Sightseeing
Change appearance with the season
Otaru
Otaru is rich in nature.
Its appearance changes dramatically depending on the season.
A place full of charm that will make you want to visit again and again
We hope you enjoy Otaru.
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Tourist Attractions
Otaru's economy once developed through trade, fishing, and coal, and it flourished as the leading financial city in northern Japan.
Otaru's iconic canal, Wall Street in the North with its old bank buildings, and the remains of Hokkaido's first railway line.
We will introduce you to some of the best tourist spots in this historic city.
Art
Otaru City Museum of Art and Literature
Located in the former Otaru Regional Savings Bureau of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, it houses an art museum and a literature museum. It stores materials and works mainly of writers with ties to Otaru, and the art museum displays books and materials of novelists, poets, tanka poets, and haiku poets, including Nakamura Zensaku and Ichihara Arinori, while the literature museum displays books and materials of novelists, poets, tanka poets, and haiku poets, including Kobayashi Takiji and Ito Sei.
Access: 5 minutes on foot
Otaru Art Base
The museum is made up of four buildings that have been renovated from historical buildings: the Stained Glass Museum, House of Western Art, the Former Mitsui Bank Otaru Branch, and the Nitori Museum of Art.
Touring tourist spots art
Former Temiya Line of Japanese National Railways
It is part of Hokkaido's first railway, the Government-run Horonai Railway, which opened in 1880 to transport coal from Horonai (Mikasa City) to the port city of Otaru. The line changed name and function before being closed in 1985. It has now been developed into a walking trail with a total length of approximately 1,600 meters, leaving behind the remains of the tracks and crossing gates.
Access: 5 minutes on foot
Otaru City Museum Main Building and Canal Hall
This museum focuses on the history and nature of Otaru, the transportation history of Hokkaido, and science and technology. The main building is located at the starting point of the former Japanese National Railways Temiya Line and mainly exhibits railways, and hosts many events and experiences for children. The Canal Museum displays tens of thousands of items related to Otaru's history and natural history dating back to the Jomon period.
Access:
[Main building] From the bus stop "Chuodori", take "2 and 3 Otaru City Main Line", "11 Shukutsu Line", or "12 Akaiwa Line" and get off at "Temiya"
[Canal Hall] 3 minutes walk from the hotel
Bank of Japan Financial Archives
This museum utilizes the former Otaru branch of the Bank of Japan, which was in operation until 2002. Aside from the Bank of Japan and the Currency Museum in Tokyo, this is the only information dissemination center owned by the Bank of Japan. You can deepen your understanding of finance and economics through easy-to-understand exhibits based on themes, such as an introduction to the history and architecture of the former Otaru branch, an exhibition on the work of the Bank of Japan, the only banknote issuing banknote in Japan, and banknotes from around the world.
Access: 5 minutes on foot
Otaru City designated historical building
Otaru is home to a large number of historical buildings, with a wide variety of uses, including fishing houses, warehouses, shops, restaurants, temples, churches, banks, etc. These buildings were built using cutting-edge technology and sophisticated designs at the time, and are highly regarded as outstanding cultural heritage.
Otaru Aquarium
Highlights include the Dolphin Stadium where you can enjoy dolphin shows, the Marine Mammal Park where you can see penguins, and the amusement park Otaru Shukutsu Marineland.
Access: From the Chuodori bus stop, take the 10 Otaru Aquarium Line or the 11 Shukutsu Line and get off at the final stop, Otaru Aquarium
Enjoy nature
Kiroro Resort
Approximately 40 minutes by car from the hotel.
This is a year-round resort facility where you can enjoy high-quality leisure activities.
It is recommended not only in the winter when pure white snow falls, but also in the summer when you can enjoy Hokkaido's great outdoors.
Hot springs Ski Resort
Located just a 20-minute drive from the center of Otaru, you can enjoy high-quality snow and views of the Sea of Japan. There are a variety of courses for everyone from beginners to advanced skiers.
Access: Take Chuo Bus from Otaru Ekimae Terminal to the last stop on the 13 Asarigawa Hot springs line, and get off at Asarigawa Hot springs.
Temiya Park
Located on a hill in the northern part of the city, it offers a panoramic view of Otaru city. There are about 230 chestnut trees, and it is said to be the northernmost natural forest. It is a popular place for walks and hiking for locals, where they can enjoy cherry blossom and azalea viewing in the spring, and chestnut gathering in the fall.
Access: From the Chuodori bus stop, take the 2 and 3 Otaru City Main Line, 11 Shukutsu Line, or 12 Akaiwa Line to Temiya, then walk for about 10 minutes
Otaru's Eight Wards and Eight Views
The "Otaru Eight Wards and Eight Views" are a selection of eight landscapes that represent the eight districts of Otaru city.
You can experience all that Otaru has to offer, including its beaches, capes, fishing ports, hills with great views, and mountain ranges that change with the seasons.
Ranshima Beach
This is a sandy beach on the border with the neighboring town of Yoichi. It is said to be the oldest swimming beach in Hokkaido, and a monument has been erected there. It is usually a quiet beach, but during the season it becomes very crowded with people.
Access:
Bus: From Otaru Station Terminal, take the "18 Yoichi Line", "20 Shakotan Line", "Expressway Iwanai-go", or "Expressway Niseko-go" and get off at "Ranjima"
JR…From Otaru Station, take the train bound for "Shikaribetsu/Kutchan" and get off at "Ranjima"
Taste food
Italian Restaurant
Otaru has many Italian restaurants where you can enjoy local ingredients and fresh seafood. Why not stop by one of them during your sightseeing trip to Otaru?
Hanazono area
This area is filled with restaurants, including yakiniku restaurants, izakayas, and snack bars. Many narrow alleys wind away from the main street of Hanazono Ginza Shopping Street, making it almost maze-like. Lined with unique shops, it exudes a nostalgic Showa-era atmosphere.
Access: About 10 minutes on foot