2. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

Otaru Sankaku Market

Otaru's Sankaku Market is approximately 200m long, with 16 shops lining both sides of a narrow, roughly 2-meter-wide sloping path. Six of these shops are restaurants where you can enjoy meals from 7 AM to 5 PM. They offer fresh seafood bowls and daily specials made with seasonal ingredients. You can also have items bought at the market cooked on the spot to create your original seafood bowl.

The market's origins trace back to around 1948, shortly after the war. It began with 7-8 street vendors setting up stalls in front of Otaru Station and subsequently developed into a morning market. Besides fresh seafood like crab, sea urchin, and scallops, it also sells vegetables, fruits, and daily necessities, making it a popular and convenient market for everyday shopping and souvenir hunting.

3. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

Former Temiya Line

The abandoned rail line of the former Temiya Line, located a 10-minute walk from JR Otaru Station, has become a popular tourist spot in Otaru. It began in Meiji 13 (1880) when it opened from Temiya to Sapporo, becoming Hokkaido's first railway and Japan's third, built by American railway engineer Joseph Ury Crawford for coal transportation.

After flourishing with the shipment of coal and marine products, it was nationalized in Meiji 39 (1906) and served as a means of transport for Hokkaido residents until the late Showa period, before being abandoned in November Showa 60 (1985). Otaru City has since developed 1.6 km of the former Temiya Line into a walking path, preserving remnants such as the tracks and railroad crossings while making it easy to walk. The Otaru City General Museum utilizes the former Temiya Station site as its main building, exhibiting steam locomotives and Bank of Japan cash transport vehicles that were once used on the Temiya Line.

Recognized for its contribution to Japan's modernization, the former Temiya Line site is registered as a Modern Industrial Heritage of Japan by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as part of Hokkaido's American-style railway-related heritage.

4. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

Otaru Canal

The Otaru Canal, nationally famous as a popular tourist spot, was completed in 1923 (Taisho 12). Instead of being dug inland, it was created by reclaiming land offshore, giving it a gently curving rather than straight characteristic.

To enable more efficient cargo loading and unloading, an artificial island was constructed over approximately nine years starting in 1914 (Taisho 3), allowing for loading operations around it. The water space remaining between the original quay and the artificial island, measuring 1,314m in length and 40m in width, came to be commonly known as the "Otaru Canal."

After its completion in 1923, it supported Otaru's prosperity as a merchant city for a while. However, after World War II, as piers were developed in Otaru Port, lighterage gradually decreased. Furthermore, with the creation of large-scale ports in cities along the Pacific coast, many ships shifted to Pacific routes. The Otaru Canal gradually transformed into a useless place, accumulating sludge and garbage.

A plan emerged to reclaim the canal to build a three-lane road, aiming to re-establish Otaru as a logistics hub. In response, a citizen's movement arose advocating for its preservation as a symbol of Otaru, leading to the nationally publicized "Otaru Canal Preservation Movement."

As a result, the southern half along the Otaru Port Line (prefectural road) was reclaimed for a road, but the canal area was developed into a promenade with stone pavements and gas lamps. Today, its beautiful scenery has transformed it into one of Hokkaido's leading popular tourist spots that continues to captivate many people. The northern side (commonly known as "Kita Canal") still retains its original width of 40m.

5. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

Otaru Canal Cruise

The Otaru Canal, world-renowned as a tourist spot in Hokkaido. Along the canal, numerous historic buildings stand, making every view picturesque.

One activity that allows you to fully enjoy the popular Otaru Canal area, which can be called a new standard for Otaru tourism, is the "Otaru Canal Cruise." It's a small boat trip of about 40 minutes where you can rediscover the charm of Otaru, a city of history and romance.

The appeal of the Otaru Canal Cruise is that you can enjoy different views of the canal depending on the season—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—and also at different times of the day, such as before sunset, during the day, or after sunset. Each visit offers a unique experience and a new perspective of the canal. Please experience this approximately 40-minute boat trip on the Otaru Canal.

The boarding fees are 1,800 yen for adults and 500 yen for children for the Day Cruise, and 2,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for children for the Night Cruise. Brochures are available in Japanese and multiple languages (English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Korean).

6. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

UNGAPLUS (Inside Former Otaru Warehouse)

Bringing good fortune from the port city of Otaru...

May your luck open up, with the current that has been continuously protected.

During the Meiji era, Otaru prospered as the gateway for Hokkaido's development. Kitamae-bune ships sailed the vast oceans, their white sails fluttering, bringing numerous goods and cultures to this land through their trade with Honshu.

UNGAPLUS, from the "Former Otaru Warehouse Main Building," the first operating warehouse in Hokkaido built by Kitamae-bune shipowners Sozaemon Nishide and Shohachi Nishiya, delivers original products infused with the history and culture still remaining in Otaru, as well as quality goods from the ports of call of the Kitamae-bune ships.

The story of Otaru, which walked hand-in-hand with the Kitamae-bune ships, begins here.

7. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

Otaru Museum Canal Annex

The Otaru City Museum has two facilities: the Main Building and the Canal Annex. The two facilities are about 20 minutes apart by foot.

The Main Building opened in July 2007 (Heisei 19), integrating the functions of the museum and the Youth Science and Technology Museum into the former Otaru Transportation Museum in Temiya. At the same time, the former museum, located in the "Former Otaru Warehouse" along the Otaru Canal, changed its name to the Canal Annex.

The Canal Annex, which was the former museum, has two exhibition rooms: the first exhibition room displays old photographs and maps documenting the changes in the town, Kitamae-bune ships, and herring fishing, and the second exhibition room displays natural materials of flora and fauna, making it a facility where visitors can easily learn about the history of Otaru City and its abundant nature.

Admission is free for junior high school students and younger.

8. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

Wakadori Jidai Naruto Honten

"Wakadori Jidai Naruto Honten," affectionately known as "Naruto," is one of Otaru's most representative and popular establishments. Founded in 1965 (Showa 40), it has been a soul food for Otaru citizens and is considered the originator of Hokkaido's fried half-chicken.

At the main branch in Inaho, Otaru City, they offer a variety of dishes including their nationally famous signature "fried half-chicken," as well as sushi and rice bowls made with Otaru seafood, various set meals, curry, tempura, ramen, and more.

The fried half-chicken has maintained its traditional flavor since its inception, with crispy skin and juicy meat inside. Excess fat is removed, making it surprisingly light and not as greasy as it might appear. The subtle salty seasoning pairs excellently with white rice, and also perfectly with beer.

All payments are made in advance, and additional orders are settled individually each time.

9. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

Otaru Sushi Street

In Hokkaido, there's a unique sushi culture distinct from Edomae sushi. As the slang term "Ezo-mae" suggests, many restaurants serve fresh seafood without marinating it in vinegar or salt, simply as nigiri.

Otaru, with its large port, is known as a treasure trove of seafood from Ishikari Bay and is also famous as a sushi city. The reputation for fresh, high-quality seafood led to a rush of young chefs, trained across Japan during the Taisho and Meiji eras, opening restaurants in Otaru.

The street leading from Otaru Station to the canal, lined with nearly 20 sushi restaurants, is named "Sushi Street," where the quality of ingredients is excellent, and chefs from all over Japan compete with their skills.

10. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

Sakaimachi Street Shopping Arcade

When it comes to Otaru sightseeing, "Sakaimachi Street Shopping Arcade" is a popular spot, second only to the Otaru Canal. It's almost always a must-visit place when coming to Otaru.

Sakaimachi Street is lined with nationally famous shops like Kitaichi Glass, LeTAO, Otaru Music Box Museum, and Kamaei. Many stores are housed in historical buildings, creating a romantic atmosphere with charming townscapes.

The approximately 900-meter-long street, stretching from the Sakaimachi Intersection (affectionately known as "Meruhen Crossroads") towards the Iroinai Odori area, once called "Wall Street of the North" due to a rush of bank branch openings, is now bustling with many souvenir shops and gourmet spots, making it a popular shopping area for tourists.

The "Joya-to" (eternal lamp) installed at the Meruhen Crossroads is a replica of a wooden lighthouse that stood on a hill in Nobukacho, Otaru City, during the Meiji era. It is popular as a photo spot and resting place.

11. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

Otaru Taisho Glass Museum

Otaru Taisho Glass Museum is the main store of Otaru Glass Museum, which has 13 stores mainly in Otaru City and throughout Hokkaido. It is said that many excellent glass works were produced in Japan during the Taisho era.

At Otaru Taisho Glass Museum, under the concept of "conveying the beauty of Taisho to the present day," various glass products, including Japanese-style glass vessels that inherit the style of that time, are exhibited and sold.

Otaru Taisho Glass Museum is housed in a renovated Natori Kosaburo Shoten, built in 1906 (Meiji 39). The former Natori Kosaburo Shoten, built by Kosaburo Natori, a copper, iron, and hardware merchant from Yamanashi Prefecture, is a representative merchant house building from the late Meiji era. Its exterior walls are made of Sapporo soft stone, and the upper walls are supported by iron columns.

It was designated as a Historic Building by Otaru City in 1985 (Showa 60). It displays a wide array of glass products, including handcrafted Japanese-style glass vessels, accessories, and miniature ornaments, made at their own glass workshops and in Otaru City. Additionally, they offer various hands-on experiences such as glass blowing and making glass beads (tonbodama).

12. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

Kitaichi Glass

Kitaichi Glass, famous as a mecca for Otaru tourism, has 17 stores in the city, including glass galleries such as its Third Building, as well as restaurants and cafes.

Kitaichi Glass, a leading glass brand in Otaru, has grown alongside the city's modern history. Kitaichi Glass's predecessor, Asahara Glass, was founded in 1901 (Meiji 34). It rapidly expanded its business by manufacturing and selling oil lamps and fishing floats.

However, with the spread of electricity and oil, the era shifted from glass to plastic. By 1960 (Showa 35), Asahara Glass was the only glass manufacturer left in the city.

The tide turned again in the 1970s. In 1971 (Showa 46), the company changed its name to the current Kitaichi Glass. Their bold decision to display glass oil lamps, which were once daily necessities, in their storefront proved successful.

At the time, the oil lamps brought back by backpackers, known as "kani-zoku," as souvenirs were highly praised as interior decorations, and their reputation quickly spread nationwide.

In the 1980s, with the redevelopment of the Otaru Canal, the conversion of a fishing warehouse built in 1891 (Meiji 24) into a permanent gallery for tourists became immensely popular. Through this development, Kitaichi Glass successfully transitioned its business from manufacturing and selling lighting to selling glassware.

Currently, in addition to importing and selling products from domestic and international glass manufacturers and trading companies, and operating its own planned products and affiliated factories, it also manages restaurants, cafes, and sells alcoholic beverages such as sake and wine.

13. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

Otaru Western Confectionery LeTAO

Under the theme "Northern Sweets Manner - Delivering Hokkaido-rooted sweets nationwide," LeTAO was founded in 1998 (Heisei 10) in a prime location facing the Meruhen Crossroads.

Its official name is "Otaru Western Confectionery LeTAO." It has become so nationally famous that almost everyone knows its name. It is one of Otaru's absolute must-visit spots.

Currently, there are six stores with different concepts in Otaru City, and each store offers a wide variety of limited edition products and exquisite sweets.

What brought LeTAO national recognition was its milky and smooth-melting cheesecake, "Double Fromage." In 2005 (Heisei 17), it gained massive national popularity after being featured on a TV program. Now, when people think of Otaru sweets, they think of LeTAO.

14. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

Otaru Music Box Museum

The Otaru Music Box Museum, one of Otaru's popular tourist spots, is the largest music box specialty store in Japan, marked by the steam clock at the Meruhen Crossroads.

In Otaru City, there are seven sister stores, including the main building at Meruhen Crossroads. Together, they display and sell approximately 5,000 types and a total of about 80,000 music boxes. The main building alone is said to have about 3,400 types and over 25,000 music boxes.

The building was constructed in 1915 (Taisho 4) as the head office of Kyosei Co., Ltd., a prominent grain merchant.

On March 29, 1989 (Showa 64), when the Otaru Music Box Museum opened, it was registered as a Historic Building by Otaru City. The decorated ceilings, handrail ornaments, and the second-floor corridor remain as they were when constructed.

The interior is divided into five floors, each featuring beautiful decorations and music boxes with various melodies. The steam clock, standing 5.5m tall, 1m wide, and weighing 1.5t, is the world's largest and symbolizes the main entrance. It was crafted by Raymond Saunders, a Canadian clockmaker who created the world's first steam clock. Powered by steam, it plays a five-note melody with five whistles every 15 minutes.

15. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

Otaru Kamaei

"Kamaei," a popular Otaru kamaboko (fish cake) shop beloved by Otaru citizens and many Hokkaido residents for many years, was founded in 1905 (Meiji 38). It now boasts over 100 years of history, with 4 stores in Otaru City, 6 in Sapporo, and airport stores, totaling 12 establishments.

In addition to the red and white board kamaboko, essential for celebratory occasions, they also offer un-fried kamaboko such as "uni-ita" (sea urchin board) and "yaki-ita" (grilled board). Many Hokkaido residents swear by Kamaei's kamaboko for special events.

At the head office factory in Sakaimachi, Otaru City, visitors can watch skilled artisans making kamaboko through a glass partition for free, and freshly fried kamaboko is very popular.

The top recommendation is the limited-edition "Pan Roll," which was reportedly developed by the previous president in 1962 (Showa 37). The Pan Roll, made from minced Alaska pollock, ground pork, and onions, wrapped in ultra-thin bread and deep-fried, is an exquisite kamaboko dish with a crispy texture and a perfect balance of saltiness and the surimi's sweetness.

16. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

Tanaka Sake Brewery Kikko-gura

At its peak, Otaru had over 50 sake breweries, but now only Tanaka Sake Brewery, which produces Otaru's local sake "Takaragawa," remains.

Tanaka Sake Brewery, a sake brewery with 120 years of history since its founding in 1899 (Meiji 32), has two stores in the city and has been cherished by citizens for many years. Kikko-gura, which has become an Otaru tourist attraction, is the former Okazaki Warehouse complex, built in Meiji 38 (1905), consisting of three wooden-framed stone buildings, one to two stories high, and is designated as a "Historic Building" by Otaru City.

Tanaka Sake Brewery has three distinguishing features. First, all ingredients for their sake are Hokkaido-grown rice. Second, all the sake they produce is junmai-shu (pure rice sake). Third, they are a "Four Seasons Brewery" that brews year-round.

While sake brewing typically occurs during winter as "kan-zukuri," Kikko-gura brews all year round. This means you can observe sake brewing at any time of the year.

Since 1998 (Heisei 10), when Hokkaido-grown sake rice was developed, Tanaka Sake Brewery has been using "Suisei" cultivated in Niseko, Otofuke, Furuhe, Atsuma, and other areas. "Shiboritate Nama Genshu" (freshly pressed unpasteurized undiluted sake) is a rare sake that can only be enjoyed at the brewery, but here at Kikko-gura, it is available for tasting year-round.

17. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

Otaru Tenguyama

Otaru Tenguyama, a symbolic presence in Otaru, has long been cherished by citizens. With an elevation of 532 meters, it can be viewed from various central parts of Otaru City.

You can reach the summit using the ropeway, which runs every 6 to 12 minutes, or by car (road closed in winter).

Otaru Tenguyama has five observation decks, and the summit observation deck, in particular, is a must-see spot, having earned one star in the "Michelin Green Guide Japan." It offers an excellent vantage point with panoramic views of the city laid out like a miniature garden, Otaru Port, Ishikari Bay, and on clear days, even the Shokanbetsu mountain range and Shakotan Peninsula in the distance.

The beautiful night view, likened to scattered jewels, is said to be one of "Hokkaido's Three Great Night Views." The varied city lights, created by the terrain surrounded by a harbor and mountains, offer a captivating night view that never gets old.

At "Tengu-no-Yakata" (Tengu's Hall) on the summit, about 700 Tengu masks of various sizes collected from around the country are displayed. There's a "Nose-stroking Tengu" statue, believed to grant wishes if you stroke its nose, possessing magical powers and a legend that it wards off evil and grants wishes, so why not give it a try?

And in recent years, "sea of clouds" has gained popularity. In Otaru, the probability of it occurring is higher from late spring to early summer. While a sea of clouds is a rare sight that requires specific weather and geographical conditions, on Otaru Tenguyama, it is sometimes possible to enjoy precious and spectacular views such as "sea of clouds + night view" or "sea of clouds + sunset," which cannot be seen elsewhere.

18. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

Blue Cave

The beautiful, glowing blue "Blue Cave" is formed by a unique terrain created by seawater erosion, combined with various coincidences such as the direction and angle of the sun's rays and the transparency of the seawater. Sunlight streams in from the cave entrance, and as the sea absorbs six of the seven colors of light, leaving only blue, the surface of the sea glows blue.

Globally, Italy's Capri Island is famous, but there are several places in Japan also called "Blue Cave," and surprisingly, you can see the "Blue Cave" near Otaru and Shakotan.

The Blue Cave near Otaru and Shakotan, facing the Sea of Japan, is renowned for its beautiful contrast between rugged rocks and the refreshing blue surface of the sea. Moreover, Otaru's Blue Cave is characterized by a wider entrance compared to other caves, allowing visitors to tour the inside of the cave while remaining on a small boat.

19. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

Otaru Aquarium

Otaru Aquarium, located in the Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Coast Quasi-National Park facing the Sea of Japan, was constructed in July 1958 as the "Marine Venue" for the Hokkaido Grand Exposition and began operations as the "Otaru Municipal Aquarium" the following year in 1959.

It is located in Shukutsu, about a 15-minute drive from the Otaru Canal, a famous tourist spot. You can also take a leisurely trip there by sea sightseeing boat departing from Otaru Port Pier 3.

The facility consists of four areas: the "Main Building" which exhibits a wide variety of marine life, the "Dolphin Stadium" where you can enjoy dolphin and sea lion shows, the "Marine Mammal Park" which houses seals, walruses, Steller sea lions, penguins, and more, and the amusement park "Otaru Shukutsu Marine Land," allowing close observation of over 250 species of marine animals and fish at all times.

In the main building, you can observe marine creatures in a fun way through various ingenious exhibits, while the Dolphin Stadium and Marine Mammal Park regularly hold unmissable shows.

The powerful diving show of Steller sea lions and the performances of giant walruses are as popular as the acrobatic dolphin shows. The Marine Mammal Park utilizes a natural cove as it is, and wild Steller sea lions and spotted seals sometimes wander in, with some even having been raised there.

20. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

Former NYK Otaru Branch

The former NYK Otaru Branch, with its lavish appearance hinting at Otaru's prosperity during the Meiji era, was built in October Meiji 39 (1906) by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, which remains a core company of the Mitsubishi Group. As one of Japan's three major shipping companies, it is highly recognized internationally and is still considered a representative of Japanese shipping.

At that time, Otaru was expanding its commercial port functions for Europe as a base for Hokkaido's national development project. Concurrently, financial institutions and trading companies were actively establishing themselves, earning it the nickname "Wall Street of the North," and many buildings showcasing the pinnacle of architectural skill were constructed by top architects.

This building symbolizes the heyday of Otaru's development. It is a two-story stone building in the European Renaissance style. The VIP room inside is a luxurious space that spares no expense, featuring a stucco ceiling and chandelier, deep crimson curtains, a floor made of parquet with a striking large floral pattern carpet, and walls adorned with kikumon-yō kintōkawa-shi (gold-embossed leather paper with chrysanthemum crests), which are said to have been extremely difficult to restore.

Kintōkawa-shi is a traditional Japanese craft made based on "kintōkawa," a leather craft invented in Renaissance Europe. When exhibited at the Vienna World's Fair, it garnered significant interest in Europe and even began to be exported.

21. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

Otaru City Herring Mansion

In the first half of the Meiji era, the main industry in Hokkaido was herring fishing, which generated more revenue than coal mining, which later became the main industry.

From the early Meiji period, fixed-net (corner net/standing net) fishery managers began constructing unique buildings that served as both lodgings for numerous fishermen and residences for the managers (oyakata). In particular, oyakata who fished in remote areas built enormous structures.

The Tanaka family in Tomari Village on the Shakotan Peninsula also constructed their main residence in Meiji 30 (1897). In western Shakotan, where cliffs continue, bag-shaped inlets called "fukuro-ma" developed, where herring could be stored net and all. In Tomari Village, where the Tanaka family resided, fukuro-ma and brick warehouses still remain, and a huge drying area also existed on the cliff.

The herring fishermen's lodging (ryoba-kenchiku) is characterized by a large gabled exterior, a skylight that also serves as a smoke vent, two entrances—one for fishermen and one for the oyakata—and an interior where the oyakata's living space and the fishermen's space coexist across an earthen floor, with built-in sleeping platforms (nedai) for the fishermen.

This building, only the main house, was relocated to Otaru City (to its current location on the cape) in 1958 (Showa 33). The scale was partially reduced during the relocation. Also, the location is significantly different from its original coastal setting.

Currently, it is open to the public as the "Otaru City Herring Mansion," a museum displaying fishing tools and documents, literature, and photographs related to herring fishing. Please visit it along with the Shukutsu fishing village architecture group remaining in the surrounding area.

22. Otaru Tourism - Exploring Otaru's Royal Road

Otaru City Noh Theater

The Otaru City Noh Theater (formerly Okazaki Family Noh Stage) is a Noh theater built in Otaru City, Hokkaido, in 1926. It features the highest standard of elegance for a Noh stage as defined in the Edo period and is a historically and culturally valuable building.

It was built in 1926 by Ken Okazaki, originally from Sado, who succeeded as a sundry goods and grain merchant and contributed to Otaru City as a city council member, within his private residence.

It was built using specially selected materials such as Jindaigami (ancient cedar) with a diameter of 2.4m from Sado, cypress from Kyushu, and pine from Hokkaido. The pine on the mirror board and the bamboo painting on the sliding door were drawn by Kano Mochinobu, the 17th generation of the Kano school, who stayed in Otaru for two months.

Since its inaugural performance in 1926, it hosted numerous important events, welcoming distinguished guests (such as Princess Takamatsu and Peerage President Iesato Tokugawa), head families, and performers of Yugen Noh like Kensuke Noguchi. After his death, it was donated to Otaru City in 1954 according to his will.

In 1961, with the relocation of the public hall, the Noh stage part of the Nohgakudo (excluding the audience area and dressing rooms) that was on the Okazaki residence grounds was moved to its current location. Currently, it is open to the general public for tours during the summer, and various events are held by volunteer citizen groups to share its historical value.

UNGAPLUS

Bringing good fortune from the port city of Otaru...
May your luck open up, with the current that has been continuously protected.

During the Meiji era, Otaru prospered as the gateway for Hokkaido's development.
Kitamae-bune ships sailed the vast oceans, their white sails fluttering, bringing numerous goods and cultures to this land through their trade with Honshu.

UNGAPLUS, from the "Former Otaru Warehouse Main Building," the first operating warehouse in Hokkaido built by Kitamae-bune shipowners Sozaemon Nishide and Shohachi Nishiya, delivers original products infused with the history and culture still remaining in Otaru, as well as quality goods from the ports of call of the Kitamae-bune ships.

The story of Otaru, which walked hand-in-hand with the Kitamae-bune ships, begins here.

We look forward to welcoming you to our store, where you will find unique original products that make perfect souvenirs.

"UNGAPLUS" Details here