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Otaru: 10 Recommended Driving Spots in Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan! Enjoy the nostalgic city
Otaru, which retains traces of its Meiji period throughout the city, offers a variety of spots perfect for couples and families to drive around, including spots with spectacular views and facilities where you can experience glass blowing. In this issue, we will introduce 10 driving spots where you can enjoy the various attractions of Otaru.
- Otaru Aquarium" is famous for its penguin show in which the penguins don't listen to their keepers.
- Tengu Ropeway" offers a panoramic view of the Otaru cityscape.
- Otaru Music Box Museum Main Building", a fantastic space with over 25,000 music boxes
- Otaru Art Village, an art museum in a historic building
- Nishin Goten Otaru Kihin Kan", one of the most luxurious art mansions in Hokkaido
- Kitaichi Venetian Art Museum, a recreation of a medieval palace in Venice, the city of water
- Otaru City Museum Main Building" with 50 steam locomotives lined up in a row
- Otaru International Information Center and Port Marche otarue, where you can learn about Otaru's sightseeing spots and pick up fun souvenirs
- Otaru Municipal Otaru Literature Museum, where you can learn about Otaru's literary works for the future.
- Asahara Glass Factory," where you can experience glass blowing at the only floating ball factory in Japan
Otaru Aquarium," where the "penguin show that doesn't listen to the keeper" is very popular
Otaru Aquarium, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in July 2024, is an aquarium surrounded by rich nature where visitors can get up close and personal with more than 250 species of animals and fish. Visitors can also enjoy dolphin and sea lion shows, as well as seals and sea lions in the sea animal park where a refreshing sea breeze blows. Recently, the aquarium has been attracting attention for its humorous efforts, such as the "Seasonal Oishi Tank," which exhibits creatures that can be eaten, and the penguin show in which the penguins do not listen to their keepers at all.
Business Days
Normal operating hours: March 16 (Sat) - November 24 (Sun)
Extended night hours: Saturday, July 13 - Monday, July 15 / Saturday, September 14 - Monday, September 16 / Saturday, September 21 - Monday, September 23
Business hours
Regular hours: March 16 (Sat.) - October 14 (Mon.) 9:00 - 17:00 / October 15 (Tue.) - November 24 (Sun.) 9:00 - 16:00
Extended night hours: 9:00 - 20:00
Winter hours: 10:00-16:00
Admission is until 30 minutes before closing time.
Closed: February 26 (Mon.) - March 15 (Fri.) / November 25 (Mon.) - December 13 (Fri.) *Kaiju Park is closed during the winter season.
Fees
Regular season: 16 years old and up: 1,800 yen / 6-15 years old: 700 yen / 3 years old and up: 350 yen
Winter: 16 years old and up: 1,100 yen / 6-15 years old: 440 yen / 3 years old and up: 220 yen
Location: 3-303, Shukuzu, Otaru-shi, Otaru
Click here for details and map information of Otaru Aquarium.
2. "Mt. Tengu Ropeway" with a panoramic view of the Otaru cityscape
Looking down from the ropeway window, you can see the city area spread out like a box garden, Otaru Port, Ishikari Bay, and on a clear day, the Shakotan Peninsula and the Shakotanbetsu Mountain Range in the distance. At night, you can enjoy the romantic night view of Otaru, which has been selected as one of the "Three Great Night Views of Hokkaido," twinkling as if studded with jewels.
Open: April 13 (Sat) - November 4 (Mon), 9:00 - 21:00
Last bus to the top of the mountain: 20:48
Closed: *Please check the official website for the operation period and time as they are subject to change. Fees
Round trip: Junior high school students and older: 1,600 yen / Elementary school students and younger: 800 yen / Pets: 300 yen
One-way: Junior high school students and older: 960 yen / Elementary school students and younger: 480 yen / Pets: 200 yen
One preschool child per adult is free.
Location: 2-16-15 Mogami, Otaru City
Click here for details and map information of "Mt. Tengu Ropeway
3. Otaru Music Box Museum Main Building, a fantastic space with over 25,000 music boxes
One of the world's largest music box specialty stores, with a distinctive red brick building designated as a historical landmark by Otaru City. It is one of the largest music box stores in Japan, with approximately 5,000 types and 80,000 pieces. The beautiful music of the music boxes flowing in the nostalgic space creates a magical moment that cannot be experienced anywhere else.
Hours of operation: 9:00-18:00
Closed: No holidays
Admission: Free
Location：4-1 Sumiyoshi-cho, Otaru-shi
Click here for details and map information of Otaru Music Box Museum Honkan.
4. "Otaru Art Village," an art museum in a historic building
Otaru Art Village has four buildings built in the first half of the 20th century, when Otaru was at the height of its prosperity. Each facility exhibits outstanding Japanese and international art works and crafts that have glamorized the era. Visitors can experience the splendor of culture and art.
■Opening hours: May-October 9:30-17:00 / November-April 10:00-16:00
*Admission until 30 minutes before closing.
April 27-May 6: 9:00-17:00 throughout the entire building.
Closed: May-October: 4th Wednesday of each month / November-April: every Wednesday, year-end and New Year's holidays
*The museum may be temporarily closed for exhibition changes, etc.
Admission
4-museum ticket (Museum of Western Art, Nitori Art Museum, Stained Glass Museum, and Former Otaru Branch of Mitsui Bank)
Adults 2,900 yen / College students 2,000 yen / High school students 1,500 yen / Junior high school students 1,000 yen / Elementary school students 500 yen
Admission tickets for each facility are also available.
Location: 1-3-1 Shikinai, Otaru-shi, Otaru
Click here for details and map information of Otaru Art Village.
5. Nishin Goten Otaru Kihin Kan (Otaru Guest House), one of the most luxurious art palaces in Hokkaido
Otaru Kihin-kan (former Aoyama's villa), which is considered to be one of the most luxurious art residences in the north, is designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. Visitors can enjoy delicious Japanese and herring dishes at the museum's restaurant.
■Opening Dates
Former Aoyama Villa: April-October 9:00-17:00 / November-March 9:00-16:00
Last admission 30 minutes before closing time
Restaurant (meals and coffee): April - October: 10:00 - 17:00 / November - March: 10:00 - 16:00
Meals are served from 11:00 to 14:30.
Coffee stop 30 minutes before closing time
Closed
Former Aoyama Villa: January 1 - January 7
Restaurant: December 26 - January 7
Fee: Former Aoyama Villa: 1,100 yen for junior high school students and older / 550 yen for elementary school students
Location: 3-63, Shukitsu, Otaru-shi, Otaru
Click here for details and map information of Nishin Goten Otaru Kihin Kan
6. "Kitaichi Venezian Art Museum," a reproduction of a medieval palace in Venice, the city of water
The gorgeous life of Italian aristocrats during the four seasons is introduced along with 3,000 pieces of Venetian glass with a history of 1,000 years. A gondola for state guests that Princess Diana actually rode in Venice is also on display. A photo corner where visitors can enjoy feeling like an aristocrat in a luxurious Italian dress and a café are also popular.
Hours: 9:00-17:30 (last admission 17:00)
*The museum will close at 16:00 on Monday, June 3 (last admission at 15:30) due to a special exhibition change.
Museum Shop is open until 18:00.
Closed: No holidays
Admission: ¥500 for adults / ¥350 for college students / ¥300 for high school students / ¥100 for junior high school and elementary school students / ¥350 for persons 65 years old and over
*Special discounts are available (as of April 2024)
Location: 5-27 Sakai-cho, Otaru City
Click here for details and map information of "Kitaichi Venetian Art Museum
7. "Otaru City Museum Main Building" with 50 steam locomotives lined up in a row
The main building of the Otaru City Museum houses and exhibits the steam locomotive "Shizuka-go" and as many as 50 other railroad cars that represent Hokkaido. In summer, visitors can ride on the SL Iron Horse, the oldest dynamically preserved steam locomotive in Hokkaido. There is also a planetarium and a hands-on science exhibit room.
Hours of operation: 9:30-17:00
Closed: Tuesdays (or the following weekday if a national holiday falls on a Tuesday) / December 29-January 3 *Special holidays may occur.
Admission: Adults 400 yen (300 yen in winter) / High school students and city residents over 70 years old 200 yen (150 yen in winter) / Junior high school students and younger free
Winter admission is available from early November to late April.
Location: 1-3-6 Temiya, Otaru City
Click here for details and map information of the Otaru City Museum Main Building.
8. "Otaru International Information Center Port Marche otarue" for introducing Otaru sightseeing spots and selecting fun souvenirs
A new facility opened in March 2024. As a hub for tourism, digital signage will be used to introduce Otaru's tourist attractions and other information. Foreign currency exchange machines are also installed and foreign language sightseeing maps are available. The "Port Marche otarue" souvenir store is a perfect place to purchase Otaru and other specialty products of the Goshi region and famous Hokkaido confections.
Business hours: 9:00-18:00
Closed: No holidays
Location: 5-3 Minatomachi, Otaru City
Click here for details and map information of Otaru International Information Center Port Marche otarue
9. "Otaru Municipal Museum of Literature," a museum that passes on Otaru's literary works to the future
The Otaru Municipal Museum of Literature houses and exhibits books and documents of novelists, poets, and poets associated with Otaru, including Takiji Kobayashi and Sei Ito. The facility has hosted many interesting special exhibitions in the past, such as "Sakanaction's Ichiro Yamaguchi's Book Box Exhibition" and "Board Games and Literature Exhibition.
Hours: 9:30-17:00 (last admission at 16:30)
Closed: Mondays, the day following a national holiday (except Saturdays and Sundays, when the day falls on a Saturday or Sunday), and December 29-January 3 *Special holidays may occur.
Admission: Adults 300 yen / High school students 150 yen / Junior high school students and younger free
Location: 1-9-5 Shikinai, Otaru-shi, Otaru
Click here for details and map information of Otaru Municipal Museum of Otaru Literature.
10. Experience glass blowing at Japan's only floating ball factory "Asahara Glass Factory
The Asahara Glass Works is now the only factory in Japan that manufactures floating glass beads, which were once located all over the country. In addition to selling glass floating beads and candles made of glass, visitors can also enjoy a "glass blowing experience" where they can actually experience the making of glass, a traditional industry in Otaru.
Business hours: 10:00-18:00
Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays
Fee：Experience making a floating ball 2,500 yen / Candle with a floating ball 3,800 yen / Glass making 3,000 yen and up *Reservations required.
Location: 1-13-20 Tenjin, Otaru City
Click here for details and map information of Asahara Glass Factory.
All information is current as of April 2024.
All information is subject to change. Please check the official website for details.
