Saunter in Otaru ♯4～Lunch at Aotsuka restaurant～

After climbing the mountain, we were starving...:-O We decided to have a lunch at "Aotsuka restaurant".

"Aotsuka restaurant" is located quite near from the mountain where we climbed. You can enjoy many kinds of seafood at this restaurant. There is a "Otaru quarium" as well. If you would like to enjoy Otaru's seafood, I recommend to eat "Herring".

Um...good smell. We ordered herring set meal. Do you know what these foods are?

①Rice

②Miso soup of scallop's young shell

③Grilled herring

④Seaweed boiled in soy sauce

⑤Salted squid guts

⑥Pickled vege

We were greatly pleased about this taste!!:)

We went to Otaru museum next...

Saunter in Otaru ♯3～Otaru coastal footpath～

Hi, how are you? Finally I could go to climb a mountain in Otaru!! The weather was bad recently so, I worried about it. I went to "Otaru coastal footpath" with Ms.Yoshida and Ms.Kasahara. (She is a staff of ice cream shop Misshu house.) I'll show you Otaru's beautiful views today.

This is a bus stop named "Chuo-douri". It takes about 5 minutes from Otaru station. We took a bus from here bound for "Kamome danchi".

This is a local bus. Many local people in Otaru use it. You can enjoy local atmosphere.

I'll let you know how to get a bus.

In the charge of the bus of Otaru, most places are 210 yen.

Please press a button before you get off to let a bus driver know.

When you get of the bus, just put your fare to coin box↓

We got off the bus at this bus stop "Akaiwa 2 chome".

It takes 20 minutes from this bus stop to the entrance of Otaru coastal footpath.

On this way, we really enjoyed beautiful nature. We might see bears so, I borrowed a bell from Ms.Yamamoto to avoid them.

This is a signboard and map at the entrance↓↓

　　　

We　enjoyed beautiful views of sea on the way...

This area is called "Aka-iwa" (Aka-iwa means "Red rock"), so we could see red ground and rocks.

Ms.Kasahara(left) and Ms.Yoshida

"Mado iwa" (means "window rock")

Though they were on the sheer clift, we saw many mysterious statues.

It's me in "Shukutsu panorama observatory".

We have map of Otaru coastal footpath in each tourist informations.

Please visit us to get it:-)

Saunter in Otaru ♯2～Asahi observatory～

After leaving the "Catholic Tomioka church"(it takes 15 minutes from the Otaru station on foot.), we went to "Asahi observatory".

This signboard says 2 kilo meters from the "Tomioka church".

Otaru is called "Town of slope" as well.

This sign says "Hell slope".

This slope is like the hell... because this slope is covered with heavy snow in winter and we should walk this slope even if we are hot in summer.

We went up this "Hell slope" and arrived the entrance to the mountain.

This gate will be closed during winter because of heavy snow. (It will be closed in 26th of November.)

This area is a wildlife protection area of Hokkaido.

We really enjoyed fresh air and various plants.

After 30 minutes, finally we arrived at "Asahi observatory"!!!

Usually, we can enjoy red leaves in this season, but they were hot days everyday in last summer.

So, still the mountain in Otaru was green.

I'll show you old traditional building next time☆★☆　

C ya!!:-)

Shako Festival in Otaru!

【※Shako Festival in Otaru】 will be held!!

※Shako…"Shako" is a kind of crustaceam and similar to prawn. Mantis prawn.

In spring and autum, it will be in season.

Normaly, we boil and eat it.

The third 【Shako Festival in Otaru】 will be held for 2 days(20～21/11/2010) in the canal park (3 chome, Ironai, Otaru city).

This event expect that "Shako" gains its publicity and become brand.

You can enjoy stew of "Shako" and grilled "Shako", these menues are annual and popular.

"The Otaru winter seafood festival" will be held at the same time.

They will sell processed seafood and have new project.

【Challenge from ※"Shako-jiro"】

～The first project of collaboration with Otaru commercial school～

※"Shako-jiro"...This is a character of this festival.

High school students in Otaru have produced him.

This festival has Panel exhibition, you can enjoy quiz as well with it. If you join this quiz event, you'll be able to get badge of "Shako-jiro". They're limited for 200 people. In addtion, you can enjoy "Shako" food in participating restaurant in Otaru.

Every restaurant has their own "Shako" menu.

Date:20th(sat)～23rd(Tue)/11/2010

《Participating Restaurant》

Minshuku Aotsuka restaurant, Japanese noodle Jikkenzaka, Herring palace Otaru Kihinkan (Guest house), Otaru Japanese noodle Yabuhan, Ajikoubou Kamaei, Authent Hotel Otaru (3F Japanese food Irihune), Japanese noodle＆Sukiyaki Otaru Sakurazaka, Otaru Tatsumi sushi Honazono branch, Otaru tatsumi sushi Sakaimachi branch, Otaru Masa sushi (main), Spicy korean stew Chigechipu, Hotel Neuschloss Otaru, Steamed fish albino paste food Soukichi, Otaru warehouse No.1, Shirokuma restaurant (in winkel village), GOLDSTONE CAFE, Otaru Asarigawa hotspring Hotel Musashitei (Only for quests who stay in), Otaru Ryotei Kuramure (Only for guests who stay in)

Date:20th(Sat), 21st(Sun)/11/2010

Time:10:00～15:00

Place:Canal Park (3chome, Ironai,Otaru city)

Auspices:Otaru fishermen's cooperative, Otaru committee (to make "Shako" become brand)

For inquiries:Otaru tourism association (Tel.0134-33-2510), Otaru fishermen's cooperative (Tel.0134-27-3138)

Let's have a fun!!!

Saunter in Otaru ♯1～Tomioka Catholic Church～

I got a day off and I had decided to go mountain climbing with Ms.Yoshida but we had to give it up because of the rain the day before.

So, we decided to stroll in Otaru.

I've been wishing to visit "Tomioka Catholic Church".

This church is one of historical buildings.

Ms.Yoshida and the church

The statue of Mary in front of the church

When we came in the church, we found postcards on the door.

Wrote it down my name in the entrance...

and there are lovely stained glasses on the wall of stairs.

I didn't take a photo of inside so, please visit this church and have a look inside it.

There is a information house for tourists.

Would you like to have a cup of tea and take a rest in this house?

Our saunter is continued...

I'll post about observatory next time:)

The wisdom of snowy country

The preparation for the winter is running steadily in Otaru.

I'll show you some photos.

Do you know what these like boxes are?

Actually, these boxes have bags or bottles. These bags and bottles have sand inside them.

Do you know why?

During winter, Hokkaido becomes really cold and roads become slippery by freezing.

That's why, these sand's bags and bottles are necessary for us.

We sprinkle sand on the icy road.

It's quite important to walk safety.

I found many kinds of boxes for nonslip sand.

This green one is the oldest and simple design.

These letters on surface of this box mean the address of this area.

This woody one is the newest.

It has bottles and trash box on the bottom of it.

with the sign of caution

Otaru Loooooong X'mas

The 6th "Otaru long christmas" will be held in Novemver. It will start snowing in this season so, we would like you to enjoy romantic spots and saunter in Otaru. This event will be held from 11/11/2010(Thu) to 25/12/2010(Sat) and we sell christmas goods. Otaru has many glass studios. In order to let you know each beautiful glass works, we exhibit these works at Otaru station.

Otaru station

Also we will display 4 meters white christmas tree in Canal plaza.

In Canal plaza

This christmas tree is made from miniature christmas trees. These miniature christmas trees have messages they are written by tourists. Would you like to join this project to make this message tree?

Message trees

We will sell many kinds of christmas goods in Canal plaza and you can enjoy the sound of music box (orgel). We will display another christmas tree in front of Canal plaza which is 5 meters in height and made from 300 floating glasses. Why don't you enjoy romantic Otaru?

Floating glass christmas tree