Otaru’s shopping street has more than just famous sweets and souvenir shops like LeTAO, Rokkatei, and Kitakaro. There are also glass shops and music box stores where you can really feel the art and culture.
Walking around the streets of Otaru and checking out all the well-known shops, you’re bound to come across a souvenir or keepsake you’ll fall in love with at first sight.
Since it was a holiday, there was a long line at the kerosene lamp café, so I took a photo by the sign as a little souvenir of my visit.
Otaru Sakaimachi Dori Shopping Street | Review by 周黛西
Other Reviews by 周黛西
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Otaru Canal
Otaru Port, which developed as a gateway for Hokkaido's settlement, saw an increasing volume of cargo over the years. To streamline its transportation, the "Otaru Canal" was completed in 1923 (Taisho 12). The canal, created by reclaiming the offshore coast, is characterized by its gentle curves rather than a straight line.
The Otaru Canal flows gently, like an old man slowly telling stories of its once lively and prosperous past. The stone warehouses lining both banks stand as witnesses to those abundant, thriving days.
Standing on the stone bridge, watching the calm water and the crowds of visitors, it feels as if everyone is traveling through time together and experiencing the glory of that era. -
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Otaru Aquarium
About 20 minutes by bus or sightseeing boat from JR Otaru Station, the aquarium showcases approximately 250 species and 5,000 marine organisms, primarily from Hokkaido and polar regions.
When you visit Otaru Aquarium, you can buy a ticket and head inside to explore. In addition to the many displays of marine life, there’s also a dolphin show. After watching the dolphins’ clever performance, you can walk over to the seaside park. With the clear sky and the deep blue Sea of Japan, it feels incredibly refreshing.
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Shikisai-no-Oka
Shikisai-no-Oka is a cherished flower park destination seated in the scenic hills of Biei, Hokkaido. From spring to autumn, dozens of flower varieties blossom vividly, blanketing the hillsides with a brocade of hues. Peak season between June and September brings a natural stripe of colors, with blooming lavender, salvia, marigold, and cockscomb lined up as if almost painted in by a brush.
Shikisai-no-Oka in Hokkaido is a must-visit spot in Biei. The colorful flower fields are absolutely stunning!
With so many flowers in bloom, all competing in beauty, visitors walking through the patchwork-like fields look like tiny flower fairies. Just remember to follow the rules and not step into the flower beds.
You can also ride the park cart, a cute vehicle converted from a tractor. The driver will briefly stop at great photo spots so everyone can take pictures and capture beautiful memories.
On the first floor of the visitor center, there’s a souvenir shop, and on the second floor, a restaurant. If you sit by the window, you can enjoy a distant view of the flower fields. The atmosphere is comfortable and relaxing, and it’s definitely worth visiting again. -
