Day One Japan

Hokkaido (北海道)

Spend half a day in Otaru on a walk from the canal warehouses to Sakaimachi’s shops and music boxes.

Open the full walk in Google Maps
Lights from Otaru Canal’s stone warehouses reflected in the water at night
Otaru Canal · Tan Wei Liang Byorn · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and framed for this page

Getting to Otaru Canal

From Sapporo Station (札幌駅)

Take a JR Hakodate Main Line train that shows Otaru (小樽) as its destination. Leave at Otaru Station (小樽駅) and walk downhill toward the harbor. The walk starts at Asakusabashi Bridge (浅草橋).

Otaru Station (小樽駅)

Exterior of Otaru Station with its name over the entrance
皓月旗 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized
Public transport in Google Maps JR Hokkaido trains to Otaru

Three stops in order

  1. 1. Otaru Canal (小樽運河)

    Start on Asakusabashi Bridge for the view of the stone warehouses. Walk a short stretch of the waterside path before turning back toward the shops.

    Walk in Google Maps Map of the stop Hokkaido tourism’s canal guide

  2. 2. Sakaimachi Street (堺町通り)

    Follow Sakaimachi south through the old merchant district. Look for the glassware shops and confectioners in former trading buildings.

    Walk in Google Maps Map of the stop Sakaimachi shopping street map (PDF)

  3. 3. Otaru Music Box Museum (小樽オルゴール堂 本館)

    Finish at the main music-box shop by Marchen Square (メルヘン交差点). Look for the steam clock outside.

    Walk in Google Maps Map of the stop Music Box Museum visitor information

From the south end of Sakaimachi you can return from Minami-Otaru Station (南小樽駅). Check that your return train stops there.

Transport and visitor information checked .