Otaru

Posts filed under ‘Otaru’

Walking down the main street of Otaru was a very cold, windy and frosty experience. My strategy for keeping warm is to bum inside a 7-Eleven until I warm up (while pretending to buy something).

so..so..cold..

On the upside, Otaru is a picturesque European-style town, and the winter snow gives a calm and pristine quality. The city is famous for music boxes and glass products. Glass floats and lamps once used by fishermen became souvenirs for travellers, as a reminder of the area’s seafaring history.

First stop was the Otaru Orgel Emporium (a music box and glassworks gallery) in Marchen Square. Great souvenir-shopping spot for mums and aunties 😉 Although they run a monopoly and charges astonomical prices accordingly.

Marchen Square

Steam Tower at Marchen Square

kimono rabbit (¥4200, $70)

Two cats music box, ¥2800 ($45)

sleeping piggy (¥315, $5) and bikini piggy (¥472, $8)

Outside, we saw the appropriately named “Nissan Cube”. lol! what a brick. Whoever designed this car deserves to be .

Sakai-Machi Street

Feeling hungry, we then headed for lunch at Otaru’s Sushiya (Sushi) Street, a collection of top-end sushi restaurants that specialise in the local delicacy. It was expensive, but very fresh and worth it. Although I thought competition was meant to reduce prices??

In the two photos below, spot the difference: the food display, and the actual dish.

Deluxe Set, ¥3150 ($52)

Lastly, no visit to Otaru is complete without a trip to the Otaru Canal (小樽運河), a peaceful waterway and cluster of historic warehouses along its bank. We enjoyed the views from the adjacent Otaru Beer Restaurant while sampling Otaru Beer (not to be confused with the name of the restaurant :P).

Otaru Canal

Otaru Beer Restaurant, located in historical warehouse on the bank of Otaru Canal

Otaru Beer (¥388, $6.50)

❤

love the medieval themed dress

2 beers later, we stepped out, and it was already dark outside (don’t be fooled, it was only about 4pm)

Otaru Canal lit by gas lamps at night

Traditional back alleyway. Unlike Sydney, we weren't afraid of being rolled dark alleys.

We went to have dinner in one of the restaurants in that photo. It was so tiny inside, like a shoebox diner. It was like a newspaper stand on George St. in Sydney.

Our friendly Japanese host who conveniently speaks english

mmm grilling our yakitori chicken skewers

hot fresh and delicious

home made pork dim sims

Last stop of the day was a glassworks gallery closeby. Too bad I didn’t get to take down any of the mind-blowingly expensive prices.

If you are considering a visit to Otaru or Sapporo, it is possible you might stumble across some great discounts on the Hilton Otaru with a fantastic view of Ishikari Bay, at only $40-45pp per night twin share, bargain.