Otaru, Hokkaido – The Otaru station itself has its charm, so what do you expect when you get to its tourist spots? An even better view! Below are some of the best Otaru places to visit when you’re in Sapporo!
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Sapporo to Otaru train
Getting to Otaru in Hokkaido is very easy, especially if you’re coming from Sapporo. You can ride a rapid train, which costs 1,640 JPY (620.49 PHP or 10.47 USD) and you’ll arrive at Otaru station in 30 minutes.
But if you want to save a bit and prefer to ride a local train, you’ll spend about 45 minutes for about 800 JPY (302.76 PHP or 5.11 USD). Nonetheless, you’ll be enjoying Otaru Japan attractions in no time.
What to do in Otaru
We visited Otaru attractions in winter because we believe that it’s the best time to enjoy a spectacular view. However, I’m sure you can also see stunning view in different seasons. But to give you an overview, below is my Otaru itinerary to share with you!
Otaru Canal
If you ask me, “What is Otaru famous for?”
I can quickly answer Otaru Canal.
Originally for transporting cargo, the 1,140-meter canal makes a photo shoot place if you want that stunning picturesque view. It’s hard to get a dull photo in Otaru Canal because almost any part of it looks really nice in photos.
And you know what?
You can even ride a sightseeing Otaru Canal cruise to enjoy the long stretch of canal for 40 minutes. After the cruise ride, you can carve your own stamp. This activity is great for all ages!
HK Porter
The first Otaru tourist spot we saw was the HK Porter. And it might not look like anything unusual, but this port has been used to transport people and goods for a hundred years. Now, it just serves as an attraction where you can enjoy taking lots of photos.
Kitaichi Ice Cream
What to do in Otaru winter? Eat ice cream, that’s what!
If you think you can’t eat ice cream in the cold season, think again. One of the most famous Otaru attractions, Kitaichi ice cream serves ice cream of different flavors. The best part, you can try them all in a single order!
Souvenir shops
Anyone who visits Otaru would surely want to buy goodies back, and I’m sure you do too! Below are some of the famous snacks and you probably have heard about them in other vlogs as well.
Le Tao
If Sapporo has Shiroi Koibito, then Otaru has Le Tao.
Both places offer yummy goodies that are great for gifts for loved ones, or just to bring home. We especially love the Le Tao for the sweet tasting no bake cheesecake, but you can also find other pastries to try when you’re there.
Did you know?
You can visit both Otaru and Shiroi Koibito Park within a day without worrying about transportation? Yes! When you book this tour, you get to visit both and enjoy a worry-free travel! But apart from these 2 amazing places, also included in the tour are different Sapporo tourist spots.
Rokkatei
Upon entering Rokkatei, I immediately saw the Marusei Butter Sandwich. And I knew instantly that it’s their bestseller. However, sorry to say we didn’t buy any of that because we’re not really fans of sweets that much. But, if you go there, it’s one thing to consider buying!
Kitakaro
Another store not to go unnoticed is Kitakaro. Selling the famous layered cake called Baumkuchen, this iconic brick building was once a storage house. Now, it sells many different pastries you can try, like cream puff, cakes, and biscuits.
Otaru Music Box Museum
While I was searching for Otaru Hokkaido attractions, I found the Music Box Museum, and I knew it’s a place I shouldn’t miss. And I was in awe when we entered because there were so many different kinds of music boxes you don’t often see anywhere else.
So how many types of music boxes will you see? Around 5,000 types and about 80,000 music boxes are inside the museum. Amazing, isn’t it?
Hello Kitty Cafe
The forever famous cat, Hello Kitty, will surely excite anyone because of the timeless adorable cat printed on almost anything! However, if you don’t like her, you can find something cute among her friends.
Otaru Hello Kitty Cafe offers a wide selection of things to buy but you can also stay there while waiting for your loved ones because it has a cafe. Upstairs, you can have some snacks and drink coffee while enjoying the cute displays.
When visiting Fukuoka, you can find a theme park made just for Sanrio lovers – Sanrio Harmonyland. In it, you can enjoy rides and buy cute Sanrio keepsakes for your friends or yourself. Learn more here.
Good food
Otaru is famous for seafood, and it wasn’t a joke since we found so many great quality food there. The catch is that they’re pricey, but who doesn’t love good food, right? There were large shrimp, king crab, and matcha goodies.
So, don’t worry if you suddenly get hungry during your shopping! Because you’ll find lots of good food in Otaru!
Otaru Japan reviews conclusion
It’s fun to visit Otaru attractions in autumn, winter, summer, or spring – because I’m sure they’ll make it pretty all year round. But since we only went there during winter, that’s all I could rave about.
Have you been to Sapporo? Make sure to include Otaru in your Sapporo itinerary! Want to know the places we visited in Sapporo? Check here.
If you’re here for the first time, I’d like to invite you to follow me on my socials – Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok so you’re updated on our recent food, hotel, and travel reviews!
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Day trips that include Otaru tourist attractions
There may not be many Otaru Canal attractions nearby, but when you’re there, I suggest you visit the Otaru shopping street called Sakaimachi Street. Because that’s where you can find many nice things to buy.
Shiroi Koibito Park and Bibai Snowland
During our Sapporo trip, we enjoyed a lot during our Bibai Snowland experience. And with this tour, you can definitely enjoy your visit there because there are lots of snow activities to do. Apart from that, you’re going to Otaru and Shiroi Koibito Park, so there’s no waste in this tour!
Jigokudani and Lake Toya
One of the tours we booked that’s worth remembering is the one that included Jigokudani. Because there, I didn’t have to worry about the transportation and just appeared at the meetup place, and returned there at night.
But this tour also included Otaru, so, it’s great way to relax and just enjoy the view and the Sapporo places in one day!
Check availability here.
Yoichi Distillery, Mount Tengu (ropeway), Shiroi Koibito Park
Ever dreamed of visiting a whisky distillery? In this Otaru tour, you’ll be able to go into one and at the same time, ride a ropeway to see Mount Tengu. But that’s not all! You will also go to the charming Shiroi Koibito Park all within a day!
Learn more here.
