Otaru

Otaru is a port city in the western part of Hokkaido, just half an hour’s drive from Sapporo. During the colonization days of Hokkaido, Otaru was seen as the gateway and the economic center of northern Japan. Otaru is famous for its music boxes and glassware, and the Otaru Canal is now the most popular tourist attraction in the city.

The Otaru Canal

During the colonization days of Hokkaido, an artificial canal was built in Otaru Port by reclaiming land to increase the port’s capacity, and it is now Otaru’s most famous tourist attraction. A cluster of warehouses and 63 gas lanterns along the canal create a romantic atmosphere for people walking along the canal.

Otaru Canal

Red Brick Warehouses and Gas Lights

Construction of the Otaru Canal began in 1914 and took nine years to complete. During the pioneering days of Hokkaido, the Otaru Canal was used as a port for ships entering and leaving Hokkaido, and the red brick warehouses along the canal are still in use today.

Along the 1.3-kilometer-long Otaru Canal, a number of historical buildings from the Taisho and Showa eras still stand today, most of which have been converted into commercial facilities. The Otaru Art Base, for example, is an art exhibition area with four historic buildings from the early 20th century.

Otaru Art Base

Canalside Vintage Art District

Otaru Art Base is located near the Otaru Canal and consists of four historic buildings from the early 20th century. These buildings, which were mostly used as banks and warehouses during the Showa period, have been renovated and remodeled to become art exhibition areas with collections of artworks from Japan and around the world.