Located on the south western side of Hokkaido and less than 1hr by rail or car from Sapporo, the city of Otaru has established itself as a very popular destination for visitors to Hokkaido. Otaru is a port city facing Ishikari Bay and is known as "the sea entrance of Hokkaido".

Sights

Canal Area
Featuring many of the original stone/brick built warehouses and part of the original canal network, Otaru has a very nostalgic feel to it. Now a thriving tourist area featuring numerous souvenir shops, glassmaking  factories, sushi restaurants, numerous cafes and delicious chocolate shops. Buskers and artists line the streets in the canal area creating a somewhat romantic atmosphere especially in the evening when the cobbled streets in the canal area are lit up by oil lamps.  Why not go for a ride on a traditional vehicle "jinrikisha" which translates to "human powered vehicle".

Mt Otaru Tenguyama
Standing at 532m, Tenguyama offers an amazing view of the city, Ishikari Bay, the Shokanbetsu mountain Range and Shakotan Peninsula. Access to the top of the mountain is gained by a cableway.

Wing Bay Otaru
By far the largest and most modern shopping complex in Otaru. Wing Bay Otaru houses numerous shops, restaurants, a cinema complex, ten pin bowling, a hotel, a 58m high Ferris Wheel offering tremendous views of Ishikari Bay and the city, a health and fitness centre and more.

Kitaichi Venetian Art Museum
Step back in time as you stroll through this building which was modelled after Venetian palaces of the 18th century. The museum houses approximately 3,000 pieces of Venetian glass art and traditional furniture.

Sushiya-dori
There are almost 130 sushi restaurants in Otaru however what originally made this city so famous for sushi was "Otaru Sushiyadori Kai". This street still contains approximately 20 restaurants in and around this street offering delicious and fresh sushi.

The Bank of Japan Otaru Museum
Opened in May 2003,  this original Bank of Japan building designed by the same designer of Tokyo Station was the symbol of Japan's northern financial centre when Otaru thrived as a major trading port.

Accommodation

The following hotels can be prebooked in advance through Hokkaido Travel.

Otaru Grand Park

Authent Hotel Otaru