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Otaru, with its canal, is one of Hokkaido's most popular tourist destinations and a leading city in the region. Otaru functioned as the economic center of Hokkaido even before Sapporo flourished, and it is home to many long-established and famous shops.

In addition to sushi, for which Otaru is famous, there are many delicious specialties such as kamaboko (fish cakes), sweets, fried chicken, and kaisendon (seafood bowls). Here, we introduce 8 delicious Otaru specialties and recommended well-known shops.

Giving Otaru.

From UNGAPLUS, delivering the "Story of Otaru"
that has walked hand-in-hand with the Kitamaebune (northern-bound ships)
from the "Old Otaru Warehouse" overlooking the canal,
we introduce "Places to visit in Otaru."

Please enjoy "Otaru."

See more Otaru gourmet food

Delicious Otaru Specialties - Otaru Sightseeing ①

"Panju" - Kuwataya

Otaru's beloved snack for generations.

"Panju," a snack long cherished by the people of Otaru, is generally believed to be a portmanteau of "pan" (bread) and "manju" (bun), as its name suggests. It is a baked confection derived from Imagawayaki, and is also a popular local specialty in other areas such as Ise City, Mie Prefecture, and Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture.

The thinly baked, crispy crust is filled with plenty of anko (sweet red bean paste), offering a delightful chewy texture when bitten into. These semi-spherical or bell-shaped treats are slightly larger than takoyaki. They are smaller and easier to eat than Imagawayaki or taiyaki, and their affordable price is another reason for their popularity. The combination of the crispy exterior, chewy interior, and hot, sweet anko is incredibly addictive.

Delicious Otaru Specialties - Otaru Sightseeing ②

"Ankake Yakisoba" - Keien

Otaru citizens' soul food.

When it comes to gourmet food in Otaru, a leading tourist city and port town in Hokkaido, sushi and kaisendon are famous, but for locals, the ultimate soul food is "Otaru Ankake Yakisoba." It became popular in the 1950s and is now a staple menu item in Chinese restaurants, as well as izakayas, karaoke boxes, ski resorts, golf courses, and many other places.

Among these, "Chuka Shokudo Keien," located in the arcade of Todorimachi Shopping Street, about a 5-minute walk from JR Otaru Station, is a Chinese restaurant that has been loved by Otaru citizens for over 50 years since its establishment in 1969. Its most popular dish is, of course, "Ankake Yakisoba," and it is a pioneering restaurant that has popularized "Otaru Ankake Yakisoba" as a staple menu item since its opening. The vegetable-rich sauce with a hint of sesame oil and the crispy, chewy noodles are an excellent combination. The restaurant has many loyal fans both inside and outside the city.

Delicious Otaru Specialties - Otaru Sightseeing ③

"Kaisendon" - Ajidokoro Takeda

Kaisendon, now considered one of Otaru's specialties.

"Kaisendon," now considered one of Otaru's specialties, is a luxurious Japanese rice bowl lavishly topped with fresh seafood. Its history is surprisingly short, having emerged after World War II with the development of freezing technology.

"Ajidokoro Takeda" is one of the original restaurants in Otaru that was quick to adopt kaisendon, and it is a directly managed diner of a fresh fish shop within the Sankaku Market, where you can enjoy seasonal Hokkaido seafood all year round. The fresh seafood that the owner buys daily at auction is exquisite. In addition to rice bowl dishes, they offer a wide variety of set meals and à la carte dishes. The restaurant's recommendation is the "ANA Bowl," created in collaboration with ANA. It's a proud dish featuring lavish toppings of sea urchin, crab, salmon roe, and salmon, allowing you to enjoy extremely fresh seafood.

Delicious Otaru Specialties - Otaru Sightseeing ④

"Sushi" - Otaru Masazushi

Otaru's sushi restaurants numbered nearly 200 at their peak.

Otaru, with its large port, is known as a treasure trove of seafood from Ishikari Bay and is also famous as a sushi town. The fresh, high-quality seafood earned a reputation, attracting young chefs who had trained across the country from the Taisho to Meiji periods to open restaurants in Otaru. At its peak, there were nearly 200 sushi restaurants, but now there are about 120.

"Otaru Masazushi" is a well-known establishment, one of Otaru's leading long-standing restaurants, which has supported Otaru tourism and popularized Otaru sushi. It is committed to traditions passed down since its founding and to carefully selected ingredients, providing a culinary "relaxation" to its visitors.

For "Tuna," to ensure stable availability throughout the year, only over 300kg tuna from the highly-regarded Atlantic Canadian coast, which is in season in November, is carefully sourced. Its sweetness, tenderness, and melt-in-your-mouth texture are an exquisite delight that once tasted, will never be forgotten.

Delicious Otaru Specialties - Otaru Sightseeing ⑤

"Kamaboko" - Otaru Kamaei

Otaru's kamaboko, beloved by the people of Hokkaido.

Otaru Kamaei, a popular kamaboko shop in Otaru that has been loved by many Hokkaido residents, not just Otaru citizens, for many years, was founded in 1905 (Meiji 38). It now boasts over 100 years of history and operates a total of 12 stores, including 4 in Otaru, 6 in Sapporo, and stores at airports.

In addition to red and white Itakamaboko, which are essential for celebrations, they also offer un-fried kamaboko such as "Uni-ita" (sea urchin kamaboko) and "Yaki-ita" (grilled kamaboko). Many Hokkaido fans even say, "It's not a celebration without Kamaei's kamaboko."

At the head office factory in Sakaimachi, Otaru, you can watch skilled craftsmen making kamaboko through a glass window for free, and freshly fried kamaboko is very popular there. The top recommendation is the "Pan Roll," a store-exclusive item developed by the former president in 1962 (Showa 37). The Pan Roll, made by wrapping minced pork and onion-added surimi (fish paste) in extremely thin bread and frying it, is an exquisite kamaboko dish with a crispy texture and a perfect balance of saltiness and the sweetness of the surimi.

Delicious Otaru Specialties - Otaru Sightseeing ⑥

"Half-fried Young Chicken" - Naruto Honten

Otaru citizens' soul food since the Showa era.

One of Otaru's specialties, "Wakadori Hanshinage" (Half-fried Young Chicken), is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Excess fat drips away, making it less greasy than it looks and surprisingly refreshing. The lightly salted seasoning pairs excellently with white rice, and it's also a perfect match for beer.

"Wakadori Jidai Naruto Honten," one of Otaru's leading tourist attractions, is considered the originator of half-fried young chicken in Hokkaido. Affectionately known as "Naruto," it has been a soul food for Otaru citizens since its establishment in 1965 (Showa 40). At its main branch in Inaho, Otaru, in addition to "Wakadori no Hanshinage," they offer a wide variety of dishes, including sushi and rice bowls made with Otaru seafood, various set meals, curry, tempura, and ramen. Payment is upfront for all items, and additional orders are handled with separate payments.

Delicious Otaru Specialties - Otaru Sightseeing ⑦

"Double Fromage" - LeTAO

Became a nationwide sensation in 2005.

LeTAO, established in 1998 (Heisei 10) in a prime location facing the Marchen Crossing, operates under the theme "Northern Sweets Manner ~ Delivering sweets rooted in the northern land to the whole country ~". Its official name is "Otaru Western Confectionery LeTAO." It has now become so famous nationwide that hardly anyone doesn't know its name. It is one of the absolute must-visit places when you come to Otaru.

Currently, there are six LeTAO stores in Otaru, each with a different concept, offering a wide range of limited edition products and exquisite sweets.

The cheesecake "Double Fromage," with its milky and smooth texture, made LeTAO famous nationwide. It became a huge national hit after being featured on a TV program in 2005 (Heisei 17). LeTAO is now synonymous with Otaru sweets.

Delicious Otaru Specialties - Otaru Sightseeing ⑧

"Otaru Kawara Yaki Baum" - UNGAPLUS

A baum rusk modeled after Otaru's roof tiles.

Otaru flourished as a port of call for Kitamaebune (northern-bound ships) from Kamigata.

Kitamaebune were merchant ships that sailed between Osaka and Hokkaido from the mid-Edo period to the Meiji era, trading goods along the Seto Inland Sea and Sea of Japan routes. Various daily necessities such as rice, salt, sugar, sake, iron, fabrics, and cotton were brought from Kamigata, while large quantities of kombu, herring, herring meal, and salmon were transported from Hokkaido.

The roof tiles seen in Otaru's townscape today were one such item. These tiles were not only commodities but were also loaded into the holds of Kitamaebune to prevent capsizing and maintain balance. In Otaru, which frequently suffered from fires, these tiles were eagerly used, especially for warehouses and wealthy merchant houses.

The sight of these stacked tiles is expressed in "Kawara Yaki Baum," with its layers resembling baumkuchen and the crispy texture of caramel.

Commitment to Hokkaido ingredients.

Eggs, sugar, butter, wheat.

Because it's a Hokkaido confectionery, we liberally used local ingredients. It's a rich flavor, packed with the abundant blessings of the North.

Baumkuchen, yet with a crisp new texture.

Traditional baumkuchen made by skilled artisans. It is sliced and baked slowly in an oven until it becomes rusk-like.

UNGAPLUS

Good fortune from Otaru, the city of marine transport...
May the continuous flow protect you and bring you good luck.

Otaru prospered as the gateway to Hokkaido's development during the Meiji period.
Kitamaebune ships sailed the vast oceans with white sails, bringing abundant goods and culture to this land through their trade with Honshu.

UNGAPLUS, located in the "Former Otaru Warehouse Main Building," the first commercial warehouse in Hokkaido built by Kitamaebune shipowners Sonzaemon Nishide and Shohachi Nishitani, delivers original products imbued with Otaru's enduring history and culture, along with quality goods from the Kitamaebune's ports of call.

From this place, we share the story of Otaru, which walked hand-in-hand with the Kitamaebune.

We await your visit with a selection of unique original items that make delightful souvenirs.

Click here for "UNGAPLUS" details