Located on the Sea of Japan side of Hokkaido, Otaru
covers some 243.13 km2 and stretches around a small section of Ishikari
Bay. Otaru is a very hilly  city
and is surrounded on the three sides by mountains, while the fourth
side faces out toward Ishikari Bay.
The main train station is located almost in the center of the town
and provides easy access to the attractive canal district. This canal
runs for a part way through Otaru city and is lined with Western-style
buildings from the late Meiji period. There are also gas powered lamps
that are lit at night giving a very romantic feel to this area. Within
the canal district there are some museums, many of the famous Otaru
glass factories, restaurants and shopping
markets.
In front of and west of the main train station, Otaru offers a covered
mall area and various shopping department stores. Also a huge new shopping
complex has been constructed at Otaru Chikko Station. This complex
houses a cinema, the Hilton Hotel and a large variety of stores. In
font of the complex there is also a marina haboring some  of Otaru’s
fishing fleet.
Otaru is usually reached via Sapporo City. The JR Airport Express
runs from New Chitose Airport via Sapporo to Otaru. The Journey is
approximately 70 min. from Chitose or about 40 min. from Sapporo on
an express train. There are also buses departing from Sapporo Station.
It takes about one hour by express bus. A one-way journey from Sapporo
costs ¥620 and ¥1 740 direct from New Chitose Airterminal. |
English
30 km west of 
