Otaru boomed in the late Meiji Era years as a commercial hub and
the only major port on the Japan Sea side of Hokkaido. It is also next
to the capital of Sapporo and thus saw a rapid increase in development
as Sapporo developed. The Canal area is the main area of attraction
in Otaru and can easily be reached from the main train station by a
5 - 10 min. walk. Main attractions include : Ishihara Yujiro Memorial Hall, Mount
Tengu Ropeway, Music Boxes, Nishin
Goten (Herring Mansion), Otaru Glassware, Steam
Clock.
Ishihara Yujiro
Memorial Hall
In commemoration of one of Japans most popular actors and an Otaru
citizen, the Ishihara Yujiro Memorial Mall was opened in July 1991.
Mr Yujiro Ishihara was a movie star (and singing star) in the fifties
and sixties and made more than 30 films. The hall has many of his personal
possessions on display and also has screenings of his films and TV
shows. He died at the early age of 52 due to liver cancer. His 13th
memorial service in 1999 attracted over 170 000 people. Top
Admission
Adults ¥1500
Children 6 yo. - 12 yo. ¥300
Opening Hours
Daily 9 am - 8 pm April to October
Daily 9 am - 6 pm November to March
Closed
-
Getting There
From JR Otaru Station take the Otaru Marine bus
and get off at Otaru Port Marina Stop (approx. 15 min.). It’s
about walk 1 minute from the bus stop.
Phone
(0134) 34-1188
Mount Tengu Ropeway
For the best view of Otaru and the surrounding area of Ishikari
Bay and one of the top three best views in Hokkaido head to Mt Tengu
Ropeway. The Tengu is a creature with a huge nose. It is said to
be lucky if you can pat the Tengu’s nose. The ropeway also
gives access to ski areas in the winter. At the top of the ropeway
there is a restaurant and souvenir shop. Top
Admission
Round Trip - Summer Period
Adult ¥1 000
Children ¥500
Round Trip - Winter Period
Adult ¥740
Children ¥370
Opening Hours
Daily 9 am to 5 pm, December to March
Daily 9:30 am - 9 pm, April to October
Daily 9:30am - 5 pm, October to November
Closed
-
Getting There
From JR Otaru station, take the Chuo bus for
the Tenguyama Ropeway.
Phone
(0134) 33 - 7381
Music Boxes
Otaru is also well known for it’s music boxes and the Otaru
Music Box Museum is well worth a look. The museum, shop and workshop
consists of five different buildings all located within a 2 minute
walk of each other. The main two museum buildings are the “Otaru
Music Box Museum : Main Building” and the “No2. Otaru
Music Box Museum : Antique Museum.” The main building displays
hundreds of different kinds of music boxes, both large and small.
Here with the guidance of staff, you can also build your own music
box in about 20 min. (music box must dry for further 30 - 40 min.
before you can take it home.) As the name suggests the second museum
is full of antique music boxes from the 19th century onwards. There
are also rare examples for sale. The last three stores contain a
different variety of goods and crafts for purchase. One building
is dedicated to animal toys, another to glassware and the final one
to music boxes made in the shape of modern characters such as Mickey
Mouse, Winnie the Pooh and Hello Kitty etc. Top
Admission
Music Box Making Fee ¥1 800
Opening Hours
All Stores 9 am to 6 pm (7 pm in the summer period)
Closed
-
Getting There
From Sapporo Station take the Airport Express
bound for Otaru and get off at Minami-Otaru Station. From here
walk in the direction of the harbor approx 5 min.
Phone
0134 - 34 - 3915
Address
Main Building
4 - 1 Sumiyoshi-cho
Otaru City
Ph : 0134 - 22 - 1108
No2. Building : Antique Museum
6 - 13 Sakaimachi
Otaru City
Nishin Goten (Herring
Mansion)
Otaru’s herring industry boomed until the late 1950s. The
wealth created by these fishermen played a major role in the development
of Otaru and its surrounding area. The wealthy fisherman built large
residences for living and fish processing. One of these residences
and herring processing plants is now a Hokkaido Tangible Cultural
Asset. It was the first residential building to achieve such status.
The building which was moved from its original place to Otaru, took
seven years to build and was completed in 1897. The building has
been turned into a museum displaying various tools and artifacts
from the period. Top
Admission
Adults ¥200
Opening Hours
Daily 9 am to 5 pm early April - Late November
Closed
Winter
Getting There
From Otaru station board a bus for the aquarium.
About a 20 min. bus trip.
Cost ¥200 (Please have correct change)
Phone
0134 - 22 - 1038
Otaru Glassware
Otaru Glassware is also well known throughout Japan and has had
a long history. The glassworks originally made lanterns and other
products for the first settlers in the region however, as the town
expanded and the herring industry sprang to life the focus was changed
to making glass buoys. When the herring industry suffered its major
decline in the late 1950s the glassworks began producing ornamental
pieces for direct sale to consumers and tourists. Today Otaru's glass
industry is thriving and many beautiful pieces are on display for
pleasure and sale. Some major glassworks are the Kitaichi Glassworks,
the Otaru Unga Kogeikan, "The Glass Ship" Warehouse and the Kitaichi
Venetian Art Museum. It is possible to “make your own” glass
item in some of the glassworks such as ‘The Glass Studio’ and
the ‘Otaru Unga Kogeikan’. If you wish to make your own
item it is best to make a reservation, especially in summer if you
have many people in your group. Top
Admission
Most glassworks are free entry.
To make your own glass item prices vary from about ¥500 to ¥2000.
Opening Hours
Most shops are open 9 : 30 am to 6 pm (a little
later in summer)
Closed
-
Getting There
Most Glassworks are located near the canal area
along Ironai dori. From Otaru Station walk toward the bay.
About 10 min.
Phone
Kitaichi Glassworks 0134 - 33 - 1993
The Glass Studio 0134 - 33 - 9390
Otaru Unga Kogei-kan 0134 - 29 - 1111
Steam Clock
Constructed in 1994, the steam clock in Otaru is the world’s
largest and stands 5.5 meters tall, 1 meter wide and weighs 1.5 tons.
It is a replica of a clock built by a Canadian horologist Mr. Raymond
Sanders in Gastown Canada. The clock uses a steam whistle to toll
the hour and plays a tune every 15 minutes. The clock is located
in front of the Main hall of the Otaru Music Hall Museum. Top
Admission
-
Opening Hours
-
Closed
-
Getting There
-
Phone
-
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