Otaru is a great city for a day trip from Sapporo. Otaru is a small, romantic harbor city just half an hour by train from Sapporo. It is famous for its beautiful canal and delicious seafood!
You can stroll along the canal or take a boat trip. The view of the canal is especially beautiful at night.
Otaru is also known for its beer and you can visit the small German style beer museum, where you can get a short tour with tasting. In summer, there is also beer ice cream on offer. In winter, it's hot beer you can buy, alongside German sweets and various kinds of beer glasses.
If you are not a fan of beer flavored ice cream, don't worry! Otaru has a lot more sweets to offer. In Sakaimachi, the old town, you can find sweets shops and a small green shop with matcha en masse. The matcha ice cream is highly recommended!
Just past the matcha shop you will come across the Otaru Music Box Museum. If you are lucky, you can listen to some of those old music boxes in a short performance (only 4 times a day).
Just behind Sakaimachihondori, there is a small hill with a temple. It's not so well known, so it is a tranquil place, where you can relax and look out onto the harbor.
The Botanical Garden also offers a nice view over Otaru and the sea.
Otaru was the terminal station of Hokkaido's first railroad. The old rail track are not in use anymore, but you can have a nice stroll on the old tracks.
In winter, Otrau holds its annual Otaru Lightning Path Fesitival.
If you have a lot of time, you could make a little detour to Yoichi for Nikka Whisky Distillery to learn about the history of Nikka whisky and get a free sample - or two, or three....
If you go to Otaru by car I recommend to stop at the View Cafe. It is especially beautiful at sunset.
If by train or by car, Otaru is easy to reach from Sapporo and you should definitely visit this lovely place while you are in Hokkaido!
Written by Irene
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