Otaru

Approximately 30 km to the west of Sapporo, Otaru is a port city by the Sea of Japan with a canal and well-preserved architectures of early modern Japan in the Meiji era. Most of the attractions are found in the city center surrounding the Otaru port.

Otaru's original name in the local Ainu language was "Otarunai" or "Ota-or-nai", meaning "river flowing through sand". The area's recorded history goes back to the 16th century, when an explorer from the Honshu island reported settlement. Otaru's early modern history as a port city started in 1871, when Japan's Meiji government opened a colonization office in Sapporo. Rapid development followed, especially after the first railway in Hokkaido was built in 1880 between Otaru and Sapporo. Still a busy port town, today's Otaru has a thriving tourism industry.

Winter in Otaru is less severe than in most other cities in Hokkaido; the yearly average temperature is 8.6 °C.

Tourist information:

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

By train:

There are 3 stations in Otaru. 1 Otaru Station. (updated Nov 2020) is the closest station to downtown and a major station on the JR Hakodate Line. It is the terminus of most services from Sapporo and Niseko. All trains from Sapporo also call at 2 Minami-Otaru Station. (updated Nov 2020) and 3 Otaruchikko station. (updated Sep 2025).

From Sapporo:

Trains from Sapporo are frequent, approximately once every 20 minutes throughout the day. The fastest service, the Airport Rapid, takes 30 minutes from Sapporo; from New Chitose Airport it takes 70 minutes. In September, the Niseko (Limited Express) operates one daily trip from Sapporo to Otaru; seat reservations are mandatory.

From Niseko:

There are only 8 services a day from Niseko. All services are local trains, stopping at all intermediate stations. Travel time is approximately 2 hours from Niseko. In September the Niseko (Limited Express) operates one daily trip from Niseko to Otaru in the afternoon; seat reservations are mandatory.

By car:

Otaru is 25 minutes away from Sapporo by car.

By ferry:

Otaru is one of Hokkaido's key ferry ports, and the closest to Sapporo. Shin-Nihonkai Ferry(+81 6-6348-1120) operates a daily service between Otaru and Niigata (18 hours, ¥6,200+) and between Otaru and Maizuru near Kyoto (20 hours, ¥9,600+). Both services are overnight, and private cabins are available for a higher fare (the base fare buys sleeping space on the floor). All services depart/arrive from 4 Otaru Ferry Terminal. (updated Sep 2025).