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[2025 Edition] Top 10 Driving Spots in Otaru! Enjoy the Nostalgic City
Otaru, a city that retains the charm of the Meiji era at every turn, is packed with spots perfect for a drive with your partner or family, from scenic viewpoints to glassblowing workshops. Here are our top 10 recommended driving spots to enjoy the diverse attractions of Otaru.
- Otaru Aquarium - Famous for its incredible animal performances
- Mt. Tengu Ropeway - A spectacular panoramic view of Otaru
- Otaru Music Box Museum Main Hall - A magical space with over 38,000 music boxes
- Otaru Art Base - An art museum housed in historic buildings
- Nishin Goten Otaru Kihinkan - One of Hokkaido's most magnificent artistic mansions
- Kitaichi Venetian Art Museum - A recreation of a medieval palace from Venice, the city of water
- Otaru City General Museum Main Building - A lineup of railway vehicles, including steam locomotives
- Otaru International Information Center & Port Marche otarue - Your guide to Otaru sightseeing and fun souvenir shopping
- Otaru City Museum of Literature - Preserving literary works connected to Otaru for the future
- Asahara Glassblowing Workshop - Experience glassblowing at Japan's only glass float factory
1. Otaru Aquarium - Famous for its incredible animal performances
Surrounded by the rich nature of the Sea of Japan, this aquarium allows you to get up close with the ecology of over 250 species of animals and fish. You can enjoy dolphin performances and see seals and sea lions in the Marine Mammal Park, with its refreshing sea breeze. The aquarium is also known for its humorous initiatives, such as the "Sawatte Ezone" where you can touch creatures from Hokkaido's seas, and the free-spirited penguin show where the penguins often ignore the trainers' cues. With an amusement park and restaurants on-site, it's the perfect spot for an outing with family or a partner.
■ Hours
・Normal Hours: March 15 (Sat) - October 15 (Wed) 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM / October 16 (Thu) - November 24 (Mon) 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
・Extended Night Hours: July 19 (Sat) - July 21 (Mon), September 13 (Sat) - September 15 (Mon), September 20 (Sat) - September 21 (Sun) 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
・Winter Hours: December 13 (Sat) - February 23, 2026 (Mon) 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
*Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
・Amusement Park: April 24 (Thu) - October 13 (Mon) 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
■ Closed: February 25 (Tue) - March 14 (Fri) / November 25 (Mon) - December 12 (Fri)
*The Marine Mammal Park is closed during the winter season.
■ Admission
・Normal Season: Ages 16+ 1,800 yen / Ages 6-15 700 yen / Ages 3+ 350 yen
・Winter Season: Ages 16+ 1,300 yen / Ages 6-15 500 yen / Ages 3+ 300 yen
■ Address: 3-303 Shukutsu, Otaru
Click here for details and map information for Otaru Aquarium
2. Mt. Tengu Ropeway - A spectacular panoramic view of Otaru
Looking down from the ropeway car, you can see the city spread out like a miniature garden, Otaru Port, Ishikari Bay, and on clear days, even the Shokanbetsu mountain range and the Shakotan Peninsula in the distance. At night, the view transforms into a romantic scene sparkling like scattered jewels, selected as one of Hokkaido's "Three Great Night Views." We also recommend activities at the summit, such as the zip line, hot air balloon rides, and the TENGUU slider.
■ Hours: April 12 (Sat) - November 3 (Mon) 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
*Last ropeway to the summit is at 8:48 PM.
■ Closed: *Operating periods and hours are subject to change. Please check the official website.
■ Fares
・Round Trip: Junior high school students and older 1,800 yen / Elementary school students and younger 900 yen / Pets 500 yen
・One Way: Junior high school students and older 1,080 yen / Elementary school students and younger 540 yen / Pets 300 yen
*One preschool child is free per adult.
*Please check the official website for activity dates and fee details.
■ Address: 2-16-15 Mogami, Otaru
Click here for details and map information for Mt. Tengu Ropeway
3. Otaru Music Box Museum Main Hall - A magical space with over 38,000 music boxes
This is one of Japan's largest music box specialty stores, housed in a distinctive brick building designated as a historic structure by Otaru City. It holds approximately 3,200 types and about 38,000 music boxes. The beautiful melodies of the music boxes flowing through the nostalgic space create a magical experience unlike any other. They are popular both as mementos and as gifts for loved ones.
■ Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
■ Closed: Open year-round
■ Admission: Free
■ Address: 4-1 Sumiyoshi-cho, Otaru
Click here for details and map information for Otaru Music Box Museum Main Hall
4. Otaru Art Base - An art museum housed in historic buildings
Otaru Art Base consists of four buildings constructed in the first half of the 20th century when Otaru was flourishing. Each facility, including a museum with numerous stained glass windows and a former bank made of plaster, displays outstanding works of art and crafts from Japan and around the world that have colorfully defined their eras. Here, you can experience the splendor of Japanese and global culture and art.
■ Hours: May-Oct 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM / Nov-Apr 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
*Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
■ Closed: May-Oct: 4th Wednesday of each month / Nov-Apr: Every Wednesday, New Year holidays
*If Wednesday is a public holiday, closed the following day.
*May close temporarily for exhibition changes, etc.
■ Admission
4-in-1 Ticket (Western Art Museum, Nitori Museum of Art, Stained Glass Museum, Former Mitsui Bank Otaru Branch)
General 2,900 yen / University students 2,000 yen / High school students 1,500 yen / Junior high school students 1,000 yen / Elementary school students 500 yen
*Individual admission tickets for each facility are also available.
■ Address: 1-3-1 Ironai, Otaru
Click here for details and map information for Otaru Art Base
5. Nishin Goten Otaru Kihinkan - One of Hokkaido's most magnificent artistic mansions
Known as the artistic mansion of the north, the Otaru Kihinkan (Old Aoyama Villa) is designated as a national Registered Tangible Cultural Property. This villa took six and a half years to build, and its construction cost is said to be equivalent to about 3 billion yen in today's currency. In the mansion's restaurant, you can savor delicious Japanese cuisine and herring dishes.
■ Hours
・ Old Aoyama Villa: Apr-Oct 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM / Nov-Mar 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
*Dec 29 - Dec 31: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
*Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
・ Restaurant (Meals & Cafe): Apr-Oct 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM / Nov-Mar 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
*Meals served from 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM.
*Last order for the cafe is 30 minutes before closing.
■ Closed
・Old Aoyama Villa: Jan 1 - Jan 7
・Restaurant: Dec 26 - Jan 7
■ Admission: Old Aoyama Villa: Junior high school students and older 1,300 yen / Elementary school students 650 yen
■ Address: 3-63 Shukutsu, Otaru
Click here for details and map information for Nishin Goten Otaru Kihinkan
6. Kitaichi Venetian Art Museum - A recreation of a medieval palace from Venice, the city of water
This museum showcases the glamorous lives of Italian nobility through the four seasons, along with 3,000 pieces of Venetian glass with a thousand-year history. The state guest gondola that Princess Diana actually rode in Venice is also on display. The commemorative photo corner, where you can dress up in gorgeous Italian-made dresses and feel like nobility, and the cafe are also popular.
■ Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Last entry 4:30 PM)
*On August 25 (Mon), the museum will close at 4:00 PM (last entry 3:30 PM) for a special exhibition change.
*The museum shop is open until 6:00 PM.
■ Closed: Open year-round
■ Admission: (Special price as of May 2025) General 500 yen / University students 350 yen / High school students 300 yen / Junior high & elementary school students 100 yen / Seniors 65+ 350 yen
■ Address: 5-27 Sakaimachi, Otaru
Click here for details and map information for Kitaichi Venetian Art Museum
7. Otaru City General Museum Main Building - A lineup of railway vehicles, including steam locomotives
The Otaru City General Museum Main Building preserves and displays 50 railway vehicles representative of Hokkaido, including the steam locomotive "Shizuka-go." Hokkaido's oldest operational steam locomotive, the SL Iron Horse, runs for a limited time, and you can ride the Meiji-style mixed passenger-freight train it pulls. There is also a planetarium, a hands-on science exhibition room, and a Challenge Lab where you can perform simple experiments and crafts on weekends and holidays.
■ Hours: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
・SL Iron Horse Operation: April 29 (Tue) - October 13 (Mon) *Please check the official website for detailed operation dates and times.
■ Closed: Tuesdays (or the next weekday if Tuesday is a public holiday) / December 29 - January 3 *May close temporarily.
■ Admission: General 400 yen (Winter 300 yen) / High school students & Otaru residents aged 70+ 200 yen (Winter 150 yen) / Junior high school students and younger Free
*Winter rates apply from early November to late April.
■ Address: 1-3-6 Temiya, Otaru
Click here for details and map information for Otaru City General Museum Main Building
8. Otaru International Information Center & Port Marche otarue - Your guide to Otaru sightseeing and fun souvenir shopping
Opened in March 2024, this facility combines an international information center and a souvenir shop. Serving as a tourism hub, it introduces Otaru's tourist spots via digital signage and offers a wide range of pamphlets for Otaru and neighboring areas. The adjacent souvenir shop, "Port Marche otarue," is the perfect place to buy souvenirs, with a wide array of local products from Otaru and the Shiribeshi region, as well as famous Hokkaido confections.
■ Hours: 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
■ Closed: Open year-round
■ Address: 5-3 Minato-machi, Otaru
Click here for details and map information for Otaru International Information Center & Port Marche otarue
9. Otaru City Museum of Literature - Preserving literary works connected to Otaru for the future
The Otaru City Museum of Literature is a facility that houses and exhibits books and materials from novelists, poets, and tanka poets connected to Otaru, including Takiji Kobayashi and Sei Ito. The museum has hosted many intriguing special exhibitions in the past, such as "Ichiro Yamaguchi's (Sakanaction) Bookshelf Exhibition" and "Board Games and Literature Exhibition." There is also a cafe space inside where you can spend a relaxing time.
■ Hours: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM (Last admission 4:30 PM)
■ Closed: Mondays, the day after a public holiday (unless it's a Saturday or Sunday, then it's rescheduled), December 29 - January 3 *May close temporarily.
■ Admission: General 300 yen / High school students 150 yen / Junior high school students and younger Free
■ Address: 1-9-5 Ironai, Otaru
Click here for details and map information for Otaru City Museum of Literature
10. Asahara Glassblowing Workshop - Experience glassblowing at Japan's only glass float factory
Factories that once produced glass floats were found all over Japan, but today, the Asahara Glassblowing Workshop is the only one remaining in the country. In addition to selling glass floats and float candles, you can also enjoy making your own original float or glass through a "glassblowing experience," a traditional Otaru craft.
■ Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
■ Closed: Saturdays, Sundays
■ Fees: Workshop Experience: Glass Float Making 2,500 yen / Float Candle 3,800 yen / Glass Making 3,000 yen and up *Reservations required
■ Address: 1-13-20 Tenjin, Otaru
Click here for details and map information for Asahara Glassblowing Workshop
*All information is current as of May 2025.
*All information is subject to change. Please check official websites for the latest details.
