The Former Otaru Warehouse is a group of stone warehouses built in the Meiji era, a historical building that once served as a hub for trade through Otaru Port. It has since been renovated into a restaurant and shopping complex, beloved as a spot where visitors can enjoy dining and shopping while admiring its historic exterior.

The Former Otaru Warehouse is located on the bank of the Otaru Canal, about a 10-minute walk from JR Otaru Station. It's conveniently located along a walking route that allows you to naturally stop by, making it ideal to combine with a canal cruise or a visit to the Iro-nai Bank District.

The northern wing is utilized as the "Otaru City Museum Canal Museum," where visitors can view exhibits related to Otaru's history, nature, and industry. It's a facility that clearly explains the era when Otaru Port flourished through trade, all within a building that still utilizes its Meiji-era stone warehouse structure. This spot is particularly recommended for those who want to delve deeper into Otaru's history during their sightseeing.

The Otaru City Museum Canal Museum is a historical museum that utilizes a stone warehouse built in the Meiji era. It's a facility where you can easily learn about Otaru's development as a port town through exhibits on Otaru's nature, history, and industry. The solid stone warehouse building itself is a valuable historical structure, making both the exhibits and the architecture highlights.

It is located on the bank of the Otaru Canal, about a 10-minute walk from JR Otaru Station. It's conveniently situated along the Otaru Canal walking route, allowing you to easily stop by while sightseeing the canal. Visiting it along with the main building in the Temiya area will allow you to gain a deeper, more systematic understanding of Otaru's history.

The museum features a rich collection of materials on the history of commerce and logistics from the era when Otaru Port flourished through trade, as well as the development of Hokkaido's nature and industry. Through exhibits incorporating actual artifacts, photographs, and videos, it clearly explains why Otaru prospered to the extent of being called "the foremost economic city in northern Japan" at the time. For those who want to delve deeper into Otaru's history during their sightseeing, it's a spot where even a short visit can provide a fulfilling learning experience.

Hokkai Seikan No. 3 Warehouse is a historical concrete warehouse built in 1924 (Taisho 13) along Otaru Port. It has been used as a canning company warehouse for many years, and its imposing exterior and location against the backdrop of Otaru Port attract attention as a port town landscape distinct from the Otaru Canal.

It is located in the area facing Otaru Port, north of the Otaru Canal, about a 13-minute walk from JR Otaru Station. It's a spot you can easily visit by extending your walk from the Otaru Canal sightseeing route. The surroundings are quiet with fewer tourists, allowing you to slowly admire the building and enjoy taking photos.

While the interior is not open for viewing, its imposing exterior is one of Otaru's representative historical landscapes, attracting many tourists. Its preservation and utilization due to aging are challenges, and it is a building whose future use as a local cultural property is garnering attention.

Tanaka Shuzo Main Store is a two-story wooden building constructed in 1927 (Showa 2), designated as a "Historic Building" by Otaru City. The interior, restored to its early Showa-era appearance, displays old signboards and ledgers. Staff with extensive knowledge, such as sake sommeliers and sake brewers, are always on hand to offer polite service and provide 10-15 types of sake for tasting.

Tanaka Shuzo Main Store is located at 3-2-5 Ironai, Otaru City, about a 10-minute walk from JR Otaru Station. It is open from 9:05 to 17:55 daily, with no holidays, and free parking is available. It is close to the Iro-nai Bank District and within walking distance of the Otaru Canal, making it recommended to visit in conjunction with a canal stroll.

Inside the store, you can sample and select from a diverse lineup including Tanaka Shuzo's signature brands, seasonal limited-edition sake, and Hokkaido-exclusive labels. In addition to sake, they offer a wide range of products such as plum wine and amazake, making it easy for even first-time sake drinkers to enjoy. The staff's attentive advice for choosing sake as an Otaru souvenir or gift is also highly praised.

The North Canal Warehouse District is a group of historic stone and wood-framed stone warehouses from the Meiji and Taisho periods that remain in the northern area of the Otaru Canal. The Former Shibusawa Warehouse, Former Masuda Warehouse, Former Hirokai Warehouse, and Former Ukon Warehouse are still extant, and compared to the southern tourist area, it is quieter with fewer people, preserving a more realistic view of the port town as it once was.

The North Canal Warehouse District is located at the northern end of the Otaru Canal, in the area extending north from Kitahama Bridge. It's about a 20-minute walk from JR Otaru Station, or you can access it on foot by strolling north along the Otaru Canal. It's an easy spot to visit by simply extending your canal walk from the busy southern canal area.

While the southern Otaru Canal area has been developed for tourism, the North Canal area has seen less commercial development, and its warehouses remain in a state closer to their original appearance. With fewer tourists, it's a hidden gem where you can leisurely admire historical buildings and enjoy photography in a calm atmosphere. It's especially recommended for those who want to experience Otaru's "uncommercialized true face."

The Otaru North Canal area is a historic district stretching north of the Otaru Canal, where groups of stone and wood-framed stone warehouses built during the Meiji and Taisho periods largely retain their original appearance. Commercial development has been suppressed compared to the southern tourist area, and it is a valuable area where historic buildings such as the Former Shibusawa Warehouse, Former Masuda Warehouse, Former Hirokai Warehouse, and Former Ukon Warehouse stand quietly, allowing visitors to experience the authentic face of Otaru as a port town.

The Otaru North Canal area is located at the northern end of the Otaru Canal, stretching north from Kitahama Bridge, and can be accessed in about 15-20 minutes on foot from JR Otaru Station. Since it can be naturally reached by walking north along the Otaru Canal, extending your canal walk is the most recommended way to visit. The former Nippon Yusen Kaisha Otaru Branch is also located in the same area, allowing you to visit both together.

While the southern Otaru Canal area is developed for tourism and bustling with many visitors, the North Canal area is quiet and calm, with historic buildings scattered throughout. With fewer tourists, you can enjoy leisurely strolls and photography, observing the details of the buildings. At dusk, the scenery of the warehouses along the canal and the setting sun is beautiful, making it a highly-rated hidden gem for photo opportunities.

Canal Park is a lush green park located in the Otaru North Canal area. Against the backdrop of the historic canal and warehouse district, it has been developed as an open space where citizens and tourists can relax. The charm of this spot lies in its tranquil atmosphere, distinct from the bustling tourist areas, allowing visitors to enjoy the stone warehouses and the waterside scenery of the North Canal at a leisurely pace.

Canal Park is located north of Kitahama Bridge in the Otaru North Canal area, about a 20-25 minute walk from JR Otaru Station. It is situated on a route where you can naturally stop by while strolling north along the Otaru Canal, and it is also close to the former Nippon Yusen Kaisha Otaru Branch and Hokkai Seikan No. 3 Warehouse, making it easy to incorporate into a walking tour of the North Canal area.

In the park, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll while admiring the waterside of the North Canal and the historic warehouses. The seasonal nature is beautiful, showing different expressions with the fresh greenery of spring, the blue sky of summer, the autumn foliage, and the snowy winter landscape. Unlike the crowded southern area, where tourist attractions are bustling, this park offers a quiet environment, making it a beloved recreational spot for local citizens to take a break during their travels.

The Former Nippon Yusen Co., Ltd. Otaru Branch is a Renaissance-style stone building constructed during the Meiji era, and one of Otaru's representative historical structures. It once served as a hub for the shipping industry, supporting Hokkaido's logistics, and is now designated as a National Important Cultural Property. Its imposing and dignified exterior and interior decorations convey the prosperity of that era, making it a top architectural beauty spot in Otaru.

It is located at 3-7-8 Ironai, Otaru City, in the North Canal area. Hours are from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, closed on Tuesdays (or the next weekday if Tuesday is a holiday) and during the New Year holidays. There is also a free parking lot for 10 cars, and the admission fee is 300 yen for adults, free for junior high school students and younger.

The exterior is a Renaissance-style stone building, with decorations on details such as columns and window frames as highlights. Inside, exhibition rooms meticulously restored to their original appearance are open to the public, allowing visitors to learn about the history of the shipping industry and Otaru's trade during the Meiji and Taisho periods. The entire building is designated as a National Important Cultural Property, making it a particularly worthwhile spot for architecture fans and history enthusiasts.

The Otaru City Museum Main Building is a museum located in the Temiya area, the birthplace of Hokkaido's railways. Centered on the history of Hokkaido's first railway opened in the Meiji era, it exhibits numerous actual railway vehicles such as steam locomotives and passenger cars. It is a facility where you can learn about the history of railways and industry that supported Hokkaido's modernization, along with valuable real-world materials.

You can access it by walking about 15 minutes from JR Otaru Station, or by taking a bus from in front of Otaru Station. Since it is located along the walking path of the former Temiya Line, the route of strolling along the former Temiya Line to get there is also enjoyable as sightseeing. By visiting it along with the Canal Museum (branch museum), you can gain a deeper understanding of Otaru's history.

Inside the museum, you can see actual steam locomotive exhibits and a wealth of materials related to Hokkaido's railway and industrial history. The outdoor exhibition area also features actually operational steam locomotives, and driving and riding experience events are held. It is a fascinating facility not only for railway fans but also for those interested in Hokkaido's history and families.

The Former Temiya Line is a historic promenade that utilizes the site of Hokkaido's first railway. It was a line that transported coal and goods during the Meiji era, and now its tracks and cobblestones are preserved as they were, making it a spot where you can experience Hokkaido's railway history while taking a stroll.

The promenade of the Former Temiya Line is in central Otaru and can be accessed directly from near the Otaru Canal. Walking along the canal towards Ironai will bring you to the entrance in about 6 minutes, and it continues as a walking path from Ironai to Shinkomachi. It's recommended to visit it as a set with the canal.

The tracks laid on the cobblestones remain as they are, making it a popular photo spot with a retro atmosphere. You can enjoy walking on the tracks and taking photos that combine the roadside gas lamps and stone warehouses. The atmosphere becomes especially fantastical during night illuminations.

UNGAPLUS is a select shop that offers original products related to Otaru's history and culture, as well as quality goods from ports of call visited by Kitamaebune ships. With the theme "Giving Otaru," we collaborate with local businesses, creators, and artists to develop products and package designs that embody "Otaru-ness." It's a store where you can find unique items that make great Otaru souvenirs or gifts.

UNGAPLUS operates a physical store in the historic "Former Otaru Warehouse" at 2-1-20 Ironai, Otaru, Hokkaido. It is located right by the Otaru Canal, about a 10-minute walk from JR Otaru Station. Hours are from 10:00 to 18:00.

The store is divided into four sections, offering a wide range of products including original sweets, processed seafood, and crafts that make popular Otaru souvenirs or gifts, works by Hokkaido-based artists, original apparel with Otaru themes, and high-quality goods from all over Japan brought from Kitamaebune ports of call. Purchases can also be made through our online shop, allowing those unable to visit the store to order items.

The most convenient way from Sapporo is via the JR Hakodate Main Line, with the Rapid "Airport" train taking approximately 32 minutes from Sapporo Station to Otaru Station. From New Chitose Airport, it's about 75 minutes without transfers, making it easily accessible for tourists from outside Hokkaido.

If you want to leisurely explore the main areas around the canal and Sakaimachi Street, half a day to a full day is a good estimate. If you include glassblowing experiences, the Music Box Museum, and meals, a 1-night, 2-day trip will make for a more fulfilling journey.

Dusk to evening is especially recommended. The gas lamps along the stone warehouses light up, and the reflection on the water is a representative scene of Otaru. During winter (January-February), the "Otaru Snow Light Path" is held, offering a magical atmosphere.

Sushi, seafood bowls, and grilled seafood are particularly famous. Otaru even has an area called "Sushi-ya Dori" (Sushi Restaurant Street) where many famous sushi restaurants gather. Also, don't miss local sweets like LeTAO's cheesecake and soft-serve ice cream.

Experience workshops and shops are concentrated on Sakaimachi Street. You can visit many shops just by walking along the street, including specialty glass shops like Kitaichi Glass and the Otaru Music Box Museum Main Building.

Otaru Station, the canal, and Sakaimachi Street are all within walking distance (about 10 minutes from the station to the canal). Major spots are compactly located, so you can easily sightsee without a rental car.

Each season offers different charms. Summer (July-August) has mild weather, perfect for strolling, while autumn (September-October) offers beautiful foliage and seafood. Winter boasts snowy landscapes and the "Snow Light Path," and spring is less crowded, allowing for a more relaxed visit.

There are hotels and ryokans with natural hot springs scattered throughout Otaru City. Additionally, the Asarigawa Onsen Village, about 30-40 minutes by car from Otaru, is popular as a tranquil hot spring resort nestled in the mountains.

Hands-on glass workshops (glassblowing, sandblasting, etc.) offer plans suitable for elementary school children and older. Also, the Otaru Aquarium (Shukutsu area) is popular as a family-friendly spot where you can enjoy seal and dolphin shows.

Sapporo (about 32 minutes), as well as Yoichi (Nikka Whisky Distillery, about 20 minutes) and the Shakotan Peninsula (summer Blue Cave cruise, about 1 hour), are popular day trip options. You can use Otaru as a base to extensively explore the western Hokkaido area.