Day trip to Otaru, Hokkaido — Fresh Seafood and Delicious Confectioneries
Otaru (小樽) is a small harbour city near Sapporo which makes it an ideal location for a day trip. If you’re visiting during the winter season, there is a festival with illuminated statues which you can read more on Japan Guide.
Although I visited Otaru in Spring where there were no festivals taking place, it was still fun!
- Otaru Canal
Otaru canal used to be the city’s busiest port in the 20th century. Today, it just serves as a canal for boats to bring tourists around for sight seeing.
There were quite a number of old industrial buildings lined up along the canal.
2. Saikaimachi Dori Street
We slowly made our way to Saikaimachi Dori Street where you can find Hokkaido confectioneries, muscial box museums and wine shops.
Do try the matcha ice cream and matcha warabi mochi at 茶和々 Sawawa. They have different level of matcha intensity and I tried the highest one. No regrets.
Address:Sakaimachi Otaru Hokkaido
3. Otaru Music Box Museum Main Building
The musical boxes on sale were so pretty! They had special musical boxes which have tunes from famous Japanese songs such as ‘Sparkle’ (スパークル）from the movie ‘Your Name’（君の名は).
They also have short live ‘concerts’ in the musical box store which you can catch. I didn’t have time for it though.
Address: Japan, 〒047–0015 Hokkaido, Otaru, 住吉町4−1
4. Lunch at Kaguya
We spoke a local who said that Otaru is one of the places where you can get the freshest seafood in Hokkaido so we were delighted to have eaten at Kaguya restaurant on his recommendation.
I really like the traditional Japanese restaurant setting!!
The freshest seafood indeed and at affordable prices!
Address: Sumiyoshicho Otaru Hokkaido (Map). The restaurant is quite a long walk up a rather steep slope.
5. Kinderlieb Toy Shop
It started pouring when we left the restaurant so we sought refuge in Kinderlieb which sells wooden toys.
I didn’t expect to find Karuta Uta-garuta* cards in Otaru and promptly bought a set for my friend who is a big fan of Chihayafuyu, a manga centered around Karuta. There is an anime and live action movie based on it and they are good!
*Karuta Uta-garuta is a traditional Japanese card game that uses Japanese poems.
Address: 〒047–0015 北海道小樽市住吉町4番4号
Website: http://www.kinderlieb.info/
6. Otaru Soko №1 Brewery
We visited Otaru brewery next! It was established about 20 years ago and it is slowly gaining popularity in Hokkaido. Ingredients in the beer are all organic, with high-grade barley, wheat and hops imported from Germany combined with Otaru’s water. I believe it is currently not imported out of Hokkaido so do give it a try when you’re in Otaru!
We joined the tour (in Japanese) which introduced us to the history of Otaru beer and we had a walk-around the brewery.
We even got to try the beer in this form (can’t remember the name for it).
After the tour, we had a glass of Otaru beer each. :)
7. LeTao Confectionery Store
We then headed to LeTao which is a confectionery company founded in Otaru. Although I don’t have photographs of the interior (I was busy trying samples :p), it is definitely a must visit. We wanted to have desserts at the cafe on the second level but the queue was insane.
Address: 7–16 Sakaimachi, Otaru City, Hokkaido, 047–0027.
Website: https://www.letao.jp/global/en/shop/letao.php
8. Dinner at a seafood restaurant
We had our dinner at another seafood restaurant (I can’t remember the name!) but it was good too. It was hoarded with many tourists.
We ended our day with a stroll around Otaru.
Thank you for reading!
