Home > Otaru Sightseeing Portal > Otaru's Power Spots

When you think of famous power spots, many people might imagine Ise Grand Shrine or Mt. Fuji. However, Hokkaido, blessed with abundant nature and vast landscapes, is a fortunate land with many power spots to visit.

Here in Otaru, there are also many wonderful places where you can feel energized just by visiting, such as mystical scenic views, sacred places that have existed for a long time, and shrines widely beloved by locals. When you want to refresh yourself or lift your spirits, why not pay them a visit?

Giving Otaru.

From "Former Otaru Warehouse" overlooking the canal,
UNGAPLUS, which delivers "The Story of Otaru"
that walked with Kitamaebune ships,
introduces "Otaru's Must-Visit Spots."

Please enjoy "Otaru."

1. Otaru Sightseeing - Recommended Power Spots

Sumiyoshi Shrine

Sumiyoshi Shrine, an 8-minute walk from Minami-Otaru Station, was founded in 1868. It began in 1865 when Kikuchi Shigenaga, a Shinto priest from Hakodate Hachiman-gu, invited the Sumiyoshi Okami deities to be enshrined as the guardian deities of "Otarunai" and "Takashima." In 1881, the shrine building was constructed at its current location, making it a historic shrine with 150 years of tradition....Read more

2. Otaru Sightseeing - Recommended Power Spots

Ryugu Shrine

From Otaru Station, walk about 5 minutes towards Yoichi, pass through a torii gate, and climb a slope to reach Ryugu Shrine. Ryugu Shrine was built by Enomoto Takeaki, a pioneer of Hokkaido. He served the Tokugawa Shogunate, fought alongside Hijikata Toshizo in the Hakodate War at the end of the Edo period, and after the defeat, was imprisoned as the mastermind of the Hakodate War. However, his talents were recognized by the Meiji government, and he was appointed to the Hokkaido Development Commission. While working diligently on the development of Hokkaido, he envisioned creating a hub for Japanese trade and diplomacy in Hokkaido by providing opportunities for his struggling comrades. He then turned his attention to Otaru, which had an excellent harbor....Read more

3. Otaru Sightseeing - Recommended Power Spots

Ryutoku-ji Temple

Ryutoku-ji Temple was founded in 1857 by the first high priest, Daikokaiun Daioh, in Ryutoku-cho (present-day Shinko-cho), and moved to its current location in Mae in 1874. The main hall is the oldest temple main hall in Otaru City, and although its foundation was repaired once in 1992, the building itself remains as it was at its founding. Ryutoku-ji Temple is famous for its giant wooden fish (mokugyo), one of the largest in Japan, measuring 1.3m in diameter, 1m in height, and weighing 330kg. It was made from a single camphor tree from Kyushu in 1933, donated by a hospital to Ryutoku-ji Temple, making it the largest wooden fish in Japan made from a single piece of wood....Read more

4. Otaru Sightseeing - Recommended Power Spots

Oshoro Circular Stone Arrangement

In the western part of Otaru City, on a small river terrace, there is a stone circle in the shape of an oval, 33m long and 22m wide, with large and small stones arranged. The flat surface was created by carving a gentle slope at an elevation of 20m, then gravel was laid, and finally, standing stones were placed. It is a valuable archaeological site where you can see the traces of large-scale civil engineering work by ancient people....Read more

5. Otaru Sightseeing - Recommended Power Spots

Otaru Tenguyama

Otaru Tenguyama, a symbolic presence in Otaru, has long been beloved by locals. With an elevation of 532 meters, it can be seen from various parts of central Otaru. You can reach the summit by using the ropeway, which operates every 6 to 12 minutes, or by car (road closed during winter)....Read more

6. Otaru Sightseeing - Recommended Power Spots

Former NYK Otaru Branch

The Former NYK Otaru Branch, with its luxurious appearance, tells of Otaru's prosperity during the Meiji era. This building symbolizes the golden age of Otaru's development. It is a two-story stone building in the European Renaissance style, and the interior's VIP room features a plaster ceiling and chandelier, deep crimson curtains, a parquet floor with a striking large floral pattern, and walls adorned with gold-embossed leather paper with chrysanthemum patterns, which was said to be very difficult to restore, creating a lavish and luxurious space....Read more

7. Otaru Sightseeing - Recommended Power Spots

Suitengu Shrine

There are Suitengu shrines throughout Japan. While the Suitengu Shrine in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, is the head shrine, enshrining Emperor Antoku and others, the Suitengu Shrine here in Otaru is not actually affiliated with it. Otaru's Suitengu Shrine is registered with the Shiribeshi branch of the Hokkaido Shrine Agency. It is located about a 10-minute walk from Otaru Station or Minami-Otaru Station, at the top of a slope called "Gaijin-zaka" in Shinonome-cho. Situated on a hill about 55 meters above sea level, a scenic spot to the right of the shrine offers panoramic views of Otaru Port, the Sea of Japan, and the city of Otaru....Read more

8. Otaru Sightseeing - Recommended Power Spots

Catholic Otaru Church Tomioka Cathedral

About a 10-minute walk from JR Otaru Station. Slightly off the so-called "Jigoku-zaka" (Hell Slope) that leads to Otaru University of Commerce, there is a beautiful, fairytale-like church known locally as "Tomioka Church." Its current official name is "Catholic Otaru Church Tomioka Cathedral," and until 2015, it was called Catholic Tomioka Church....Read more

9. Otaru Sightseeing - Recommended Power Spots

Ebisu Shrine

Ebisu Shrine in Shukutsu, Otaru, was founded in 1856 and is known for being revered by the three major herring fishing families of Shukutsu. The main shrine building, housed within a covering structure, is designated as a historical building of Otaru City (No. 58). Situated on a hill along the Shukutsu coast, the shrine grounds offer beautiful views of the Otaru sea, and two votive ship paintings dedicated inside the main hall are recognized as cultural assets constituting Japan Heritage "Kitamae-bune."...Read more

10. Otaru Sightseeing - Recommended Power Spots

Takashima Inari Shrine

Takashima Inari Shrine, located on a hill in the Takashima district between Shukutsu and Temiya. It is said to have been founded in 1690 (Genroku 3), making it a very old shrine in Hokkaido. Even the oldest shrine in Sapporo was founded in 1855, so this shrine was founded over 160 years earlier than Sapporo's oldest shrine. It is a historic shrine from the era of Takashima fishing grounds, which prospered from herring fishing....Read more

11. Otaru Sightseeing - Recommended Power Spots

Bentenjima Island

The Takashima district, located in northern Otaru and protruding like a peninsula with its eastern side facing the sea, remains an important fishing base for Otaru, which flourished from herring fishing in the late Edo period. Within its bay is Bentenjima Island, which floats symbolically. It is said that Benten-sha, a shrine dedicated to Benzaiten, once stood on Bentenjima Island, and a red torii gate still stands on the island today....Read more

12. Otaru Sightseeing - Recommended Power Spots

Otaru Noh Theater

The Otaru Noh Theater (Former Okazaki Family Noh Stage) is a Noh theater built in Otaru City, Hokkaido, in 1926. It is a historically and culturally valuable building that meets the highest standards for Noh stages set during the Edo period. Kenshi Okazaki, originally from Sado, who succeeded as a sundry goods and grain merchant and contributed to Otaru City as a city council member, built it on his private residence in 1926. The materials used include a 2.4m diameter Jindai cedar from Sado, cypress from Kyushu, and selected pine from Hokkaido. The pine tree on the mirror board and the bamboo on the sliding door were painted by Kanou Mochinobu, the 17th generation of the Kano school, who stayed in Otaru for two months to complete the work....Read more

13. Otaru Sightseeing - Recommended Power Spots

Shioya Maruyama

Otaru, one of the first areas to open up in Hokkaido, was the first region where Buddhist and Japanese culture arrived. Shioya Maruyama, along with Akaiwa-yama and Tengu-dake in Otaru, seems to have been a mountain of faith opened by many ascetics who were driven from Honshu by the "Haibutsu Kishaku" (anti-Buddhist movement) and sought refuge in the new land of Hokkaido. During the Meiji era, yamabushi (mountain ascetics) could be seen practicing in the rocky areas....Read more

14. Otaru Sightseeing - Recommended Power Spots

Shukutsu Panorama Observatory

The Shukutsu Panorama Observatory, famous as a place of beautiful sunrises and sunsets, is located on a hill approximately 70m above sea level in the northeastern part of Otaru City. Looking east from the observatory, Takashima Cape in the foreground serves as an accent, and beyond it, a magnificent view of Ishikari Bay unfolds. On clear days, you can even see Mount Shokanbetsu and Mount Mashike in the distance across Ishikari Bay....Read more

15. Otaru Sightseeing - Recommended Power Spots

Akaiwa-yama Mountain

Akaiwa-yama, located in the northwestern part of Otaru City, appears as a hill when viewed from the city side. However, when viewed from the sea side on a sightseeing boat cruising along the Omoi Coast, its rugged appearance, with numerous reddish-brown bizarre rocks and peaks rising from sea level, is overwhelmingly powerful. It is also one of the leading rock climbing fields in Hokkaido, attracting many climbers....Read more

UNGAPLUS

Good fortune from Otaru, the shipping town...
May your luck open up, guided by a continuous flow.

In the Meiji era, Otaru flourished as the gateway to Hokkaido's development.
Kitamae-bune ships sailed the vast ocean with their white sails, bringing many goods and cultures to this land through trade with Honshu.

UNGAPLUS, located in the "Former Otaru Warehouse Main Building," the first commercial warehouse in Hokkaido built by Kitamae-bune shipowners Saemon Nishide and Shōhachi Nishitani, delivers original products infused with Otaru's enduring history and culture, along with quality products from ports of call for Kitamae-bune ships.

The story of Otaru, which walked alongside the Kitamae-bune ships, begins here.

We look forward to welcoming you with a selection of unique original items that also make delightful souvenirs.

Click here for UNGAPLUS details