The Backpack Adventures

The last time I visited Otaru Canal was last January 5, 2022 , which was my 10th week here in Japan as an ALT under the JET Programme . It was one of the highlights of my winter adventures with the other Filipino ALTs in Hokkaido. Otaru Canal Revisited 2022 I finally got to revisit Otaru Canal with my family last August 19, 2022 , which was the 2nd day of our "From Osaka with Love" Road Trip and also my 42nd weekend here in Japan . We were with our Japanese family on this road trip which made it extra memorable. Otaru Canal details ( Summer ) For those who are unfamiliar with Otaru Canal ( 小樽運河 ) , it is one of the main tourist destinations of Otaru City. Its history can be traced back to 1923 when the Port of Otaru was bustling with shipping activities. Otaru Canal - Otaru City, Hokkaido Prefecture Otaru Canal was made to ease the shipping traffic and also make unloading cargoes to the warehouses easier. However, when trading in Hokkaido declined, the canal and facil...

The Otaru Stained Glass Museum ( 小樽芸術村 ステンドグラス美術館 ) is one of the repurposed historical buildings of Otaru City. It now houses numerous beautiful stained glass windows from England. It is located at 1 Chome-2-16 Ironai, Otaru City in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan .  Otaru Stained Glass Museum   Otaru Stained Glass Museum details The Takahashi Warehouse , now famously known as the Otaru Stained Glass Museum , was constructed in 1923 and was used as a warehouse to store soybeans. It was refurbished and reopened as a shop in 1989. Otaru Stained Glass Museum - Otaru City, Hokkaido Prefecture It is a Western-style two-story timber-framed stone structure. It is characterized by the queen post truss (paired roof truss) in which beams are doubled and two bundles are constructed symmetrically in the middle of the beam. Going to the  Otaru Stained Glass Museum from the Former Mitsui Bank The history board of Otaru Stained Glass Museum Today, the architecture is still maintained bu...

The Former Mitsui Bank Otaru Branch ( 旧三井銀行小樽支店 ) is an Important Cultural Property located at 1 Chome-3-10 Ironai, Otaru City in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan .  Former Mitsui Bank Otaru Branch Former Mitsui Bank Otaru Branch details The Former Mitsui Bank Otaru Branch was one of the 25 banks that operated in Otaru City from the late Meiji period until the beginning of the Showa period. This period was the glory days of Otaru City which was often referred to as the biggest economic metropolis in northern Japan. Former Mitsui Bank Otaru Branch  - Otaru City, Hokkaido Prefecture The  Former Mitsui Bank Otaru Branch  was built using the Renaissance architectural design. It was designed by the Sone- Chujo Building Company, Japan's foremost construction business at the time, and it is an exquisite and classic masterpiece that shows cutting-edge structure and detail from that era. The facade is composed of dramatic masonry, with passageways around the vaulted ceiling and ex...