Hokkaido

Otaru Sunset over Otaru Canal (Photo: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com)

About Otaru

Port town on Hokkaido's northern coast

Otaru is a beautiful little port town just one hour northwest of Sapporo. Overlooking Ishikari Bay, this port town is well known for its seafood culture, traditional canal area, glassworks, music boxes and also sake distilleries.

Cover Photo: Sean Pavone | Shutterstock

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Things to do in Otaru

Otaru Canal

OTARU RETREAT by Onko Chishin

By Kim Bergström

Wintertime Magic in Otaru, Hokkaido

By Veronica Carnevale

Upcoming Otaru Events

Otaru Snow Light Path Festival 2027

Early - Mid - Feb

Press Cafe in Otaru

By Peter Lin

Halal Cuisine in Donburichaya Otaru

By Dwinda Nafisah

Food Galore in Otaru

By Yi Xuan Ong

Rinyu Morning Market in Otaru

By R.S. Reynolds

OTARU RETREAT by Onko Chishin

By Kim Bergström

Hotel NORD Otaru, Your Front-Row Seat to Otaru’s Canal District

By Joanna Ligon

Otarunai Morinoki Hostel

By Kylie Plester

OTARU RETREAT by Onko Chishin

By Kim Bergström

Wintertime Magic in Otaru, Hokkaido

By Veronica Carnevale

Hotel NORD Otaru, Your Front-Row Seat to Otaru’s Canal District

By Joanna Ligon

Exploring Otaru

By Max

An Otaru Day Trip From Sapporo

By Serena Ogawa

Otaru Umeshu Festival 2026

Apr 17th - May 6th