8 Must-Visit Spots in Otaru

Otaru is an important port city on Hokkaido. Just 25 minutes from Sapporo, it is a popular tourist city that receives more than 7 million visitors every year. The city faces Ishikari Bay and is surrounded by beautiful mountains, giving it a dreamlike setting. The buildings still preserve their traditional style, and the city has great attractions that continue to draw a steady stream of visitors. Winter is the busiest season of the year, when visitors come to ski on Mount Tengu, enjoy the view from the Mount Tengu Ropeway, take a leisurely walk along the beach, admire Otaru Canal, and sip Otaru beer, another source of pride for the city.

1. Otaru Canal

Otaru Canal is a very famous spot. It was originally built for transporting goods by boat, but today it has become one of the city's main landmarks and a must-see for anyone visiting Otaru. The atmosphere feels historic, and the surrounding buildings have been preserved in their original style. The canal is 1,140 meters long and lined with Victorian-style lamps on both sides of the road. Former warehouses with raw, artistic brick facades have been turned into restaurants and stylish cafes. During the day, the area serves as a gathering spot for locals, with activities such as canal cruises. On some evenings, musicians perform live. Not to be missed is February's "Otaru Snow Light Path Festival," which draws more than 500,000 visitors each year. Candles are lit, and the whole area glows like a scene from a fairy tale.

Hours

Open 24 hours every day

Access

From Otaru Station, about a 10-minute walk.

2. Bank of Japan Otaru Museum

The Bank of Japan Otaru Museum has a Western-style architectural design and was built at the end of the Meiji era in 1912. It was originally a major bank in a thriving financial district once called the "Wall Street of the North." Today, the well-preserved building still looks as beautiful as it did in the past, and it has become a free museum where visitors can learn about the history of finance and banking, with displays on Japanese currency from the Showa era, the origins of banknotes, and the evolution of finance from the past to the present. Here you can both admire the building and learn something new.

Hours

Open from 9:30 to 17:00 (closed every Wednesday and from December 31 to January 5)

Access

Take the JR Hakodate Main Line to Otaru Station, then walk about 10 minutes.

3. Otaru Music Box Museum

Otaru Music Box Museum is recognized as another important historical attraction in Otaru, built in 1912. The large building has an exposed red-brick exterior that looks striking yet beautiful. A standout feature of the museum is its Canadian-made steam clock, which still works today and is one of only two left in the world. A single visit here could take a while, as the museum has three floors to explore. Inside, the decor blends luxury with a warm atmosphere. More than 25,000 music boxes, from antiques to many other styles, are on display, along with a section featuring Karakuri dolls, traditional dolls from the 17th to 19th centuries that are very rare to see. If you fall in love with a music box and want to take one home, the museum also has a shop where you can order a custom-made music box, choosing the figure, color, and tune, for a truly one-of-a-kind souvenir.

Hours

Open daily from 9:00 to 18:00 (on Fridays, Saturdays, and the day before public holidays during summer, it closes at 19:00; on Fridays, Saturdays, and the day before public holidays in September, it closes at 18:30)

Access

From Minami Otaru Station, about a 20-minute walk.

4. Mount Tengu

Mount Tengu is one of the most famous mountains in Hokkaido and a popular viewpoint year-round. It is also a favorite destination for those who love a challenge and snow sports like skiing. Winter, with its soft powder snow, is the busiest season for visitors, whether they come to ski, ride the Mount Tengu Ropeway to enjoy the snow-covered mountain scenery, or take in the beautiful view of the city below. At night, the colorful, sparkling lights make the view especially romantic.

Hours

Open daily from 9:30 to 21:00

Access

Take the JR Hakodate Main Line to Otaru Station, then take the Hokkaido Chuo Bus to the Tenguyama stop.

5. Tanaka Shuzo Kikkogura

This sake brewery has a long history dating back to the Meiji era in the 19th century. It is a well-known producer of local sake in Otaru. The building retains its original form, giving it a historic atmosphere. Inside, visitors can see a demonstration of the traditional sake-making process and sample up to 10 types of exquisite, distinctly Hokkaido-style sake for free. It is a place to get up close to the culture and lifestyle of northern Japan, and you can also buy premium-quality local sake as a gift for someone special.

Hours

Open daily from 9:00 to 18:00

Access

Take the JR Hakodate Main Line to Minami Otaru Station, then walk about 5 minutes.

6. Aoyama Family Residence (Otaru Kihinkan)

This historic mansion belonged to the Aoyama family, one of the wealthiest families in Otaru and among the wealthiest in Japan. Built entirely of wood in the traditional style, it stands on a spacious site of about 1,500 square meters. The villa, built to welcome guests, has as many as 18 rooms, each decorated with valuable artworks by renowned Japanese artists. There is also a fine Japanese restaurant serving fresh seafood, where you can enjoy the view of the flower garden as well as the cityscape from this spot.

Hours

From April to December, open from 9:00 to 17:00. From January to March, open from 9:00 to 16:00.

Access

From Otaru Station, take the Chuo Bus from in front of the station, about a 20-minute ride, or take a taxi, about a 10-minute ride.

7. Nantaru Market

This market brings together the best local goods and fresh seafood of Otaru all in one place. The seafood here is a definite highlight, as it is fresh, offered in a wide variety, and reasonably priced. There are also several ready-to-eat food stalls, as well as famous products from the city and surrounding areas, including Hokkaido's sweet and fragrant Yubari melons, fresh sweet potatoes, and, not to be missed, Otaru sake.

Hours

Open daily from 9:00 to 18:00

Access

From Minami Otaru Station, about an 8-minute walk.

8. Kitaichi Glass

Glassware is another well-known product of Otaru, and Kitaichi Glass is recognized as a long-established producer of high-quality glassware. The factory has a history stretching back hundreds of years. Inside, the building is decorated luxuriously with numerous glass lamps and includes several sections, such as a cafe serving sweets and Japanese food amid beautiful glassware decorations, a display area showing various types of glassware from the past, and demonstrations of traditional glass-blowing techniques. Anyone who loves crafting or wants something one of a kind can also join a DIY glassmaking workshop to create a piece of glassware that exists nowhere else in the world.

Hours

Open daily from 8:45 to 18:00

Access

From Minami Otaru Station, about a 7-minute walk.

Complete Guide to Traveling in Otaru