Tenguyama Shrine," which enshrines Sarutahiko, "Nana Nade Tengu-san," which is a power spot that is said to make wishes come true if you stroke its nose, and "Chipmunk Park," where you can experience feeding the chipmunks. Activities such as ziplining and hot-air ballooning are available for both children and adults.
- Otaru Tengu Ropeway
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- 2-16-15 Mogami, Otaru City, Hokkaido (Sanroku Station) MAP
- Take a bus from Otaru Station Terminal and get off at "Tenguyama Ropeway".
Late April - early November 9:00 - 21:00 (last ropeway up 20:48)
Operation periods and hours are subject to change.
Ropeway: Early November to late April *Other services may be suspended.
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
0134-33-7381- Free of charge
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
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.
3Nishin Goten Otaru Kihin Kan (Former Aoyama Villa)
An art mansion in the north that tells the story of the prosperity of the herring industry
The "Former Aoyama Villa" is a reminder of the prosperity of the Aoyama family, which amassed a huge fortune from herring fishing during the Meiji and Taisho periods. It is said to have cost approximately 3 billion yen in today's terms, and is one of Hokkaido's most famous art mansions. The roof has a tiled roof, which is rare in Hokkaido, Shunkei lacquer on the floor and pillars, hand-carved carvings in the transoms and under the eaves, a shoin-style alcove using ebony and ebony, a dry landscape garden, and a pond garden, to name a few. It is the pinnacle of the herring palace that tells of the era when Otaru was booming with herring fishing, and is designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan.
Enjoy herring dishes, a specialty of Otaru, in memory of the prosperity of the large nether mill.
The former Aoyama Villa has 18 rooms, each with its own unique atmosphere, and the fusuma sliding door paintings and calligraphy by painters of the Kano school have been preserved. The most impressive of these is the "Eight Immortals Room," with 13 sliding doors elegantly decorated with Japanese paintings by Ryukoh Shimazaki depicting the Eight Immortals of China. After enjoying the splendor of the past, visit the adjacent Otaru Kihin Kan (Otaru State Guest House). In early summer, the garden is decorated with more than 650 button and peony plants, and the restaurant overlooking the Sea of Japan offers the famous "Nishin no Naniwani" (Nishin with sweetened herring) and soba noodles.
- Nishin Goten Otaru Kihin Kan (Former Aoyama Villa)
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- 3-63 Shukuzu, Otaru City, Hokkaido MAP
- 13 min. drive from JR Otaru Stn.
- Former Aoyama Villa April-Oct 9:00-17:00, Nov-Mar 9:00-16:00
Restaurant: April-October 10:00-17:00, November-March 10:00-16:00 - January 1 - January 7
- Former Aoyama Villa: 1,100 yen for junior high school students and older, 550 yen for elementary school students
- 0134-24-0024
- Free of charge
4Kitaichi Glass, Building No. 3
Enjoy the charm of Otaru glass in a historic space
Kitaichi Glass, a glass brand with over 100 years of history in Otaru. At Building No. 3 on Sakaicho Street, visitors can enjoy shopping while taking their time to appreciate Kitaichi Glass's glass products. The building is a reused wooden frame stone warehouse from the mid-Meiji period, and the central corridor connecting the two warehouses still retains the trolley rails used to transport cargo from the port. The museum is divided into three themed areas: the Japanese floor, with Japanese patterns and faceted products; the country floor, which mainly features kerosene lamps and daily-use vessels; and the Western floor, which is inspired by Western culture, each with a different atmosphere and design.
A wide variety of works, from tableware for daily use to one-of-a-kind pieces
There is a wide variety of glassware and tableware for everyday use, as well as accessories with a sparkling individuality. Visitors can also enjoy the time when they are lost in the selection of souvenirs. One-of-a-kind stained glass works are also a highlight. The delicate craftsmanship that shines through here and there is sure to catch your eye. After shopping, take a break at the Kitaichi Hall, a café inside the museum, where you can enjoy homemade sweets, drinks, meals, and Otaru's local beer in a fantastic space lit by 167 oil lamps.
- Kitaichi Glass Building No. 3
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- 7-26 Sakai-cho, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido MAP
- 10 min. walk from JR Minami-Otaru Stn.
- 9:00-18:00
- No holidays
- 0134-33-1993
- Special Parking available
5Otaru Sakai-cho Street Shopping Street
One of Otaru's most popular streets where history and vitality intersect
The shopping street stretches about 900 meters from the "fairy tale intersection" near JR Minami-Otaru Station toward Otaru Canal. Lined with souvenir stores selling sweets, marine products, glassware, music boxes, and other items, as well as sushi, ramen, cafes, and other restaurants, it is a popular street that cannot be missed when walking around Otaru. Many stores are renovated from historical buildings such as stone warehouses and stores from the Meiji period, creating a nostalgic atmosphere. Walking leisurely, you will hit the Okobachi River and Otaru Art Village is on the other side of the river. Turn left along the riverside street and you will come to Sushi-ya Street, turn right and the Otaru Canal awaits you.
Tourist first service and seasonal events
Sakaicho Street, where tourists always stop by, is always crowded with people. You can enjoy eating take-out or just strolling along the street, but if you use the Tourist Information Center, you will enjoy walking around the street even more. In addition to obtaining information on the shopping streets and sightseeing in Otaru and the surrounding area, the information center also offers free rental of umbrellas, wheelchairs, and baby strollers, as well as temporary baggage storage (for a fee). The shop also hosts seasonal events such as the Yukata Fu-ring Festival and the Sakai-machi Snow Light Festival, so there is always something to see and do.
- Otaru Sakai-cho Street Shopping Street
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- 6 Sakai-cho, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido (Mercure intersection) MAP
- 6 min. walk from JR Minami-Otaru Stn.
- Varies depending on the store.
- Varies depending on the store
- 0134-27-1133
- Charged
6Former site of the former Japan National Railways Temiya Line
Walkable railway tracks" where you can take photos like a scene from a movie
The former Japan National Railways Temiya Line, part of Hokkaido's first railroad line built to transport coal during the pioneer period, was abandoned in 1985, but the tracks are now used as walking paths. You can actually walk on the tracks, making it a popular photo spot. Along the way, there are facilities reminiscent of bygone days, such as a railroad crossing signal and a rest facility based on the motif of the former Ironai Station, which will help visitors to imagine the good old days when people used to come and go along the railway line and what dramas were born.
Appreciate the railroad heritage at the birthplace of the Hokkaido Railway
Along the rail line, there are also museums, a literature museum, cafes, and restaurants, so it is fun to take a leisurely stroll while stopping by. The Otaru City Museum is now located where the last station, Temiya Station, used to be. The "Former Temiya Railway Property," a National Important Cultural Property preserved in and around the museum, is a must-see even for railroad fans. Visitors can see the oldest existing locomotive depot No. 3 in Japan, a turntable used to change locomotive direction, and the steam locomotive "Iron Horse," which is still in operation on the premises. The Iron Horse is in operation only during the summer season (from the end of April to mid-October), and visitors can experience its operation.
- Former site of the former Japan National Railways Temiya Line
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- 1-13 Shikinai, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido (Start point on the south side of the promenade) MAP
- 11 min. walk from JR Otaru Stn.
- Otaru City Museum Main Building
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 (December 29 - January 3)
Admission: Adults 400 yen (300 yen in winter), High school students 200 yen (150 yen in winter), Free for junior high school students and younger
