Sapporo and Otaru are famous tourist destinations in Hokkaido. The distance between Sapporo and Otaru is only about 30 minutes by JR rapid train, and many people enjoy the view from the train windows as the train runs along the coastline. This time, a post about an unusual sight on the train from Otaru to Sapporo has become a hot topic on SNS.

The photo attached to the post shows a tropical scene with a beautiful sky and a white sea. There is a reason why the sea is so white.

The train connecting Otaru and Sapporo runs along the coastline of the Sea of Japan

The sea becomes white because of "herring shoals

The reason why the sea is white is due to herring swarms. The herring swarm is a phenomenon in which large shoals of fish, including herring, come to the shallow coastal areas, where the females lay eggs and the males release sperm, causing the sea to turn white and cloudy.

In the past, schools of spring herring could be seen everywhere in Hokkaido, but from around 1955, herring migrated northward, and due to overfishing and other factors, the number of spring herring itself declined and the schools themselves disappeared. However, in 1999, schools of herring were seen again in Rumoi, and recently they have been seen every year from late January to early March in Otaru.

History of Otaru's prosperity as a herring fishery

The "Former Aoyama Villa," called "Nishin Goten," is a huge mansion with a total construction cost of approximately 3 billion yen at today's prices.

Otaru has been prosperous in the fishing industry since the end of the Edo period, and it was once said that people could live on herring fishing for a year. Otaru Kihin Kan, one of Otaru's tourist attractions, has a gorgeous house called "Nishin Goten," which is designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. The house can still be toured today, and the Japanese-style restaurant inside the house serves fatty herring on rice or herring soba noodles.

Now is the time to see the herring!

Snow Light Path," which has been going on since 1999, is still held by hand by Otaru citizens.

Otaru Snow Light Path" will be held from February 10 to 17, 2024, and the entire canal area will be illuminated by snow candles in winter. And in Sapporo, which is only 30 minutes by train from Otaru, the "Sapporo Snow Festival" will be held until February 11, 2024, with a view of the sea where the crowds are occurring.

Otaru and Sapporo are attracting many tourists from home and abroad during the winter tourist season. Please take a look out the window on a moving train. Perhaps you may be able to see the same scenery.