Making the most of Otaru Sapporo
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Otaru is a Hokkaido port city near Sapporo, visited for its food, historic buildings and shops. The centrally positioned Otaru passenger terminal is 5 mins from Otaru station by taxi.
Otaru Wharf is approximately 2 to 3 kilometres from central Otaru. Shuttle services or taxis are usually available for a convenient journey.
Its numerous historic buildings have made Otaru a highly popular visitor destination. Neighbouring Sapporo is about 30 min. away by JR express train.
Getting around
Many historic buildings, restaurants and shops are within an easy walk, making walking a particularly simple and inexpensive way to move around Otaru. One suggested route starts at Otaru Music Box Museum at the end of Sakaimachihondori Street. Follow the road until it crosses a small canal, continue uphill to the Museum of the Money, then return along the canal and stay beside it as it turns left and broadens.
Regular 40-minute canal cruises depart from the canal's West end. Pleasant short harbour trips add the Japanese custom of feeding birds while squealing excitedly, making them great for kids.
Otaru Tenguyama Ropeway reaches the summit in about 5 minutes. In clear conditions, the mountain top provides a panoramic outlook over Otaru Port, Ishikari Bay, Shakotan Peninsula and distant peaks. This exceptional viewpoint has received a star in the Michelin Green Guide Japan.
Nearby places
Otaru is a principal stop on the JR Hakodate Line from Sapporo, served by very frequent trains. At least five run each hour, at a cost of ¥620.
Food and shopping
Otaru Canal symbolises the city. Gaslights and stone warehouses along its banks create a beautiful night scene popular with young couples. Numerous cafés, museums, restaurants & shops are nearby, along with the brewery restaurant belonging to Otaru Beer.
Otaru is renowned for sushi, with over 100 sushi restaurants in the city. Sushi Street gathers some 20 of them and is reached by walking from National Route 5 towards the canal.
Otaru is also celebrated for glass and has many glass factories.
Money
The yen is Japan's currency. Notes are issued in ¥10,000, ¥5,000 and ¥1,000 values, alongside ¥500, ¥100, ¥50, ¥10, ¥5 and ¥1 coins.
Japanese ATMs are becoming more useful, and most allow funds to be withdrawn from overseas accounts; post offices also have ATMs. Most shops and restaurants in large urban areas take major credit cards, but anyone visiting rural districts should carry adequate cash. Japan remains very much a cash society, and some stores, hotels and restaurants reject cards wherever they are located.
Do not tip, as this is considered rude.