Home ｜ Otaru Sightseeing Portal ｜ Northern Canal Warehouse Group

The northern part of the Otaru Canal, which curves north and south, is commonly known as the "North Canal." The canal's original width of 40 meters from when it was constructed remains to this day, with fishing boats and cruisers moored there, evoking the scene when it was bustling with lighters.

Among these, the "Former Shibusawa Warehouse" (which will soon be renamed the Former Endo Warehouse), built in the mid-Meiji period, shines particularly brightly. It originally had a unique shape, with a large roof covering two warehouses built by Matabei Endo, an industrialist who made a fortune in herring fishing, and others.

Shibusawa, known as the "Father of Japanese Capitalism" and whose portrait will appear on the new 10,000 yen note issued in 2024, is famous for founding and managing many companies. For his warehousing business, he established "Shibusawa Warehouse Co., Ltd." and expanded into Otaru as his first location outside Tokyo. That warehouse was designated a historical building by Otaru City in 1991 and is currently used as a live house and cafe.

Further north, at the end of the North Canal, stand three large stone warehouses. All of them are designated as historical buildings by Otaru City. From the left foreground, these are the Former Masuda Warehouse, the Former Hirofumi Warehouse, and the Former Ukon Warehouse, all built in the mid-Meiji period.

The Former Masuda Warehouse, built in 1903 by Masuda Mataemon, a Kitamae-bune shipowner, is one of the timber-framed stone warehouses, featuring a gable roof and a Western-style truss structure, typical of Otaru's warehouse architecture.

The Former Hirofumi Warehouse, located north of the Former Masuda Warehouse, was built in 1889 by Hirofumi Fumizaburo, also a Kitamae-bune shipowner. It is the oldest example of a large timber-framed stone warehouse in Otaru, and its construction techniques and short construction period became a model for subsequent warehouse construction in Otaru.

And at the northern end of the group of three warehouses stands the large Former Ukon Warehouse, built in 1894. It was built by Gonsaemon Ukon, a Kitamae-bune shipowner, and originally featured a "koshiyane" (a small roof for lighting) for natural light. Although partially damaged by strong winds about 20 years ago, it has been repaired with the roof restored to its current shape. It is the largest warehouse in Otaru by floor area.

Furthermore, there is a large Canal Park around the North Canal, and at its back stands the former Otaru Branch of Nippon Yusen Kaisha, a National Important Cultural Property. The North Canal area has a different charm from common tourist spots like Sakaimachi Street, making it a highly recommended walking spot for experiencing Otaru's history.

Giving Otaru.

From the "Old Otaru Warehouse" overlooking the canal,
UNGAPLUS, which delivers "The Story of Otaru"
that walked with the Kitamae-bune ships,
introduces "Places to Visit in Otaru."

Please enjoy "Otaru."