Canal Park | Otaru Tourism

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The Otaru Canal was completed in 1923 with the mission of facilitating the smooth unloading of cargo. After the war, the canal ceased its role and in 1986, walking paths and gas lamps were installed, giving it its current appearance. Half of the canal was filled in to make way for roads, but the northern section, known as the North Canal, has remained 40 meters wide, preserving its original appearance.

Canal Park is located along the North Canal and was built on the site where cargo was loaded and unloaded for the former Otaru branch of Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property. The park covers an area of approximately 7,800 square meters and features playground equipment and rest areas that were repurposed from stone warehouses from the Meiji and Taisho periods. In the center is a fountain pond modeled after the shape of the "Funairikan" (boat entrance canal) of that time.

There are also bronze statues of people with ties to Otaru, such as busts of Hiroi Isamu and Ito Choemon, who were involved in the construction of Otaru Port, and a statue of the father and son from the well-known children's song "Red Shoes." Canal Park is usually quiet, but in the summer it becomes lively with children splashing around in the fountain. During Obon, an event called "Floating Lanterns" is held in Canal Park to commemorate ancestors, creating a truly magical atmosphere.

Facility name <br>Canal Park

address
3-6 Ironai, Otaru City, Hokkaido 047-0031

phone
0134-32-4111

Opening hours
24 hours

Closed days <br>Open everyday

Home page
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This Tai Monaka chocolate features 23 lucky spots in Otaru on the packaging. Chocolate and rice puffs are placed inside a traditionally baked monaka shell made from 100% glutinous rice.

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UNGAPLUS

This shop, renovated from the "Old Otaru Warehouse Main Building," said to be the oldest commercial warehouse in Hokkaido in the Otaru North Canal area, develops and sells original products that convey the charm of Otaru. The shop tells the story of Otaru's prosperity during the Hokkaido pioneering era and the history of the Kitamae ships, and displays and sells processed seafood and agricultural products from ports of call and Hokkaido, as well as original products by artisans and artists with ties to Otaru.