Join us on a journey through the charming streets of Otaru, where every corner reveals a blend of history, culture, and culinary delights. Our day begins with a leisurely stroll along the picturesque Otaru Canal, where the gentle flow of water and the old stone warehouses create a serene atmosphere perfect for capturing unforgettable memories.
As we wander through the streets, we’ll admire the elegant architecture of Otaru’s historical buildings, each one telling a story of the city’s rich past. From grand old merchant houses to quaint little shops, every facade is a testament to Otaru’s enduring charm.
No visit to Otaru is complete without indulging in its delectable street food and desserts at Sakaimachi Street. Prepare your taste buds for a culinary adventure as we sample a variety of interesting snacks and sweets, from freshly baked pastries to traditional Japanese treats.
To cap off our day of exploration, we’ll treat ourselves to one of Otaru’s finest culinary offerings: fried Half Chicken. Savour the crispy golden exterior and succulent meat as we dine on this local specialty, a perfect way to end a splendid day in Otaru.
Join us as we immerse ourselves in the beauty, culture, and flavors of this enchanting city. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more travel adventures! 🌸✨
Gilbert and Lilian
@gibbontravelogue689
@flyscoot
Hi good morning everyone, welcome to another episode of Gibbon Travelogue. We are now in OTARU! The enchanting city of Otaru is known for its charming canals, historic streets, and delectable local cuisine. Just 45 minutes by train from Sapporo City,
This vibrant city is home to the romantic Otaru Canal and many famous dessert shops. In the morning, we set out to Otaru from Sapporo. We take the train from Sapporo Station and the journey will take us just 45 minutes.
We arrive in Otaru Station, the gateway into the city of Otaru. This station was opened in 1903. There, you can see the Mukai Bell, which was rung each time a train arrived from the time the station was open until 1965. Here’s a little history of Otaru City. It began in the Keicho era
Between 1596 to 1610, when people moved north to this city in search of herring. Later in the Meiji era, around late 19th century, the Japanese’s government decided to make Sapporo the base for the development of Hokkaido. The port of Otaru became a supply base for goods from the sea.
As such, many of the historical buildings were warehouses and many banks also moved in to support the explosive development of the coal, herring and bean industries. The Otaru Tourist Information Centre is one such building. It was originally a warehouse built in 1893. Our first stop is the iconic Otaru Canal (小樽運河), which was
A central part of the city’s busy port in the first part of the 20th century. Large vessels carrying goods were unloaded into smaller vessels, which then transported them to the warehouses along the canal. The canal became obsolete when modern dock facilities allowed for direct unloading of larger vessels.
This part of the canal was conserved and beautifully restored in the 1980’s, thanks to the residents here. Many of the warehouses were transformed into museums and restaurants. Located just across the Otaru Canal, is the Otaru Denuki-Koji, an alleyway full of food bars that were modeled around the image of colonial Hokkaido.
A very prominent feature is the Hinomi Yagura, a tower with an observation deck where you can get a great view of the Otaru Canal, free of charge! Within the Denuki-Koji, there are over 20 shops, offering a wide variety of Japanese-style cuisine made with carefully selected local ingredients.
True to its seaport town origins, Otaru is famous for its fresh and tasty seafood such as tuna, salmon, scallops, abalone and crabs. We went into Sawasaki Suisan, for their specialty Seafood Rice Bowl where the friendly boss can serve up a delicious bowl of seafood for you in his quaint and cozy shop.
Right in front of the shop is a statue of Udatsu Kozo, a symbol of Denuki-koji who is said to bless visitors with good luck and career progression. Next, we head towards Sakaimachi Street. This is where history comes alive. We wander through this 900m long
Charming street lined with conserved buildings from the Taisho era. It is a must-visit destination for food and shopping enthusiasts. Here are some lovely buildings that have been conserved and re-purposed for commercial use. Otaru is a food lover’s paradise, and our third stop is all about satisfying your taste buds with local street food.
We indulge in one of the most delicious treats in Otaru, steamed oysters. We tried the sweet potato with bean paste. And the unforgettable Yubari Melon. Additionally, Sakaimachi Street is also a haven for dessert lovers. Famous for its milky, smooth mouthwatering cheesecake Double Fromage, LeTAO is a pastry
Shop with stores mainly in Hokkaido and primarily here in Otaru. Along Sakaimachi Street alone, there are six LeTAO stores, each with a different concept and offering a large selection of limited products and delicious sweets. We visited 3 of them here. The first store that we visit is the LeTAO chocolate
Patisserie Nouvelle Vague LeTAO Chocolatier. Just down the road is the LeTAO Main Shop. This was the original LeTAO on which its pastry empire was built. The third LeTAO Store that we go to is the Fromage Danish DANI LeTAO, which is located across the Main Shop, and offers a new sensation in Danish pastries.
Another famous brand of confectionary is Rokkatei, which produces a wide range of Japanese and Western style sweets. As a brand, Rokkatei is closely associated with Hokkaido, sourcing the best ingredients from the prefecture’s farms and dairy industry, and fittingly, the name Rokkatei,
Literally means “six flower pavilion” was inspired by a poetic word for snowflakes. Here is Rokkatei’s flagship main store which sells a great range of the company’s most popular confectionary, including their famous sandwich cookie, Yukikon Cheese and Cream Puff. The Rokkatei Main Store also has a café on the 2nd floor serving
Desserts and light meals along with hot chocolate, coffee, tea, and other soft drinks. This is a good spot to enjoy the dessert while overlooking the 1st floor. Another beloved Hokkaido sweets brand that has its base in Otaru is Kitakaro. Starting with classic Hokkaido souvenirs like the famous “Hokkaido Pioneer Rice Crackers”
And exquisite Hokkaido cream puffs, there is a wide variety of limited sweets to be found here. This building has a very retro feel and is the place to go when in search of souvenirs. Next, we visited the former Kimura Warehouse (旧木村倉庫) which used to be a transit warehouse for herring products.
This wood-framed stone building built in 1891 is one of the oldest buildings in Otaru. The inside of the building is divided in two by a central corridor and you can still see the trolley rails leading to the port in the corridor.
The warehouse was turned into a glassware shop in 1983. Now it is part of the Kitaichi Glass complex spreading into many of the other warehouses in the area, too. The Former Kimura Warehouse is now called Kitaichi Glass Building No.
3 (北一硝子三号館) and it hosts an outlet shop for glass products as well as a cafe. The last attraction that we visit on Sakaimachi Street is the former Kyosei Co 旧共成式会社. Today, it is transformed into the Otaru Music Box Museum 小樽オルゴール堂本館. It is one of the most well-known
Historical buildings in Otaru, with the iconic steam clock standing in front of the building. At the end of the Sakaimachi Street, we walk towards the Minami-Otaru Station, so that we don’t have to walk back towards the city centre. Along the way, we can see the majestic 532m high Mt Tengu.
The train brings us back to Otaru Station and we head to the Otaru Sankaku Market, aka the Triangle Market. Here, we dive into a vibrant world of fresh seafood, the best of Hokkaido delicacies. The Triangle Market opens at 6am, with eateries starting to serve from 7am.
However, most of them close quite early, by 5 pm. As daylight starts to dim, our grand finale will be a culinary delight, the Wakadori Jidai Naruto. Legend has it that this dish is the originator of Otaru’s signature fired half-chicken. Here, we savour this crispy and succulent treat,
Showcasing the unique flavors that define Otaru’s reputation as a culinary delight. Marinated and seasoned after halving the chicken, the “Fried Half-Chicken” is the soulful cuisine of Otaru. There you have it, fellow travelers! Otaru, with its canal charm, historical allure, delightful street food, bustling market, and the legendary fired half-chicken, offers an unforgettable experience.