| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 20:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0134-21-5000 http://www.wingbay-otaru.co.jp/ |
| Notes | Supermarket, clothing stores, restaurants, fast food stores, entertainment areas, movie theatre, furniture stores, 5000 parking, swimming pool, wheelchair access |
| Location / Getting There | Wing Bay Otaru is right across from Otaruchikko Train Station on the JR Otaru line. 25 minute train ride from Sapporo station 〒047-0008 11 Chikko, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido |
The JR train line on the way to Otaru passes some great coastline. Along this JR line there are various stops before the final destination of Otaru. Two stations before the Otaru train station, you can find the Wing Bay Otaru department store. Opened in 1999, this huge department is about 1.5km long. It is one of the largest shopping complexes in Japan. The centre is 4 stories and has ample parking. In terms of shopping there are plenty of outlet shops, including mens, womens, and kids clothing stores. There is also a Nittori which is a huge furniture and home furnishing store.
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Apart from all these shops, Wing Bay Otaru shops has a huge hotel overlooking the marina. There is a cinema, a swimming pool, a bowling alley and a sports club, plus a large play centre for the kids. To fuel the body for shopping and all these activities there are about thirty different restaurants ranging from Mos Burger to gourmet dining. There is also a supermarket to pick up some fresh food. It is here you can get some boxed lunches. Why not grab one and head out to the park overlooking the water or eat outside along the boardwalk.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥900 - ¥1300 |
| Opening Hours | 10:20 - 20:20 drinks 11:00 - 19:30 food |
| Closed | Nov 5 - Nov 22 |
| Contact | 0134-33-7381 |
| Notes | Seating 40, English menu available Non smoking |
| Location / Getting There | Take the Chuo (#9 天狗山ロープウエイ線) bus from Otaru station terminal, or Otaru canal terminal. Get off at "Tenguyama" (last stop). Top of Mt. Tengu 2-chōme-16-16 Mogami, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0023 |
Plenty of seating to enjoy the view
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Fried Herring Set
The menu is in Japanese plus English. It is pictured so it is easy to order. Outlook Restaurant Tengu has some delicious Japanese dishes and some Western ones. They have a Hokkaido Potato Curry, a Fried Chicken Curry, and a delicious Fried Herring Rice Bowl just to name a few. For a more Western flavor, there are some pasta dishes, a Beef Stew with Naan bread, or a Sausage Set. The drink menu has tea, hot coffee, beer & wine (including a nice Otaru wine). And to finish off, Outlook Restaurant Tengu has an assortment of desserts to choose from.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9:30 - 21:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0139-42-2216 |
| Notes | Museum & gallery |
| Location / Getting There | Access via Mt. Tengu Ropeway. Top of Mt. Tengu 2-chōme-16-16 Mogami, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0023 |
Tengu masks
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Otaru Ski Museum
Mt. Tengu is said to be protected by this deity. Tengu Hall is is a small exhibition space that has approximately 700 varieties of Tengu masks that have been collected from all around Japan. It can be found after exiting the gondola on top of the mountain. It is a fascinating spot to see all the different types of masks. To get to Tengu hall, enter Otaru Ski Museum. This museum is interesting in itself and has some 400 items on display, relating to the history of skiing in Japan. Otaru has known to have produced many professional skiers, who have long skied the slopes of Mt. Tengu
| Mt Tengu Ropeway | ¥1200 Adult round trip ¥600 Child round trip *discount for groups of 20 or more ¥1500 Adults round trip ticket + ¥800 meal coupon: |
| Opening Hours | 9:30 - 21:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0134-33-7381 |
| Notes | Observatory, gift shop, restaurants, hiking path, Squirrel park, shrine, snow gallery, Wheelchair access |
| Location / Getting There | Take the Chuo (#9 天狗山ロープウエイ線) bus from Otaru station terminal, or Otaru canal terminal. Get off at "Tenguyama" (last stop). Takes about 15 minutes. 2-chōme-16-16 Mogami, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0023 |
Great views
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“Tengu” of Japanese folklore
Once alighting the cablecar, you will first enter the gift shop and restaurant, where you can sit and have lunch, dinner or coffee. If you need lockers, there are a few here for ¥500 for the day, and which are cheaper than the lockers at the bottom of the mountain. It is here too, you can see the Otaru Winter Museum, and the Tengu Hall which has fantastic Tengu masks on display. Outside, there is “Nausea’s Tengu”, a giant Tengu sculpture, which if you touch the nose, your wishes will come true. Behind this is a squirrel enclosure (open only during the summer), and a shrine, known as “Tengusan Shrine”. The shrine in the evening is lit by lanterns and is especially beautiful during this time.
One of the observation points
Circling around the top of the mountain is a small hiking path. It takes about 25 minutes to walk around. It is a pleasant walk and while walking around there are a couple of clear vantage points that offer beautiful views over the surrounding area. Finally, for kids and adults there is a downhill bobsled track that runs for 400 meters. The track costs ¥500 for adults and ¥300 for children. The track is closed during bad weather. All this during the summer, and during the winter there is skiing and snowboarding as well! A great place for family and friends.
Impressive views up
To get to the mountain, you can drive or take a bus. Buses leave from Otaru station, and Otaru canal bus terminal. For night viewing, there is an ‘Otaru Nightview Shuttle Bus’ (小樽夜景シャトルバス). This shuttle bus leaves from the the Otaru Grand Park Hotel at 18:50 and 19:20. It does a run through Otaru, stopping further at Hotel Otaru Furukawa, Hotel Sonia, Hotel Nord, Otaru Canal Bus Terminal, The Bank of Japan Otaru Museum, Inaho Jujigai, and the Otaru Train Station Bus Teminal. It operates from the end April until the start of November and costs ¥210 per adult, and ¥110 per child.
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 18:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0134-33-9390 |
| Notes | Glass shop, dishes, and ornaments Glass blowing studio |
| Location / Getting There | 15 minute drive from Otaru station. Otaru Station, 17min by Chuo Bus. Get off at "Tenguyama" (last stop) 2-chōme-16-16 Mogami, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0023 |
Entrance to the store
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Talented artists
Glass Studio in Otaru consists of two floors. The first floor is a large space that is full of wares, that have been expertly crafted in the studio. It is here that you can purchase these glass ornaments. They make for a great gift or a souvenir to take home. The ground floor is where the studio is located, and is available for viewing. It is here, in the heat of the furnaces, you can see the glass makers creating their work. It is fascinating to watch them spin, heat and mould their creations. It is just a short walk from the bus station, so drop in and take a look!
| Dates | 1st weekend of September |
| Contact | phone 0134-26-6160 mobile 080-4505-2424 |
| Notes | Free parking available (from 5pm) Fire works start around 7pm Food, live music, & taiko drums |
| Location / Getting There | Access by bus, take the train to Otaru station, then take the Otaru Aquarium bus. A taxi will cost around ￥3000 from Otaru station |
Otaru has many festivals over the year, and the Otaru Shukutsu Festival is one of the last festivals to see fireworks for the summer. The festival starts off at 5pm and attracts many of the locals and there is a lot to see.There is a “mikoshi” (portable shrine), taiko drum performance, live music, plus there are plenty of food stalls and of course, the fireworks which start at 7pm! All of this takes place below a meiji period house/museum, the ‘Otaru Nishin Goten’, which makes a fantastic backdrop for this festival!
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At the start of the festival a portable shrine (mikoshi) is carried in by a large group of participants. These group of shrine bearers get together every year, and are from Sapporo and a few outlying towns. Chanting and singing to the rhythm the shrine is slowly brought into the festival. Once the shrine is in the festival it is placed in front of a dozen Taiko performers hitting the drums in time with the chanting. The drums with the shrine gives this festival a great Japanese atmosphere!
Fireworks over Otaru Nishin Goten
There are many food stalls, and as Shukutsu is a local fishing town there is a lot of grilled seafood to treat your taste buds! Shellfish, sea snails, squid, octopus, and fish are all on the menu. After an evening meal you can settle in and await the fireworks. Many people set up early for a good viewing spot for the fireworks but there is plenty of space! The Shukutsu fireworks are set off along the stone beach along the harbor, just below the Otaru Nishin Goten and lighthouse. At 7:00pm the fireworks begin and light up the sky so make sure you’re there before then! Enjoy!
