Cat Alley (Neko no Hosomichi) | Review by Linda Liao

I really like its chewy, bouncy texture. Every flavor is delicious, but grape is my favorite. The sweet and tart taste is just right, and the more you chew, the more addictive it gets! I usually carry a pack with me when I go out, so when I'm shopping or craving a snack, I can easily pop one in for a little sugar boost and that small sense of happiness from satisfying my sweet tooth〜

A gentle early-summer breeze blows through, bringing a slight chill to the Otaru Canal. Strolling along the canal and watching boats slowly glide across the water has a charm all its own.

Otaru was once an important port and commercial city in Hokkaido. Shipping and trade flourished from the late 19th to the early 20th century, and the canal was built at that time to make transporting goods easier. Today, it has become Otaru's most iconic attraction.

Many historic buildings from the Meiji and Taisho periods remain on both sides of the street, creating a nostalgic port-town atmosphere. The shopping street has many distinctive shops offering Otaru glasswork, music boxes, sweets, sushi, seafood, and more, so you can shop and sample food while taking a stroll. The skillful blend of old and new buildings gives it a charm all its own.