Otaru Station | Otaru Sightseeing

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Otaru Station, the gateway to tourism in Otaru, opened in 1903 as Hokkaido Railway's "Otaru Central Station," and was renamed "Takashima Station" and "Chuo Otaru Station" several times before finally becoming Otaru Station in 1920, reflecting the name of the former Otaru Station (now Minami Otaru Station). The current station building is also the third generation.

Due to the need to purchase rail tracks, the station was built on the side of a hill, and so to get to the first and second generation station buildings, there was a steep slope in front of the station, which caused problems for horse-drawn carriages and other vehicles. The current station building was completed in early 1934 as a reinforced concrete structure, and has a platform on the second floor behind the main building.

The building itself was a symmetrical, modern design modeled after Ueno Station, which had opened two years earlier. This style was also used in Chiayi Station in Taiwan, which was under Japanese rule at the time, and was a typical urban station structure designed by the Ministry of Railways at the time.

The former stationmaster's office on the concourse has been preserved in its original form and is open to the public during events. The "Okuai Kane" bell at the front of the station building was rung to announce the arrival of trains from the time the station opened until around 1965.

Additionally, Yujiro Ishihara, who has a deep connection with Otaru, got off at platform 4 when he visited Otaru for a location shoot. Since 2003, platform 4 has been nicknamed "Yujiro Platform" and a life-size panel of him has been installed there.

Facility name
JR Otaru Station

address
2-22-15 Inaho, Otaru City, 047-0032

phone
0134-22-0771

Business hours : Midori no Madoguchi 5:30-22:45

Closed days : None

Home page
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I want to explore Otaru

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.