June 2021

✤✤✤   June 2021   ✤✤✤

June is fresh green season. It is sunny almost everyday in Otaru. 

Let's feel refreshing breeze and spend pleasant  early summer days.

Asahi Scenic Observatory (map)

Asahi Scenic Observatory is on a small hill behind JR Otaru Station.

From there, you can look down on Otaru Port and the city centre.

There is Takiji Kobayashi's literary monument near the observatory.

When we visited there, Cicadas were buzzing and there were lots of mosquitoes.

If you visit Asahi Scenic Observatory in summer, 

please take a mosquito repellent with you . 

The road to the observatory is closed in winter.

Otaru Photo Frame was newly established this spring.

White-bellied green pigeon, Official City Bird of OTARU is drawn.

Otaru Catholic Church-Tomioka Cathedral  (map)

Hanachozu in 2021～Flower hand water〜

 Hanachozu in 2021～Flower hand water〜

Hanachozu has begun in Sumiyoshi shrine this year as the same as last year.

Hanachozu is the decoration that floated colourful flowers on the Chozu of a Shinto shrine. 

Chozu is the water for washing your hands and rinsing your mouth to purify before going into a shrine or a temple.

Currently, we can not use the chozuya due to Covid-19.

Instead, we can enjoy seeing the beautiful flowers floating on top of the water.

The first, it was decorated with Gerbera

 between 5/14(Fri) and 5/24(Mon).

The second, from 6/19(Sat) to 6/29(Tue), mainly flower is Delphinium

 [the language of flowers: big-hearted , fun]. 

It seems to be planned the third time from 7/3(Sat) to 7/13(Tue). 

Sumiyoshi Shrine（map）

2-5-1 Suminoe,Otaru

+81-134-23-0785

Kitaichi Hall Oil Lamps

Kitaichi Hall Oil Lamps

Kitaichi Hall is a beautiful and relaxing cafe, and the perfect place to take a break while sightseeing & shopping. It is inside the Kitaichi Glass No. 3 building which was built in 1891 as a warehouse to store processed fish products. The 167 oil lamps are carefully lit one by one to create the dreamy atmosphere. Visitors are welcome to watch the lighting process which takes about 15 minutes. (Please note lighting time will depend on store hours. Please check their website for the latest information.)

There are three large chandeliers in the center that are lowered so 
it is easy for staff to place the oil lamps into the holders, light and 
adjust the flame, place the glass shade, and wipe down each lamp. 

When all three chandeliers are lit, they are raised slowly up to the ceiling. 

Kitaichi Hall

(inside Kitaichi Glass No. 3 building)

7-26 Sakaimachi, Otaru

+81-134-33-1993

Former Temiya Railway

 Former Temiya Railway 

Former Temiya Railway was laid as a part of the Horonai Railway in 1880. It was the first railway in Hokkaido to transport coal mined from inland Hokkaido, and was abolished in 1985. Nowadays it is used as a promenade by local people and tourists take pictures.

Former Temiya Railway

(map)

May 2021

❀✿❀ May 2021❀✿❀

Temiya Park

Temiya Park is one of the famous parks in Otaru where many people visit to see cherry blossoms in spring. The botanical garden in Temiya Park is on a hill overlooking Otaru Port.

There is also a Japanese garden and 

you can enjoy each season.

Temiya park (map)

Asakusa Bridge

Asakusa Bridge Tourist Information Center

Asakusa Bridge Tourist Information Center (map)

Temporary Closures/Change in Business Hours Due to COVID-19 (May2021)

 

Temporary Closures/Change in Business Hours due to COVID-19 (May2021)

Please contact the facility or store and check the latest information.

*May19 update

*May27 update

*May29 update

*May31 update

CLOSED

ACTIVITIES

※Otaru Aquarium

     Closed: May 17(Mon)-May 31(Mon)  ⇨  tbd

※Tenguyama Ropeway

     Open: weekends only, May 16(Sun),May 22(Sat),May 23(Sun),May 29(Sat),May 30(Sun)

⇩

Closed: May 17(Mon)-May 31(Mon)

⇩

Closed: June 20(Sun)

 ※Canal Cruise

     Closed: May 16(Sun)- May 31(Mon)  ⇨  June 20(Sun)

※Otaru Bay Cruise
       

     Closed: May 16(Sun)-tbd   ⇨  June 20(Sun)

※Otaru Shizen no Mura

      Closed: May 15(Sat)-May 31(Mon)   ⇨  June 20(Sun)

※Otaru il PONTE

     Closed: May 15(Sat)-May 31(Mon) ⇨  tbd                                                          Glass blowing experience is acceptable : reservation required 10:00~16:00

MUSEUMS

※The Bank of Japan Otaru Museum

         

     Closed: May 16(Sun)-tbd

※Otaru Nishin Goten (Herring Mansion)

       Closed: May 15(Sat)-May 31(Mon)  ⇨  June 20(Sun)

※Otaru Museum Main Building

    Otaru Museum Annex

      Closed: May 16(Sun)-May 31(Mon)  ⇨  June 20(Sun)

 ※Otaru Literary Museum

     Otaru City Museum of Art
        

     Closed: May 16(Sun)-May 31(Mon)　⇨  June 21(Mon)

※Asari Dam Memorial Hall

        

     Closed: May 15(Sat)-May 31(Mon)　⇨  June 21(Mon)

※Old Suhara Residence

     Closed: May 15(Sat)-May 31(Mon)　⇨  June 20(Sun)

※Ibaragike-nakadebari banya　

      Closed: May 17(Mon)-May 31(Mon)　⇨  June 20(Sun)

SHOPPING, CAFE

※Kahisakan Coffee shop

 

    Closed: May 16(Sun)-May 31(Mon)

※Gin no Kane No.1 Building

 

    Suspended:-mid July　⇨  June 3(Thu)

    Open:Fri,Sat,Sun&Holidays 10:00-16:00

※SONIA COFFEE　

    Closed: May 16(Sun)-May 31(Mon)　⇨  tbd  

※GOLD STONE CAFE

     Closed: -tbd 

※OTARU TAISHO GLASS

    Closed: May 24(Mon)-May 31(Mon) ⇨  June 4(Fri)

CHANGE IN BUSINESS HOURS

MUSEUMS

※OTARU ART BASE 

Shorten business hours: : May 17(Mon)-May 31(Mon) ⇨  June 20(Sun)

,10:00-16:00

SHOPPING, CAFE, etc.

※Kitaichi Glass

Shorten business hours:10:00-18:00 ≪Hanazono Shop 10:00-17:30≫

⇩

Shorten business hours: May 17(Mon)-tbd, 11:00-17:00  ⇨June 1(Tue)- June 20(Sun)11:00-16:00

Sangokan Floor ❝WA❞ ,❝YO❞, ❝COUNTRY❞, ❝Kitaichi Hall❞ 

Outlet, Jizakaya Kitaichi, Kitaichi wine shop Vinoteca

Temporary closure:  May 17(Mon)-tbd  ⇨  June 20(Sun)

Kitaichi Jizakegura, Specialty Shop for soy sauce  cruets`Sa Shi Su Se So`, Kyubankura , Cafeteria , Kitaichi Venetian Art Museum Cafe, Crystal shop, Kitaichi Plaza, Hanazono Shop, Terrace,  Kitaichi Venetian Art Museum & The Museum Shop, Italian Modern Art Glass VENINI, Outlet, Jizakaya Kitaichi

※Main Building of the Otaru Music Box Museum

Shorten business hours: May 16(Sun)-May 31(Mon)  ⇨  tbd  ,10:00-17:00 Temporary closure: June 5,6,12,13,19,20

※Otaru Candle Studio

Shorten business hours: May 16(Sun)-May 31(Mon),10:00-17:00 
Temporary closure:  Candle Workshop

※You-Kobo Music Box & Handicrafts Studio

Shorten business hours: May 16(Sun)-May 31(Mon)  ⇨  tbd ,10:00-17:00

Temporary closure: June1-3, 7-10, 14-,17 

Spring Flowers

🌷  Spring Flowers  🌷

Many kinds of flowers are blooming near Canal Plaza (Otaru International  Information Center).

Let's love flowers and feel springtime. 

dandelions

tulips

daffodils

cherry blossoms　in Canal Plaza

Rhododendron dauricum 

In Japan, Rhododendron dauricum grows only in Hokkaido, and some of its leaves are attached even in winter. The magenta flowers bloom in spring.

Canal Plaza ~Otaru International  Information Center~(map)

【business hours】　9：00～18：00