Otaru Steam Clock & Its Vancouver Sister Clock |
Walking through the streets of Otaru, Hokkaido, I arrived in front of the European-style music box hall, where a tall, elegant steam clock came into view. In the photo, crowds stream past the clock tower, while the classical buildings, streets, and power lines intertwine, adding even more of Otaru’s unique nostalgic charm.
This steam clock is about 5.5 meters tall and weighs 1.5 metric tons. It was created by Canadian clockmaker Raymond Saunders and is the sister clock of the steam clock in Gastown, Vancouver, Canada. Steam powers its whistles, which play a melody every 15 minutes, giving the cold metal clock tower a warm sense of life.
Standing in front of the clock and watching people come and go, it feels as if time slows down here. **One clock connects the two cities of Otaru and Vancouver, while also leaving a treasured memory of time spent traveling in Hokkaido.
Otaru Orgel Doh Main Hall | Review by 陳泰任
Other Reviews by 陳泰任
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Hotel Classe Stay Sapporo
Located in Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hotel Classe Stay Sapporo is an apartment-style hotel featuring 91 guest rooms. Just a 2-minute walk from Nakajima Koen Station-only three stops away from Sapporo Station-it’s ideally positioned as a convenient base for sightseeing or business travel.
Sapporo APA Hotel Dinner and Travel Notes
Our Hokkaido journey brought us to Sapporo, and tonight we stayed at APA Hotel & Resort Sapporo in Minami Ward. The hotel lobby was spacious and bright, with stone walls, vintage lighting, and Japanese displays creating a calm and elegant atmosphere. An antique-style carriage and horses were also displayed in the center, evoking Hokkaido’s history.
For dinner, we enjoyed a generous Japanese meal with steaming hot pot, fresh fish, tempura, sashimi, rice, and a variety of side dishes. Everyone sat together and sampled the flavors of Hokkaido, adding a sense of warmth and satisfaction to our journey. After dinner, we returned to the hotel and strolled around, admiring the Japanese-style decor, bringing a relaxing end to the day’s travels. The Sapporo night outside the window was peaceful, and our travel fatigue slowly faded amid good food and laughter, leaving us with another warm and unforgettable memory of our Hokkaido trip. -
Otaru Sakaimachi Dori Shopping Street
Located just one street away from the main thoroughfare facing the Otaru Canal, Sakaimachi-dori flourished during the Meiji and early Showa periods, becoming Otaru's main street.
Otaru Canal | Travel Notes
Stepping into Otaru, Hokkaido, feels like entering a nostalgic cityscape painting. Strolling along the Otaru Canal, the old stone warehouses, gas lamps, and street scenery give off a unique northern charm. Along the way, I admired the well-preserved historic buildings around the canal and got a sense of Otaru’s former prosperity as a port city.During the trip, I also visited neighborhoods with a foreign flair, admiring distinctive clock towers, churches, and red-brick buildings. Every casual snapshot captured scenery worth keeping. I stopped at a cozy cafe along the way to have coffee and chat with family and friends, adding a touch of leisure and warmth to the trip.
Otaru’s beauty lies not only in the canal itself, but also in the unique charm created by its old buildings, streets, people, and Hokkaido’s fresh air. This trip to Otaru left me with more than just photos—it also gave me wonderful memories worth savoring.
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Lake Toya
There is no better attraction than the natural landscape of Lake Toya in Hokkaido. The area around a caldera lake, Lake Toya , and an active volcano, Mt.Usu, was designated as the Toya- Usu Unesco Global Geopark in UNESCO Global Geopark.
A Trip to Lake Toya | Time in Hokkaido Among the Lake and Mountains
Arriving at Lake Toya in Hokkaido, I was greeted by a refreshing view of the lake and mountains. The deep blue water sparkled in the sunlight, while Mount Yotei and the distant mountains were reflected on the lake beneath the blue sky and white clouds, like a landscape painted by nature.Strolling along the lakeshore, colorful flowers bloomed by the water, and a gentle breeze brought a rare sense of leisure and tranquility. Looking out over the vast lake from the Lake Toya Observatory and taking precious photos with family and friends added even more wonderful memories to this Hokkaido trip.
Lake Toya is more than just beautiful scenery. It offers time to slow down, connect with nature, and enjoy the moment. This deep blue lake and magnificent mountain scenery will also become one of the most treasured pages of the journey.
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