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Latest Otaru hotel reviews
aukahkay Says: The music box befits this city of history and romance. Otaru Orgel Emporium is Japan's largest shop specializing in music-boxes. Hundreds of models are on display, both large and small, including early 19th century antiques for sale.
walterwu Says: Otaru Canal is interesting but along the way from the Otaru Statioon to the canal, there are covered shopping alley, shops selling foodstuffs, king crab, live seafood, etc.The walk from Otaru Station to the canal covers about 8 streets away.
Visit the Bank of Japan Otaru Museum
RoseAmano Says: This was a nice slightly off the beaten path, and much quieter compared to the Glass Shops Tourist Shops. For the architecture enthusiast, This building was constructed in 1912, designed by the reknowned architects such as Kingo Tatsuno and Uheiji Nagano, also of the Tokyo...
Visit the Museo Dell'Arte Veneziana
RoseAmano Says: This is a major landmark building located in the tourist strip of boutique gift shops owned by Kitaichi Glass Company. The Italian style glass museum features a huge gondola in the middle of the ground floor, and on other floors there are recreations of affluent lifestyle of...
Otaru Glass - Kitaichi Venetian Art Museum
aukahkay Says: Otaru had a thriving herring fishing trade. Glass buoys were used to light up fishing boats at night to attract herrings. A glass industry flourished in Otaru to support the herring trade. When the herring fishing industry declined in the 1950s, the makers of glass buoys...
aukahkay Says: Otaru Canal is the symbol of this city. The gaslights and stone warehouses along the canal produce a beautiful and romantic nightscape popular with young couples. There are many cafes, museums, restaurants & shops as well as the brewery restaurant belonging to Otaru Beer....
yumyum Says: The first licensed warehouse was built from 1890 till 1894. It played a major role in the shipping industrie.
2 Reviews and 37 Opinions This hotel is located about 30 min. by car from Otaru Station, though there is regular free shuttle...
Yin2 Zhi1 Zhong1 Yi1 Hao4 Guan3: Coffee in Otaru
lilipit Says: This is a nice little place that our tour guide recommended. He comes here on each of his trip to have a cup of coffee and cake. The GREAT thing about this place is that you order your coffee and get to choose the cup that it comes in. The coffee comes with a slice of cake,...
asantetravel Says: Eating is one of the main reasons for coming to Otaru. There were lots of restaurants near the canal. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough room in my budget. There is a yummy ramen shop after you cross the Asakusa bridge.
yumyum Says: By fast train it's only 30 minutes from Sapporo. The slower train takes nearly twice as much time. For some stretches the train runs right along the sea.From the station you can walk straight down the street until you hit the canal.
robberjak Says: From Sapporo, take a train for Y620. It's a 35 minute ride by express or 50 minutes by ordinary train. You can also come by bus from Sapporo Station (Y590, 55 mins). Or if you are on Honshu, look into the 31 hour ferry ride from Maizuru, or shorter trips from Tsuruga, or...
MyCal Shopping Mall: Everything's here
robberjak Says: MyCal has everything under one roof. The whole complex is 0.8km in length and there are four levels for shopping. Excellent place to escape to when snow covers the city and the weather is less than wonderful. The Hilton Hotel is in the centre. My favourite part is on the...
Residents may seem a bit wary...
robberjak Says: Residents may seem a bit wary of you, the traveller. This is because of the number of Russian seamen that visit town. Some of these guys get quite drunk and abusive so there has been a lot of friction in the past between locals and visitors as a result. I'd like to stress...
JT3933 Says: In the past some onsens have denied admission to non-Japanese. Thanks to a lawsuit this situation has improved, but the onsen that was sued, Yunohana, still denies admission to non-Japanese who don't speak Japanese.
robberjak Says: Winter equals snow, and mountains of it! If you come from mid-late November through to end-March or early-April, you will need good snow footwear - sneakers won't cut it and you will suffer from wet, cold feet if you choose to wear them. Be careful of plastic soled shoes...
RoseAmano Says: This caldera lake is almost 43km in circumference.Of course you can find fhe nice spa around here.Noboribetsu spa is one of the best spa in Japan.
RoseAmano Says: This mountain erupt 4times in 100year.Last eruption happend in 2000.May be the first eruption was in 17 century.Now you can reach the mid of mountain by ropeway.
Reknowned Hokkaido Snow and Mineral Spa
RoseAmano Says: Located about 30 mins. by car from Otaru station, there are plenty of ski slopes in the area. Hotels attached to the ski slopes offer free shuttle transport as well.
yumyum Says: When you walk in the center from the canal to the clock tower, you will see a variety of old buildings. The point is that they have a plate in front of them, so you can read what they are in English and Russian.
Meiji and Taisho era buildings
yumyum Says: Along the canal you find these one storey buildings. Unfortunately, I don't remember what is what. So just enjoy the photos.
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Plan a Otaru vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Otaru locals
Robberjak's Otaru Page - I live here in Otaru and its a great wee city. It's just 35 minutes from Sapporo and by the sea. We have fantastic skiing in winter and can swim in the sea over summer. Otaru has two sister cities -...
1 member live in Otaru
Our members can help!
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Initially, I felt that Otaru was overhyped and did not really want to make my way there. I'm glad I did. The famous canal is way overhyped but I'd really recommend walking around the "Romantic...
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I came to Otaru as a day trip from Sapporo. I didn't actually find it terribly exciting here unless you are here for shopping.
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Otaru is a port town of about 145,000 people in western Hokkaido located on the northern tip of the Shiribeshi district of Hokkaido on the Sea of Japan side of the island, facing Ishikari-wan Bay....
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Otaru was flourish by many trade in taisyo period(about 100years ago). Many main banks gatherd in this city and Otaru was a center of commerce in Hokkaido. But Sapporo get the center instead of...
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The most romatic place of Hokkaido
Otaru is the most romantic place in Hokkaido, especially walking during sunset, the gas lamp is turned on. Even watch on the picture and you can feel it. Also there are lost of gas accessory shop and...
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