Otaru sits just a short train ride west of Sapporo along the Hokkaido coast, making it a highly accessible destination for a day trip or overnight stay. Known for its historical stone warehouses along the Otaru Canal, the city attracts visitors with its fresh seafood at Sankaku Market and local crafts on Sakaimachi Street. Travelers can explore retro streetscapes, enjoy double fromage cheesecake from LeTAO, and listen to antique music boxes at the Otaru Music Box Museum. The city shifts beautifully across seasons, offering heavy, picturesque snowfall in the winter and pleasant coastal breezes in the summer.
Lily’s Otaru Food Tour: Sankaku Market Kaisendon & LeTAO Cheesecake
Creator Lily shares her culinary experiences across Otaru, focusing on famous local specialties. She begins at Ajidokoro Takeda inside the Sankaku Market to eat kaisendon. Next, she visits Popura Farm to try their signature melon ice cream. She then stops at Unga Ya for a warm crab bun and grabs a snack at OTARUchurros. Finally, she samples a menchi cutlet at Hello Wagyu Beef, visits the LeTAO Main Store for cheesecake, and tries fried chicken from Naruto Chicken.
- 📍 Featured Spot: Ajidokoro Takeda
- 💡 Best for: Foodies, Seafood Lovers
Historic Port and Mountain Views: Otaru Canal & Mount Tengu with CoolVision
This comprehensive travel documentary introduces Hokkaido’s major regions, starting with Sapporo before heading to the historic port city of Otaru. The footage highlights key historical spots including the scenic Otaru Canal and the shops along Sakaimachi Street. Visitors also see the Otaru Music Box Museum, filled with historic wind-up instruments. The video then transitions to a scenic view of the city and bay from the top of Mount Tengu. The journey continues beyond Otaru to show skiing at Rusutsu Resort and the geothermal landscapes of Jigokudani in Noboribetsu.
- 📍 Featured Spot: Otaru Canal
- 💡 Best for: Sightseers, First-Time Visitors
Summer Road Trip: Kitaichi Glass III and Soup Curry BAGBAG in Otaru
The host documents a five-day summer road trip through Hokkaido to escape the warm Japanese summer weather. On the second day of the trip, they travel to Otaru to walk around the area and visit the historic Kitaichi Glass III shop. After exploring the glasswork displays, they stop for lunch at Soup Curry BAGBAG. The itinerary then takes them further along the coast to Cape Kamui before heading to other regions like Hell Valley and Biei. The video details their driving routes, local food stops, and regional attractions.
- 📍 Featured Spot: Kitaichi Glass III
- 💡 Best for: Road Trippers, Summer Travelers
Winter Street Food: Denuki-Koji and LeTAO with Shizuka Anderson
Host Shizuka Anderson walks through the winter streets of Otaru to sample regional cold-weather comfort foods. She visits the retro Denuki-Koji alley to try local desserts, including awayuki pudding and warm oshiruko bean soup at Cafe Wadou. At Unga Ya, she samples a hot crab bun and a portable Genghis Khan mutton meat bun. The tour continues to Popura Farm for Santa’s Beard, which features soft serve on top of a cantaloupe slice. She finishes her food tour at the Takeda Sengyo Ten fish market stall for sea urchin and the LeTAO shop for their Double Fromage cheesecake.
- 📍 Featured Spot: Denuki-Koji
- 💡 Best for: Foodies, Winter Travelers
Winter Night Walk: Otaru Orgel Doh & SONIA COFFEE
This atmospheric video captures the snowy streets and landscapes of Otaru during a quiet winter night in December. The footage begins with a train ride from Sapporo, showcasing snowy coastal views through the window. The filmmaker then walks around the illuminated Otaru Canal and the snow-covered forest paths of Nagahashi Naebo Park. Indoor stops include a visit to SONIA COFFEE for a warm drink and the LeTAO Canal Plaza shop for sweets. The walk ends with visits to the historic Otaru Orgel Doh Main Store music box shop and a hot bowl of ramen at Mahoro.
- 📍 Featured Spot: Otaru Orgel Doh Main Store
- 💡 Best for: Slow Travelers, Winter Photographers
Snowy 4K Walking Tour: Otaru Station Area
This short 4K walking tour captures the heavy snowfall surrounding JR Otaru Station in mid-December. The video provides high-definition footage of the station’s exterior and the immediate snow-laden streets. Viewers experience the quiet winter atmosphere of the historic port city through a steady, first-person perspective.
- 📍 Featured Spot: Otaru Station
- 💡 Best for: Solo Walkers, Virtual Travelers
Local Izakayas and Ankake Yakisoba with Captain Martina
Creator Martina explores Otaru by bicycle to highlight local food spots and hidden neighborhood establishments. She showcases Otaru’s famous regional style of ankake yakisoba, a fried noodle dish topped with a thick savory gravy. The video captures her visits to a local coffee shop, an Italian wine store, and traditional izakayas off the main tourist track. She also stops by a free public piano and shares details about navigating the town on two wheels. The vlog concludes with her recommendations for fresh seafood and quiet neighborhood exploration.
- 📍 Featured Spot: Various spots in Otaru
- 💡 Best for: Independent Travelers, Cyclists
A Winter Day Trip: 12 Hours Exploring Otaru Canal
Catherine Kay documents a magical winter day trip to Otaru by taking a scenic train ride from Sapporo. She walks along the snowy streets and takes in the sights of the iconic Otaru Canal lined with historic stone buildings. The vlog captures the winter atmosphere as she stops to warm up and try local snacks. She browses the various shopping streets and highlights the beauty of the city’s snow-covered pathways. The video ends with her heading back to the train station as the winter night falls.
- 📍 Featured Spot: Otaru Canal
- 💡 Best for: Day Trippers, Couples
Street Food Highlights: What Diandra Cappelut Ate in Otaru
Diandra Cappelut takes viewers on a quick culinary tour of Otaru’s famous street food stalls. The short video showcases iconic local items, including fresh seafood, regional sweets, and quick bites found near the Otaru Canal. It provides a visual guide of the must-try delicacies for anyone planning a short visit to this coastal Hokkaido town.
- 📍 Featured Spot: Various spots in Otaru
- 💡 Best for: Quick Planners, Foodies
Comprehensive 4K Walking Tour: Otaru Steam Clock to Sankaku Market
This immersive, hour-long 4K walking tour provides a quiet, firsthand look at Otaru’s major historic streets and landmarks. The walk begins at the iconic Otaru Steam Clock outside the Otaru Music Box Museum before moving down the historic Sakaimachi Street. The camera navigates through retro alleys like Otaru Denuki Koji and continues alongside the warehouse district of the Otaru Canal. It then winds through Chuodori Street, the old Temiya line railway track, and Otaru Central Market. The journey concludes with a walk through the Sankaku Market and ends right at Otaru Station.
- 📍 Featured Spot: Otaru Music Box Museum
- 💡 Best for: Virtual Explorers, Slow Walkers
