10 Things to Do in Otaru City

10 Things to Do in Otaru City

Otaru City (小樽市) is a port city in the Shiribeshi Subprefecture of Hokkaido, Japan. The name is believed to be of Ainu origin. It possibly means "river running through the sandy beach”.

For those planning to visit Otaru City to check what it has to offer, here are the 10 Things to Do in Otaru City:

Otaru City manhole covers

1. Take a picture of Otaru’s unique manhole covers. So far, I have seen 2 unique manhole covers. The first one is the one with the otter and the other is the one that features the Otaru Canal. However, there is a colored version of the latter located near the LeTao Main Store. Aside from that, there is an Otaru Pokemon Manhole Cover featuring the Alolan Vulpix with what appears to be stained glass windows as his backdrop.


Former Mitsui Bank Otaru Branch

2. Visit the Former Mitsui Bank Otaru Branch and learn about the golden age of banking in Otaru City. You can watch the map projection on the ceiling of its main hall and also head down to the vaults to see what bank vaults look like.


Otaru Inari Shrine

3. Visit the Otaru Inari Shrine. You can offer prayers and also get a goshuin there for your goshuin collection.


Old Ironai Station

4. Walk along the tracks of the Old Ironai Station. It is one of the hidden gems of Otaru City and is a go-to photos spots for locals.4. Walk along the tracks of the Old Ironai Station. It is one of the hidden gems of Otaru City and is a go-to photos spots for locals.


Kitaichi Glass Otaru

5. Eat at Kitaichi Glass Otaru and not only enjoy the food but also the unique ambiance of the place.


Sakaimachi Street

6. Walk along Sakaimachi Street and look for places to eat and souvenirs to buy from the dozens of restaurants and stores along this scenic street.


Otaru Aquarium

7. Visit the Otaru Aquarium and learn about the unique animals that are displayed in it. You would surely fall in love with the adorable penguins here.


Otaru Stained Glass Museum

8. Visit the Otaru Stained Glass Museum and learn about the art. You can also take photos of the numerous beautiful stained-glass displays inside the museum.


Otaru Music Box Museum

9. Visit the Otaru Music Box Museum and be amazed at the thousands of music boxes displayed and sold in it. Don’t forget to buy one as a gift for your loved ones.


Otaru Canal

10. Ride a small boat or walk along the Otaru Canal. If you visit in February, the canal transforms into a magical place with all the lanterns that are lit up along the pathway. It’s a place to bring to go to for a romantic stroll. However, keep in mind that there are also hundreds of couples doing their romantic stroll.


I hope my list of the 10 Things to Do in Otaru City gave you an idea and inspiration to visit this beautiful historic port city soon.

#Otaru

#OtaruCity

#OtaruHokkaido

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Location: Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan

Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 4, 2024 at 8:01 AM

    Thank you for this informative article! I hope there is a part 2 of this as I know there are plenty of other things to do in Otaru City.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioApril 7, 2024 at 6:07 PM

      Thank you for leaving a comment. Yes there is definitely a part 2. Actually I just finished it and is already in the scheduled articles to be published in the future.

      Delete

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