If you are visiting places on the island of Hokkaidō, such as Sapporo, then you may as well also swing by some of the smaller towns in the area. One of them should be Otaru, a city famous on the domestic front for being the home of a fantastic arts scene which also features a glass blowing industry.
Otaru is a small harbor city, about half an hour northwest of Sapporo by train. Its beautifully preserved canal area and fascinating herring mansions make Otaru a place for a pleasant day trip from Sapporo or a nice side trip from Niseko or the Shakotan Peninsula.
Highlights
- Otaru was the financial center of Hokkaidō.
- The Otaru Canal is a place for citizens and tourists alike to relax and enjoy.
- The Otaru Snow Light Path Festival is a winter festival held in Otaru.
- Nikka Whisky is one of Japan's top whisky makers.
- Sakaimachi Street is a great place to enjoy gourmet and shopping.
Travel to Otaru
Otaru is a romantic city filled with exotic history. The city has flourished with herring fishing and was once the center of the economy of Hokkaido. Seafood is a staple there and this means that you can feast on some of the most delicious sushi in the region.
Many companies were gathered in Otaru and the city was once called "Northern Wall Street" because of its financial glory. Nowadays you can find many historical buildings, from western-style stone buildings to old Japanese style architecture.
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My experience with Alisa at Asia Highlights has been excellent. I wanted to customize my trip to South Korea and Japan. I made several changes and asked many questions which she answered promptly. My trip included only hotels and transportation because I wanted to explore on my own. This gave me the option to book my own tours if I want. I selected Asia Highlights because of the great reviews and booked because Alisa was helpful in planning my trip. More
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Japan Tour
Alisa did a fantastic job, answering all my questions and catering to what I want for our upcoming Japan tour. The itinerary was so detailed! We are so excited for our trip! More
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The experience of working with Bert was…
The experience of working with Bert was amazing! Everything is clear! The route he introduced and planned for the travel in Japan was amazing! More
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Outstanding Agent
We haven't taken our trip to Japan yet with Asia Highlights, but I am so impressed by the thoroughness, communication skills, and attention to detail of their hard working agent, Claire Wong. I sent an inquiry to Asia Highlights and immediately I was given Claire as my agent. She designed a trip for my family that works for us and my communications with her via WhatsApp have been excellent. She always gets right back to me with answers and suggestions. Her English is perfect. Because of Claire, I have a very high regard for Asia Highlights, and I'm glad that I chose this company for our trip to Japan. More
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Japan Trip Planning
Although our travel plans will not materialize for another 2 months, we had the absolute pleasure of working with Bert Hu in putting our trip to Japan together. Bert was extremely professional in meeting our needs and tailoring a trip to our interests. Bert was also quite patient and helpful when we had to change a few details and add a couple days. I'm sure I'll have more wonderful things to say after our experience in Japan. More
John, Feb 2024
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Bert Hu knowledgeable travel adviser.
Hello! My trip adviser Bert Hu gave very clear instructions about the my travel plan to Japan. He is very knowledgeable and guided me step by step. I highly recommend Bert Hu as a personal travel adviser. Thank you for making my future trip easily accessible. More
Fatema Mohammedi, Feb 2024
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Awesome
Such a great company to help us find our next family trip. We have been working with Bert Hu he is very informative and helpful. Looking forward to continuing doing business and our travels to Japan. More
Shaunda, Feb 2024
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It is my first time in Japan
It is my first time in Japan, I am glad that i found Asian highlights especially meeting claire the travel agent! She is amazing. She is very helpful all through out the process, she respond quickly to all my inquiry. She made the process so smooth. During the trip, I have to praise the company for giving us amazing accomodations and the best tour guides. Claire made everything happened. There are few bumps and she solve it right away.She was honest about the things that she can not provide. It is my first time to ask for help from a travel agency , I am glad I found Asia highlights. If I will plan tour in the future I will definitely ask help for this company. I recommended this company to my family and friends! Thankyou once again. More power! Keep it up Claire! More
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Claire has listened carefully
Claire has listened carefully to our ideas and has created a highly customized journey for us. She has been very responsive and has shown a deep knowledge of travel options in Japan. More
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Sharon from Asia Highlights
I highly recommend Sharon and her tour guidance.She is very patient and utmost polite.I absolutely loved coordinating my iteniery with her although I was unable to travel to Japan this time.She is an absolute gem and I recommend her to make your Japanese holiday an extraordinary and hassle free experience. More
Tess Thomas, Jan 2024
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10 Day Family Vacation in Japan
We had the absolute best time in Japan! Jennifer was our wonderful tour guide in Tokyo and Ho was our amazing tour guide in Kyoto and Osaka. We can’t thank them both enough for making our 10 day sightseeing trip truly a trip of a lifetime!! More
Sabrina Wilmoth, Jan 2024
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Trip to Japan
Family trip to Japan. Excellent itinerary, allowed for seeing many different sights in multiple cities in Japan. The tour was well-paced with enough time to explore on our own in the evenings. Tour guides were knowledgeable, had great attitudes and were accommodating, willing to modify our plans to allow us to see other sights if we wanted to as well. The vans were large and comfortable for the longer drives and water was always provided. More
May, Nov 2023
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Fall in Japan
The local tour guides in each city were so friendly and knowledgeable. They took care of us like we were family. The accommodations and meals were exceptional. We would definitely use this tour company again for future travel needs. More
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Alisa Liu is a star to work makes Asia Highlights even better
Alisa Liu was my contact person for Asia Highlights. She was remarkably punctual, she was thoughtful, and she handle an emergency on my end, with grace and patience. She recommended great hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka Japan that put us in the center of the action. The guides she choose were personable, punctual a knowledgeable about their cities. More
Brent Zadorozny, Oct 2023
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Excellent service
Started using Asia Highlights to plan my trip to Japan. Sharon was very helpful, giving me all the information I would need for the tour. I would definitely use Asia Highlights again, when planning another trip to Asia. More
Rachel Nelson, Oct 2023
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Japan tour
Our airport pick-up went very smoothly. Our guide, Vivian, on the second day was very nice, very accommodating, took into account our preferences. In Osaka, our trip to the castle was a very long walk with lots of steps to climb and quite honestly wasn’t very interesting. But Dotonburi is a must-see and we enjoyed that very much.Our trip to Hiroshima was very memorable. I highly recommend it. Our guide, Etsuko, was very knowledgeable and kind. The trip to Miyajima island, on the other hand, wasn’t too memorable. Our next city, Kyoto, is a truly wonderful place to visit. All the temples we went to were very interesting and very distinctive from each other (Kinkakuji temple, Nijo castle, Sanjusangendo temple,Kiyumizo temple, Fushimi Inari shrine, Kasuga Taisha shrine, Tojaidi temple). The sake tour was a downer and wouldn’t recommend it.Our guide, Ritsuko, was a darling. She was very knowledgeable too and kind and warm and easy to talk to. Our last tour in Tokyo was a rainy day and Sue, our guide, was able to change our tour to the next day. She was so efficient and so accommodating and so kind and very knowledgeable too. More
Mrs Cristina Hidalgo Loris, Oct 2023
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Very good tour of Japan
Very good tour around Japan for 10 days, including Tokyo, Hakone and Kyoto. Excellent guides and experiences. Albee, the tour organiser, was always available to sort out changes to itinerary or extra requests. More
Guy Slimmon, Oct 2023
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Everything is good
All of the hotels were wonderful and our guides were super friendly, knowledgeable and flexible. We had a 10 day trip that included multiple cities and lots of different sights, we squeezed in as much as we could, including a 2 day hiking trip to Mt. Fuji (our guide Sun Nan was awesome!). Our guide in Tokyo, Jennifer, was lovely and our guide for 2 days in Kyoto, Dennis, was also super great. We did a food tour in Osaka with Vivian which was nice Sallie Fujimoto-Swun More
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Thank you for the wonderful experience…
Thank you for the wonderful experience we all truely enjoyed. From the beginning (making first contact with Sharon from Asia Highlights) to the end (Saying good bye to our amazing guide Lilly) the experience was top notch. Great communication while preparing the trip and excellent local knowledge of our tour guide. I can highly recommend Asia Highlights and would not hesitate to use them again for our next trip. More
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Vacations in Japan
The guides Jessie and Vivian were very kind and professionals and the drivers as well. In a future vacation we will get in touch with Asia Highlights without a doubt. More
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Otaru History
Otaru's original name in the local Ainu language was "Otarunai" or "Ota-or-nai", which means "river flowing through sand". The area"s recorded history goes back to the 16th century, when an explorer from the Honshu Island reported settlements. Otaru"s early modern history as a port city started in 1871, when Japan"s Meiji government opened a colonization office in Sapporo.
Rapid development followed with expanding trades, especially after a railway was built in 1880 between Otaru and Sapporo, the first railway in Hokkaido. Once busy with exporting coal and trading with Russia, today Otaru has a thriving tourism industry.
Otaru Weather
Otaru weather is notoriously extreme, but that doesn't seem to scare off the city's many visitors. Hokkaido's northerly location gives Otaru an often frigid climate that has been compared to northern Europe.
Summers in Otaru are comfortable, wet, and partly cloudy and the winters are freezing, snowy, windy, and overcast. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 17°F (-8.3°C) to 75°F (23.8°C) and is rarely below 9°F (-12.8°C) or above 82°F (27.8°C).
Otaru Snow Light Path Festival
The Otaru Snow Light Path Festival is a winter festival held every February in Otaru, during which the city becomes decorated with lights and small snow statues for ten days. The festival usually coincides with the Sapporo Snow Festival, making it possible for travelers in Hokkaido to visit both festivals on the same trip.
There are two main sites, Unga Kaijo and Temiyasen Kaijo. The former is the stretch along the canal, made all the more scenic by the town's beautiful architecture; the latter is an old railroad, built in the 1880s, that is illuminated with snow lanterns and decorated with sculptures.
Top Attractions in Otaru
Otaru was the financial center of Hokkaido and a bustling center of trade with Russia and China in the early 20th century. The city's elite invested some of its riches in the construction of grand, western-style buildings of stone and brick, many of which line the town's central canal. This exotic atmosphere makes Otaru very popular with domestic visitors.
The rich history of the town and its overall uniqueness evoke a Hokkaido of yesteryear that's well worth seeing. Here are some recommended places to visit in Otaru.
Canal Area
The Otaru Canal is the main attraction in Otaru and was built in 1923. It was a central part of the city"s busy port in the first half of the 20th century. Large vessels were unloaded by smaller ships, which then transported the goods to warehouses along the canal.
Sakaimachi Street
If you"re travelling for pleasure, then you"ll want to enjoy gourmet and shopping. Both can be done at Sakaimachi Shopping Street, located on the inland side of Rinkosen Street, parallel to the Otaru Canal. It is an attractive, preserved merchant street in central Otaru, a short walk from the canal area.
Nikka Whisky Distillery
Nikka Whisky, one of Japan"s top whisky makers, has its main distillery in Yoichi, the neighboring town of Otaru. Masataka Taketsuru was the first Japanese person to learn the authentic techniques of whiskey distillation in Scotland. He opened his first distillery in Yoichi in 1934.
Otaru Sankaku Ichiba
Otaru Sankaku Ichiba, located near Otaru Station, is a historical market established in 1957. It is also the only market open every day, bustling with customers from the early morning. Not only seafood such as crab, scallop, salmon and mackerel are sold, but also vegetables, fruit, and other goods.
Otaru Tenguyama Ropeway
The Otaru Tenguyama Ropeway is a ropeway that travels from the base to the peak of Mount Tengu, which is located to the southwest of downtown Otaru. The views offered of downtown Otaru and the Sea of Japan are spectacular and said to be one of the best night views in Hokkaido.
Herring Mansions
The herring fishing industry played a major role in the history of Otaru since the early days of the town"s development. During the heyday of herring fishing, large herring mansions were built by wealthy fishermen to process the fish and as a residence for themselves and their employees.
City Museum
The Otaru City Museum is made up of two separate museums. One is a conventional history museum beside Otaru Canal and the other a less centrally located railway museum on the grounds of a railway yard.
These city operated museums are a good place to learn about Otaru"s history and the early days of the development of Hokkaido.
Food and Drinks in Otaru
Otaru is decidedly one of the most popular tourist sites in Hokkaido. It has glassworks as well as canals, but most of all, it has wonderful seafood.
Some popular choices are seafood bowls and seafood chanpon which is a mixture of two or more ingredients, all made with the freshest catches from the sea. Another thing that you will have to try when visiting Otaru is its sushi and sashimi.
The city's main attraction, the Otaru Canal, features many famous sweets and souvenir shops that can only be found in this area. Some of them offer take-outs so you can enjoy your treat while you walk around the city in search of all the unique souvenirs of Otaru.
Otaru has abundant clear water and a cool climate, appropriate for making good sake. There are a few sake breweries in the city in which you can taste the local sake.
How to Get to and around Otaru
To go to Otaru from Sapporo, you can take one of the trains that go by the hour along the JR Hakodate Main Line. A one way trip costs 640 yen and takes 30 minutes by rapid train or 45 minutes by local train.
Most of Otaru"s attractions are located less than a 30-minute walk from Otaru Station, making the city convenient to explore by foot. You can also take the bus. There are four Otaru Stroller"s Buses, which connect Otaru Station with all of the city"s tourist attractions.
Full-Day Otaru Excursion from Sapporo
On this guided tour you will spend the day visiting Otaru from Sapporo.
After reaching Otaru from Sapporo, you will take a scenic stroll around the town with your guide.
You will first visit the Canal area, one of northern Japan's most famous, romantic places. It makes for a very enjoyable, interesting stroll on the canal that leads you to the port.
Then, head to Sakaimachi, the old town where the rich merchants during the late nineteenth, early twentieth century used to build their houses.
Otaru is known throughout the country for its reputation of having delicious freshly caught seafood. For lunch, you will try some of Otaru"s famous sushi for yourself!
After that, you will head to Yoichi to visit Nikka Whisky Distillery, one of the country"s top whisky producers. Your guide will explain the history of whisky making in Otaru and how the climate and geographic conditions make for the perfect environment.
The guide will then take you back to Sapporo.
Explore Otaru with Asia Highlights
Otaru is definitely well worth seeing, with its rich history, the picturesque canal, the old merchant town center, Mount Tengu and the market, not to mention the wonderful seafood. Go with Asia Highlights and have a great experience in Otaru.
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It was a whirlwind across a number of cities, but a very comprehensive experience across the many sides and cultures of China. Most days had sufficient activities, but weren’t overwhelming, which was great.Across cities, we had excellent tour guides, like Kitty (Beijing), Jenny (Xian), William (Guilin/Yangshuo), Kris (Shanghai), and Tony (Yellow Mountains.)
moreFrom the time we landed in Beijing until we left, we were well taken care of. My wife and I had Lily Liu as our guide and she was amazing. From arranging visits to all the different sights, to teaching us the history, it was fantastic.
moreThe tour was excellent. Selinda was very knowledgeable about all the aspects of our tour. Selinda was very interesting and knew so much Chinese history
moreWe made a private tour through South China in January 2024. Altogether Chengdu was the highlight. We had an incredible day at Emeishan. In Chengdu our guidewas Helen. She was the diamond of all. Speaking fluently English, full of interesting stories, laughing and talking all the time. We missed her the rest of our tour. We highly recommend to go to Chengdu for 3 days when visiting China, especially with Helen.
moreOther highlights are too many to mention but here are a few Ken taking us to the Terracotta Warriors and our food tour in Xian was amazing,
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moreWe had a booking with China Highlights through Silvia Ye who guarenteed a perfect organisation. In Chengdu our guide was Helen. She was the diamond of all. Speaking fluently English, full of interesting stories, laughing and talking all the time. We missed her the rest of our tour. We highly recommend to go to Chengdu for 3 days when visiting China, especially with Helen.
moreWe traveled to China during the Chinese new year and we had Kris as our guide and he is simply knowledgeable,helpful and great.
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moreAmazing tour and the guide Mr. 贺霄 was very accommodating with our needs and request as we have bought our 2 years old with us. Well explained for all the place we visited. Any additional cost were informed well ahead and didn't felt any pressure if we opt not to go for additional detour. The trip was relaxing/ laid back/no rushing with zero shopping!
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