Otaru, a popular tourist destination, is easily accessible from Sapporo by train or bus. It's filled with spots you can enjoy on foot, from its nostalgic streetscapes to the romantic canal. Here are our top 10 recommended spots for a walking tour of Otaru, perfect for both first-time visitors and seasoned travelers.

The Otaru Sankaku (Triangle) Market gets its name from its triangular plot of land and roof. Along a narrow, 200-meter-long, 2-meter-wide slope, 16 shops line both sides of the walkway. The lively calls of vendors selling fresh seafood fill the air, creating a constantly vibrant atmosphere. The market also has plenty of eateries where you can enjoy a custom rice bowl made with ingredients you've just purchased. It's a convenient market where you can easily enjoy both shopping and dining.

Otaru Sankaku Market

■Hours: Market 6:00 AM - 5:00 PM / Restaurants 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
*Hours may vary by store.
■Address: 3-10-16 Inaho, Otaru
■2-minute walk from JR Otaru Station
Click here for details and map of Otaru Sankaku Market

Otaru, having long flourished as a port town, has many sushi restaurants due to the availability of fresh seafood at low prices. This area, with its numerous sushi shops, is affectionately known as "Otaru Sushi Street." Many long-established restaurants here impress sushi connoisseurs from all over the country. Be sure to try their prized sushi, which combines the freshest ingredients with masterful craftsmanship.

Otaru Sushi Street

■Hours: Vary by store
■Address: 1-chome Hanazono, Otaru
■10-minute walk from JR Otaru Station
Click here for details and map of Otaru Sushi Street

Kitaichi Glass Sangokan was originally built in 1891 as a warehouse for the fishing industry, boasting a history of over 100 years. The company grew by manufacturing glass products like oil lamps and glass floats (buoys) for herring fishing. Today, it is used to sell various glass products and as a gallery. Unlike our modern era dominated by plastic, you'll be captivated by the retro and nostalgic atmosphere created by the beauty of glass art combined with the historic building.

Kitaichi Glass Sangokan

■Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (excluding some stores)
■Address: 7-26 Sakaimachi, Otaru
■20-minute walk from JR Otaru Station, 10-minute walk from JR Minami-Otaru Station
Click here for details and map of Kitaichi Glass Sangokan

The area around the Otaru Music Box Museum Main Building is home to many historic buildings and is known as the "Marchen Crossroads," offering a charming, exotic townscape. The main building, a particularly eye-catching structure, utilizes a brick warehouse built in 1912 and is designated as a historic building by Otaru City. In front of the museum stands a steam clock that chimes lovely melodies on the hour. Inside, you'll find a wide variety of music boxes, and the gentle tunes filling the space are sure to soothe your soul.

Otaru Music Box Museum Main Building

■Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
■Address: 4-1 Sumiyoshicho, Otaru
■20-minute walk from JR Otaru Station / 5-minute walk from JR Minami-Otaru Station
Click here for details and map of the Otaru Music Box Museum Main Building

Located in a stone warehouse along the Otaru Canal, this spot houses both a brewery and a beer pub where you can enjoy freshly brewed Otaru craft beer. In addition to their regular beers (Pilsner, Dunkel, Weiss), they offer seasonal brews and a food menu featuring local ingredients. You can also tour the adjacent brewery. Sipping local beer while looking out at the famous Otaru Canal is a special experience unique to Otaru.

Otaru Beer (Otaru Warehouse No.1)

■Hours: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM (Last Order 9:00 PM)
■Address: 5-4 Minatomachi, Otaru
■10-minute walk from JR Otaru Station
Click here for details and map of Otaru Beer (Otaru Warehouse No.1)

This alley, bustling with locals and tourists alike, is lined with various food stalls. You'll find all of Otaru's delicious offerings, from sushi to Genghis Khan, ramen, Italian food, and izakayas. Across the street is the "Otaru Yataimura Roman Yokocho," so if you can't decide what to eat, we recommend stepping into this lively alley.

Otaru Yataimura Renga Yokocho

■Hours: Vary by store
■Address: 1-4-15 Inaho, Otaru
■5-minute walk from JR Otaru Station
Click here for details and map of Otaru Yataimura Renga Yokocho

The main store of LeTAO, famous for its "Double Fromage" cheesecake that's a popular Hokkaido souvenir, faces the bustling Marchen Crossroads and features an impressive tower-like building. The first floor sells a variety of Western-style confections, while the second floor has a tea salon. In the salon, you can enjoy the main store's exclusive freshly made Double Fromage, dessert plates, and specialty teas.

LeTAO Main Store

■Hours:
Shop: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Café: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Last Order 5:30 PM)
*Hours may change depending on the season.
■Address: 7-16 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido
■20-minute walk from JR Otaru Station / 5-minute walk from JR Minami-Otaru Station
Click here for details and map of the LeTAO Main Store

This kamaboko (fish cake) shop, founded in 1905, is popular for its freshly fried fish cakes. Besides the classic "Hiraten," we highly recommend the "Pan-roll." This innovative idea of wrapping fish paste in bread has been sold since 1962 and is a delicacy available only at their stores, as it cannot be shipped. You'll surely get hooked on its freshly fried texture and deliciousness. Additionally, their other direct stores in the city sell store-exclusive items, so you can stroll through the town while munching on a hot treat.

Kamaei Factory Direct Store

■Hours: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
■Address: 3-7 Sakaimachi, Otaru
■15-minute walk from JR Otaru Station
Click here for details and map of the Kamaei Factory Direct Store

Since its establishment in 1952, "Wakadori Jidai Naruto" has been preserving the taste of its signature dish, the "half-fried young chicken." Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, this perfectly salted fried chicken pairs well with both white rice and beer. In addition to fried items like the half-chicken and zangi, they offer a diverse menu including sushi, seafood, and various set meals. We recommend the set meal that lets you enjoy both the half-fried young chicken and sushi at once—a luxurious treat unique to Naruto.

Wakadori Jidai Naruto Main Store

■Hours: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM (Last Order 8:30 PM)
■Address: 3-16-13 Inaho, Otaru
■8-minute walk from JR Otaru Station
Click here for details and map of Wakadori Jidai Naruto Main Store

This is a rare year-round brewery in Japan that produces local sake all year long. Their signature brand, "Takaragawa," and other junmai sake are made with Hokkaido-grown rice and spring water from Mt. Tengu in Otaru, resulting in a rich and mellow flavor. Since sake production happens daily, you can take a free tour of the brewery anytime, and there is also a tasting corner. The adjacent main store building was constructed in 1927 and is designated as a "Historic Building" by Otaru City, making it worth a visit even for those who don't drink alcohol.

Tanaka Sake Brewery Kikkogura

■Hours: 9:05 AM - 5:55 PM
■Address: 2-2 Nobukacho, Otaru
■30-minute walk from JR Otaru Station / 7-minute walk from JR Minami-Otaru Station
Click here for details and map of Tanaka Sake Brewery Kikkogura