日本NipponPlan

Otaru

Day trip from Sapporo
Stays
  1. Otaru Canal HDR1
  2. Otaru Canal 2009
  3. 小樽雪あかりの路2013（Otaru Snow Light Path 2013） - panoramio (1)
  4. Otaru Canal Center
  5. 小樽雪あかりの路2013（Otaru Snow Light Path 2013） - panoramio (3)

A canal town with old warehouses, glass shops and fresh sushi. About 40 minutes by train.

Worth a day?

Yes. Otaru is a short rapid train ride from Sapporo, with a canal, glass and music box shops, and a harbour town feel. It is a poor choice for people who want a long hike or many large museums, because the sights are close together and can be seen on foot.

Pick your pace

Otaru works as a slow day or a full one. Choose the pace that fits yours and the stops that suit it come first. Nothing is removed.

楽EasyShort stops and plenty of time to sit.歩ActiveWalks, outdoor places and more ground.寺CultureTemples, museums and history, with the reason for each.食FoodStreet food, sweets and a proper meal between sights.

Not sure? Start with Easy.

A day in 3 stops

In the order that suits your pace.

  1. 1.5 hAfternoonOtaru Canal and old warehouses 運A stone canal with gas lamps. Lights come on at dusk.
  2. 1.5 hAfternoonOtaru sushi street 寿A street of sushi shops that serve fish from the nearby sea.
  3. 2 hAfternoonGlass and music box shops 硝Old stone shops with glass art, music boxes and sweets. Good in cold weather.

How to get there

From Sapporo

FastestJR Hokkaido, JR Hakodate Main Line (Rapid) → Otaru

Time
35 min
Changes
None
Seat
No booking
  1. Go to Sapporo Station and take a rapid or local train toward Otaru. Cars 1 to 3 and 5 to 6 need no reservation.
  2. Car 4 has reserved seats, and a reservation is needed to board it. Check the platform signs on the day.
  3. Get off at Otaru Station. The Otaru Canal is about a 13-minute walk from the station.
A cheaper way

Reserved seats are included with a Japan Rail Pass or a Hokkaido Rail Pass, per one blog; check the pass rules before you travel.

Coming back. Check the JR Hokkaido timetable for return trains from Otaru, because the sources say trains run often by day but do not confirm the last train.

Typical times. Check the timetable before you go.

Stay a night

Sleep in Sapporo and come by train, because the ride takes about 35 minutes. A night in Otaru suits people who want the canal at dusk, when the gas lamps are lit.

Stay in OtaruOtaru is a port town near Sapporo, with inns and hotels near the station and the canal. A night here gives you a full day in town, and in the evening the canal's gas lamps are lit along the old warehouses.Find stays in Otaru
Sapporo as your basesnow, beer and seafood The train to Otaru takes about 35 minutes.Find stays in Sapporo

Stays link to partner sites. A commission never changes our advice.

Read more

Posts that help you plan this day.

Guides5 min readOtaru from Sapporo: canal, glass and sushiA day in Otaru from Sapporo: the old canal, the glass and music box shops, the seafood and what to check in winter.Guides5 min readFurano and Biei: fields, hills and slow roads from SapporoA day or two in Furano and Biei from Sapporo: the flower fields, the hills and the roads, and why a car or a tour helps.Seasons6 min readHokkaido in winter: snow, ski and coldHokkaido is snowy and cold from January to March. Learn how to plan snow days in Sapporo and Otaru, what to pack and what to check before you travel.