Joanna James
Located close to Sapporo in the beautiful historic sightseeing destination of Hokkaido, Otaru is the best place you can head whether as a family, a couple or a bunch of friends. The picturesque port town of Otaru is a great place to visit during summer and winter. Here are some places to see.
Otaru has a long history that involves its warehouses and the Otaru canal which has turned into a tourist hotspot in modern times. The Canal is famous as a sightseeing destination and runs across the centre of the city. The warehouses have been converted into museums, clubs and cafés. The canal cruise costs only 1500 yen and is especially spectacular during the night-time when you see the beautifully lit old warehouses as you cruise along. It is only a short walk that is less than 10 minutes from an Otaru hotel near JR station.
The historic district of Otaru is called Nichingin-Dori and was once the financial district that was dubbed "The Wall Street of Japan." The buildings are well-preserved and would make your day if you love old architecture so be sure to bring a camera along with you when you are exploring this charming neighbourhood.
The Tanaka Sake Brewing Company has been functioning since its establishment in 1899 and is the only sake brewery in Otaru. The rice that is used to make the sake comes from local Hokkaido farmers and the water is pure ice-melt from Mount Tengu which is what makes this sake company stand out. It is located close to Grand Park Otaru and you can get there in under a minute once past the station. The sake is usually brewed in winter, so if you visit during the summer, you will be given a tour of the factory, but no production will be underway. If you are going in the winter, you need to make a prior reservation. There is also a sampling booth where you can try their famed Takaragawa sake.
Otaru is also known for its fresh seafood and the place to go if you want to try some of the freshest seafood you have ever tasted is the Otaru Sankaku Ichiba. The restaurants inside the market will cook scallop, mackerel, salmon and crab for you including whatever seasonal catches you buy at the market. They also have a great "kaisendon" which is rice topped with seafood of your choice, be sure to try that out for 1,000 yen.
The Otaru Music Box Museum is an otherworldly wonder that will immediately transport you into a magical wonderland. There are thousands of music boxes each with distinct melodies. You can also create your own music box if you make a reservation with the Youkobo shop beforehand. They have a workshop dedicated to the art of learning how to create music boxes. It would make for a one-of-a-kind souvenir.
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