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This is a half-day itinerary for first-time visitors to Otaru, designed for those with a little more than three hours to spend, around five hours. See the former Temiya Line, the birthplace of Hokkaido's first railway, before heading to the Otaru Canal. After boarding a popular cruise ship, fill your stomach with fresh Hokkaido seafood and stroll through Sakaimachi Shopping Arcade, where you can savor the nostalgic atmosphere of Otaru. Finally, see the banking district lined with historic buildings, including the former Otaru branch of the Bank of Japan, known as the "Wall Street of the North," and tour the former Otaru Warehouse, Hokkaido's first commercial warehouse, built by a Kitamae ship owner from Kaga. Learn about the history of the Kitamae ships that pioneered Otaru.

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.

Otaru Sightseeing - Half-Day Itinerary

① 10:00～
Otaru Sightseeing - Half-Day Itinerary

Let's start from Otaru Station

Otaru Station, the gateway to tourism in Otaru, opened in 1903 as Hokkaido Railway's "Otaru Central Station." It was renamed "Takashima Station" and "Chuo Otaru Station" several times, and finally became Otaru Station in 1920, reflecting the name of the former Otaru Station (now Minami Otaru Station).

For more information
Facility name　JR Otaru Station

address　2-22-15 Inaho, Otaru City,

phone　0134-22-0771

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

Closed days　None

Home page　Click here

② 10:10-10:30
Otaru Sightseeing - Half-Day Itinerary

Proceed along Otaru Station Street to the "Old Temiya Line"

The abandoned Temiya Line, a 10-minute walk from JR Otaru Station, is a popular tourist spot in Otaru. It was originally opened in 1880 by American railway engineer Joseph Urry Crawford as the first railway in Hokkaido and the third in Japan, for the purpose of transporting coal, from Temiya to Sapporo.

For more information

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.

③ 10:40-11:40
Otaru Sightseeing - Half-Day Itinerary

Continue along Ekimae-dori Street to the Otaru Canal

The Otaru Canal, a popular tourist spot known nationwide, was completed in 1923. It was not a canal dug inland, but was built by reclaiming land offshore from the coast, and is therefore notable for being gently curved rather than straight.

For more information

Sightseeing Spot　Otaru Canal

address　Minatomachi 5, Otaru City,

Opening hours　Open all year round

Closed days　Open for strolling all year round

Home page　Click here

Take a canal cruise
Experience the Otaru Canal

The Otaru Canal Cruise is a new standard activity for Otaru tourism, allowing you to fully enjoy the area around the popular Otaru Canal. It's a short boat trip of about 40 minutes that allows you to rediscover the charm of Otaru, a city of history and romance.

Click here for details

Facility name　Otaru Canal Cruise

Address　5-4 Minatomachi, Otaru City, Hokkaido

phone　0134-31-1733

Opening hours　10:30-20:00

Closed days　December 31st and January 1st (please check the official website for details)

Home page　Click here

④ 11:50-12:50
Otaru Sightseeing - Half-Day Itinerary

If you come to Otaru, try sushi at Sushi Street

Hokkaido has a unique sushi culture that is different from Edomae. As the slang term "Ezomae" suggests, there are many restaurants that use fresh seafood without preserving it in vinegar or salt.

For more information

Facility name　Otaru Sushi Street

Address　1-1-9 Hanazono, Otaru City, Hokkaido,

Home page　Click here

Find out more about Otaru's gourmet food

⑤ 13:00-14:00
Otaru Sightseeing - Half-Day Itinerary

Nostalgic streetscape
Take a stroll along Sakaimachi Shopping Street

When it comes to sightseeing in Otaru, Sakaimachi Shopping Street is the second most popular spot after the Otaru Canal. It's a place that almost everyone should visit when they come to Otaru. Sakaimachi Street is lined with nationally famous shops such as Kitaichi Glass, LeTAO, Otaru Music Box Museum, and Kamaei, and there are many shops in historical buildings, creating a romantic, atmospheric streetscape.

For more information

Facility name　Sakaimachi Shopping Street

Address　6-11 Sakaimachi, Otaru City, Hokkaido,

phone　0134-27-1133

Opening hours　9:00-18:00

Closed days　Open everyday

Home page　Click here

⑥ 14:10-14:20
Otaru Sightseeing - Half-Day Itinerary

It was "the leading economic city in northern Japan."
A banking district that gives you a glimpse of its heyday

The area around the intersection of Bank of Japan Street and Ironai Boulevard is home to many bank buildings that were built when Otaru was known as "the leading economic city in northern Japan" and at its peak had as many as 25 financial institutions with branches there.

Click here for details

Facility name　The Bank of Japan Otaru Museum

address　1-11-16 Ironai, Otaru

phone　0134-21-1111

Opening hours　9:30~17:00 (10:00~ from December to March)

Closed　Wednesdays

Home page　Click here

⑦ 14:30-15:00
Otaru Sightseeing - Half-Day Itinerary

Built by a Kitamae ship owner from Kaga,
The first nationally approved facility in Hokkaido
Commercial warehouse "Old Otaru Warehouse"

The Former Otaru Warehouse, with its striking shachihoko (lion-like carp) along the Otaru Canal, is a representative structure among the many historical buildings in Otaru. It was built in 1890 by Nishitani and Nishide of Kaga Hashidate in the Otaru Konanhama area, which had just been reclaimed.

For more information

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.
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　https://unga-plus.com/

If you are returning to Otaru Station, please take into consideration the walking time on the way back (approximately 10 minutes from the Old Otaru Warehouse).