Otaru in Winter: an Unforgettable Day Trip from Sapporo
Located north-west of Sapporo in Hokkaido, Otaru (小樽市) is a charming port town that, in my opinion, should be on every Hokkaido/Sapporo itinerary. Known for its glassworks, music boxes and sake breweries, the town is particularly beautiful in winter when covered in snow. Its week-long illumination festival, held every February, attracts tourists from home and abroad, as streets are filled with adorable snow sculptures and snow candles made by volunteers that are lit at night around Otaru canal.
Although I have been lucky enough to visit Otaru twice (once in 2017 and once in 2023) in winter as the same time as the “Snow Light Path Festival”, I only stayed during the day and did not see the romantic lights at night. Nonetheless, my two visits to Otaru gave me a glimpse of this very cute town which I would like to share with you in this guide.
How to Get There
The best way to reach Otaru from Sapporo station is by train. As you can get there in less than an hour, it really makes Otaru a perfect day trip idea from Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido.
From Sapporo station, you can either catch a JR rapid train to Otaru in just over 30 minutes (¥1,590), or a local train on the JR Hakodate Line (about 50 minutes for ¥750). The ride is covered by the JR Pass or if you use one of the regional train passes of Hokkaido.
Although buses also run between Sapporo and Otaru, I would recommend to go with the train option, as part of the journey is by the coast, offering great views of the sea along the way.
You don’t need to buy tickets in advance for this trip and trains are frequent. But I would recommend checking train times beforehand (I personally use Google Maps) for a stress-free journey.
Things to Do and See in Otaru
There are many things to see and do in Otaru, the main ones of which are listed below, all within walking distance.
1/ Walk along the Otaru Canal
Around 15 minutes' walk from Otaru station, the Otaru Canal is the symbol of the town. It celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023. Brick and stone warehouses line the canal, a reminder of Otaru's role as a trading hub for Hokkaido during the rapid industrialisation of Japan in the Meiji and Taisho periods.
Otaru Canal
You can walk the promenade along the canal or explore it by boat (40 minutes cruises are available for ¥1,800-¥2000 per person, advanced booking is recommended).
If you happen to be there in February, you can also admire the snow candles and decorations made by volunteers for the yearly illumination festival.
2/ Wander Around to Admire and Photograph to Your Heart’s Content the Winter Scenery of this Nostalgic Town
What I love about Otaru is the old-fashioned vibe and enchanting atmosphere created by the snow-covered historical buildings and streets. As well as the Otaru canal, there are other points of interest in the town, such as the former Temiya railway, several historic bank buildings, the Otaru Denuki Koji alley, or the quiet Otaru port area.
Otaru Port
Otaru Denuki Koji
Canal by Sushiyadori street
I had so much fun taking pictures of this winter wonderland and the snow sculptures I spotted around town, particularly along Sakaimachi street.
3/ Check out Otaru’s local artisan shops on Sakaimachi street
Sakaimachi Hondori (堺町本通り) is one of the most popular areas of Otaru. This historic street of 900 meters is lined with old Western-style buildings which have been converted into restaurants, artisan shops and cafes.
On this street, you can see and buy Otaru specialities such as fine glassware and music boxes. Although there are many cute shops to visit, such as Kitaichi Glass and Taisho Glass House, my favorite was the Otaru Music Box Museum, whose colorful interior and countless original music boxes made me feel like I had entered Santa’s workshop. In front, you can see the Otaru Steam Clock, one of the only two remaining steam clocks in the world.
Sakaimachi street
Otaru Music Box Museum
Otaru steam clock
4/ Taste Otaru's culinary specialities
Needless to say, food is an essential part of any trip, especially in Japan. And in Otaru, the food experience can start right out the station at Sankaku Market, a local fish and seafood market. As it is a popular place, you should be aware that it gets very busy around lunchtime.
So why not opt for a kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) for breakfast instead, when the fish is at its freshest?
Otaru, as a port city, is famous for its seafood, and you’ll find plenty of restaurants in town serving fresh sushi and locally caught seafood.
Kaisendon served in a restaurant on sakaimachi street
Other food specialties include fried-chicken and desserts, with Otaru being the home of LeTAO, a popular Japanese cheesecake.
You can also visit one of the two shops of the Tanaka sake brewery, with sake tastings and free tours in Japanese of the brewery (tours are only available at the Kikkogura shop) to learn about the brewing process of this local Hokkaido sake.
5/ Visit Otaru’s museums
While I didn’t visit any of Otaru’s museums myself by lack of time, museum lovers may be pleased to know there are several museums to visit in Otaru, such as the Otaru Museum (main building and annex), the Bank of Japan Otaru Museum, or the Otaru Art Base, which offers an interesting "Four-in-One Museum Pass”.
This combined ticket allows you to visit four museums that are close by each other: Otaru’s Stained Glass Museum, Former Mitsui Bank Otaru Branch, Nitori Museum of Art and the House of Western Art for ¥2,900 per adult (instead of ¥4,700 for the four museums without the discount). More info on the Otaru Art Base can be found here.
Suggested One-Day Itinerary
Herei is a suggested itinerary for exploring Otaru, which you should of course deviate from to wander around:
In the morning, arrive at Otaru JR station, check out Sankaku Market (have a seafood breakfast?) and walk to Otaru Canal while exploring around (Otaru Port, Otaru Denuki Koji, Otaru Art Base…).
For lunch, eat in one of the many restaurants in sushiya-dori or sakaimachi-dori.
In the afternoon, explore Sakaimachi street’s shops and cafes all the way to the Otaru Music Box Museum and walk to Minami-Otaru JR station (optional stop at Tanaka Kikkogura sake brewery shop).
Interested in Spending the Night in Otaru? Some Additional Ideas
Staying overnight could be a great idea. If I were to visit again, I would use the opportunity to visit some of the local shrines and temples, admire the light festival in the evening and go to the Tenguyama cable car and observatory at night.
When it comes to accommodation in Otaru, there’s something for every budget. For a comfortable stay with fantastic amenities, I recommend Dormy Inn Premium Otaru Natural Hot Spring, a popular hotel chain known for its relaxing hot spring baths and great value. You could also consider Otaru Furukawa Hotel for a more luxurious experience, or Garden House Umenoya Otaru for a more budget-friendly option.
The following day, I would explore the region north of Otaru, which includes some sights as the Old Aoyama Villa or Nikka Whisky Yoishi distillery and museum.
A Few Tips to Enjoy your Time in Otaru in Winter
1/ Wear warm clothes and comfortable shoes. Temperatures can drop below zero degrees Celsius in winter, and as exploring Otaru can easily be done on foot, I recommend dressing warmly for comfortable walking. Covering yourself in Japanese heat packs, also known as kairo (カイロ) is also an option. Also, pavements can be ice-covered and slippery so better wear winter shoes if you can.
2/ Check out when the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival is scheduled. In 2025, the festival will take place from February 8 to 15. Generally, the first week-end of the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival coincides with the last week-end of the Sapporo Snow Festival so better try to visit around that time if you are interested in both of these events.
3/ Check out more ressources to prepare your trip to Otaru. I recommend this official guide produced in English by the Otaru Tourist Association in 2023 (available here).
Otaru in a Map
To Conclude
I hope that my mini-guide to Otaru has given you some useful information and an insight into this charming town. I think it is a perfect day trip idea if you are staying in Sapporo.
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