Home > Otaru Tourism Portal >Old Townscape

The North Canal, where traces of the past remain intact, is home to many historical buildings and stone warehouses built during the Meiji period, such as the former Nippon Yusen Otaru Branch and the former Shibusawa Warehouse.Many things remain that convey the atmosphere of Otaru in the past, such as gas lamps and the Hokkai Can Otaru Factory.

Unlike the bustling Otaru Canal area, which is becoming increasingly touristy, this is a quiet area that still retains the atmosphere of an old port town. We will introduce you to the charm of the North Canal, which is filled with the charm of the good old days.

north canal

Give Otaru as a gift.

From the "Old Otaru Warehouse" overlooking the canal,
From UNGAPLUS, which brings you the "Story of Otaru" that walked alongside the Kitamae ships,
We will introduce you to "Places to visit in Otaru."

Please enjoy Otaru.

Old Townscape North Canal

↓ Former Otaru Warehouse
↓ Otaru City Museum Canal Hall
↓ Hokkaido Can No. 3 Warehouse
↓ Tanaka Sake Brewery Main Store
↓ PRESSCAFE Press Cafe
↓ Otaru GOLDSTONE
↓ North Canal Warehouse Group
↓ End of the North Canal
↓ Canal Park
↓ Former Nippon Yusen Co., Ltd.
↓ Otaru City Museum Main Building
↓ Temiya Cave
↓ Old Temiya Line

Otaru Old Town North Canal

1. Otaru Tourism - Old Townscape and North Canal

Former Otaru Warehouse

The Former Otaru Warehouse, with its striking shachihoko (lion-like carp) statue standing along the Otaru Canal, is a representative structure among the many historical buildings in Otaru. Built in 1890 by Nishitani and Nishide of Kaga Hashidate ...

Store name　UNGAPLUS
address　2-1-20 Ironai, Otaru
phone　0134-65-8150
Opening hours　10:00~18:00
Closed days　Open everyday
Home page　Click here

2. Otaru Sightseeing - Old Townscape and North Canal

Otaru City Museum Canal Hall

The Otaru City Museum consists of two facilities: the Main Building and the Canal Museum. The two facilities are about a 20-minute walk apart. The Main Building was relocated to the former Otaru Transportation Memorial Museum in Temiya in July 2007 (Heisei 19) .... Read more

Facility name　Otaru City Museum Canal Hall
address　2-1-20 Ironai, Otaru, Hokkaido
phone　0134-22-1258
Opening hours　09:30-17:00
Closed　New Year's holiday (December 29th to January 3rd)
Home page　Click here

3. Otaru Sightseeing - Old Townscape and North Canal

Hokkai Can Warehouse No. 3

The Hokkai Seikan Otaru Factory Warehouse No. 3 was built in 1924 (Taisho 13), the year after the completion of the Otaru Canal. It was intended for the seafood processing plants of the Kamchatka Peninsula, where North Pacific fishing was thriving ... Read more

Facility name　Hokkai Can Co., Ltd. Otaru Factory Warehouse No. 3
address　2-5 Temiya, Otaru, Hokkaido
Opening hours　You can see the exterior all year round
Closed days　The exterior can be viewed all year round
Home page　Click here

4. Otaru Sightseeing - Old Townscape and North Canal

Tanaka Sake Brewery Main Store

At its peak, Otaru had over 50 sake breweries, but now only Tanaka Sake Brewery remains, producing Otaru's local sake, Takaragawa. Tanaka Sake Brewery was founded in 1899 (Meiji 32) and has been in business for 120 years ... Read more

Facility name　Tanaka Sake Brewery Main Store
Address　3-2-5 Ironai, Otaru, Hokkaido,
phone　0134-23-0390
Opening hours　09:05-17:55
Closed days　Open all year round
Home page　Click here

5. Otaru Sightseeing - Old Townscape and North Canal

PRESSCAFE Press Cafe

PRESSCAFE is located at the northern end of the Otaru Canal, next to Kitahama Bridge, which spans the North Canal, in the former Shibusawa Warehouse, a historic building built in 1895 (Meiji 28).... Read more

Facility name　PRESSCAFE
Address　3-3-21 Ironai, Otaru, Hokkaido
phone　0134-24-8028
Opening hours　11:30-22:00
Closed　Thursdays
Home page　Click here

6. Otaru Sightseeing - Old Townscape and North Canal

Otaru GOLDSTONE

Otaru GOLDSTONE is a live theater and restaurant located in the former Shibusawa Warehouse, one of the symbolic historical buildings of the Otaru North Canal. With a full range of sound, video, and lighting equipment .... Read more

Facility name　Otaru GOLDSTONE
Address　3-3-21 Ironai, Otaru, Hokkaido
phone　0134-33-5610
Business hours　Hall reservation reception hours: Weekdays 10:00-19:00
Closed days　None
Home page　Click here

7. Otaru Sightseeing - Old Townscape and North Canal

North Canal Warehouse Group

The northern part of the Otaru Canal, which curves north and south, is commonly known as the "North Canal." The original width of the canal, 40 meters, remains unchanged to this day, and fishing boats and cruisers are moored there .... Read more

Facility name　PRESSCAFE
Address　3-3-21 Ironai, Otaru, Hokkaido
phone　0134-24-8028
Opening hours　11:30-22:00
Closed　Thursdays
Home page　Click here

8. Otaru Sightseeing - Old Townscape and North Canal

Northernmost point of the North Canal

The North Canal retains its original appearance and is home to many historical buildings and stone warehouses built during the Meiji period, such as the former Nippon Yusen Otaru Branch and the former Shibusawa Warehouse. There are also gas lamps and the Hokkai Can Otaru Factory ... Read more

Facility name　Canal Park
address　3-6 Ironai, Otaru City, Hokkaido
phone　0134-32-4111
Opening hours　24 hours
Closed days　Open everyday
Home page　Click here

9. Otaru Sightseeing - Old Townscape and North Canal

canal park

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 ... Read more

Facility name　Canal Park
address　3-6 Ironai, Otaru City, Hokkaido
phone　0134-32-4111
Opening hours　24 hours
Closed days　Open everyday
Home page　Click here

10. Otaru Sightseeing - Old Townscape North Canal

Former Nippon Yusen Kaisha Otaru Branch

The former Otaru branch of Nippon Yusen Kaisha, with its luxurious appearance, gives a glimpse into the prosperity of Otaru during the Meiji period. Built in October 1906 by Nippon Yusen Kaisha, it remains a core company of the Mitsubishi Group. As one of Japan's three major shipping companies ...Read more

Facility name　Former Nippon Yusen Co., Ltd. Otaru Branch
Address　3-7-8 Ironai, Otaru, Hokkaido,
phone　0134-22-3316
Opening hours　Closed until June 2022 due to preservation and repair work
Closed　until June 2022 due to preservation and repair work
Home page　Click here

11. Otaru Sightseeing - Old Townscape North Canal

Otaru City Museum Main Building

Located in Temiya, the birthplace of Hokkaido's railways, the main building displays 50 of Hokkaido's most iconic railway vehicles, including the Shizuka steam locomotive. In the summer, the ... Read more

Facility name　Otaru City Museum Main Building
address　1-3-6 Temiya, Otaru City, Hokkaido
phone　0134-33-2523
Opening hours　09:30-17:00
Closed　New Year's holiday (December 29th to January 3rd)
Home page　Click here

12. Otaru Sightseeing - Old Townscape and North Canal

Temiya Cave

About 1,600 years ago, the Jomon period had already ended in Honshu, and the Yayoi period was transitioning into the Kofun period. However, in Hokkaido, the Jomon period was still in the midst of a period known as the "Post-Jomon ....Read more

Store name　Otaru Temiya Cave
address　1-3-4 Temiya, Otaru City, 047-0041
phone　0134-24-1092 / 0134-33-2523 (Otaru City Museum Main Building)
Opening hours　9:30~17:00
Closed　Tuesdays
Home page　Click here

13. Otaru Sightseeing - Old Townscape North Canal

Former Temiya Line

The abandoned Temiya Line, located a 10-minute walk from JR Otaru Station, is a popular tourist spot in Otaru. Originally built to transport coal, it was the first railway in Hokkaido and the third in Japan ... Read more

Sightseeing Spots　Former Japanese National Railways Temiya Line
Opening hours　Open all day except during the winter when there is snow.
Closed days　Open for strolling all day except during the winter when there is snow.

UNGAPLUS

Good luck from the shipping town of Otaru...
May the flow that has been protected without interruption be your ally and open up your luck.

During the Meiji period, Otaru flourished as the gateway to the development of Hokkaido.
Kitamae ships flapped their pure white sails across the ocean, traveling to and from Honshu and bringing many goods and cultures to this area.

UNGAPLUS delivers original products that incorporate the history and culture of Otaru, as well as high-quality products from the ports of call of the Kitamae ships, from the former Otaru Main Warehouse, the first commercial warehouse in Hokkaido, built by Kitamae ship owners Nishide Magozaemon and Nishitani Shohachi.

The story of Otaru, which has walked alongside the Kitamae ships, can be heard from this place.

We are looking forward to your visit and have a wide selection of original items that are only available here and make great souvenirs.

Click here for details on "UNGAPLUS" Store name　UNGAPLUS

address　2-1-20 Ironai, Otaru 047-0031

phone　0134-65-8150

Opening hours　10:00~18:00

Closed days　Open everyday

Home page　Click here