Hi, I've got the list of events for November.
It'll start to snow in November and attractive events will be held in romantic atmosphere in Otaru.
I'm going to introduce these events roughly today and I will post as new information and details become available.
【Otaru Long Christmas 2012】
Schedule... Nov 11 (Sun) to Dec 25 (Tue)
Place... Canal Plaza, Top of Mt, Tengu
Access... ◆To Canal Plaza ---10 minutes walk from JR Otaru station. ◆To Mt,Tengu--- Take a bus from Chuo-bus Otaru station terminal. Gate# 3, Bus# 9. About 20 minutes later, get off at the last stop and change to ropeway. It takes about 5 minutes to the mountaintop.
★This annual event begun in 2005 and will be held from November 11 this year too.
It features the 4-meter-high white message tree at Canal Plaza, the 5-meter-high Glass ball tree in front of Canal Plaza. Also another message tree will be placed at the top of Mt, Tengu, would you like to leave your wish on message card with Christmas tree?Besides that, for 3 days (Dec 22 ~ 25), about 5,000 gleaming balls (ball of LED light)will be floated down Otaru canal at night as an experiment. It's named "Christmas Story Winter Falling Star". On November 8, we're going to float about 100 of them on a trial basis.
← Glass Ball Tree at Canal Plaza
White Message Tree in Canal Plaza →
【The 5th Otaru Shako(Mantis prawn) Festival】
Schedule... Nov 24 (Sat) and 25 (Sun) 10am ~ 3pm
Place... Otaru Port Pier No.3
Access... Abour 15 minutes walk from JR Otaru station.
★Otaru is famous for "Shako(Mantis prawn)". In this event, various kinds of fresh autumnal"Shako" menus, such as "boiled Shako", "Grilled Shako", and "Shako nabe"(hot pot dish) can be enjoyed. Besides that, we can enjoy scallop, octopus and abalone that were caught in Otaru and can be enjoyed only in this season!!
【Bay Forest Xmas】
Schedule... Nov 10 (Sat) to Dec 25 (Tue) 4:30 ~ 9pm
Place... Wing Bay Otaru Shopping mall
Access... The closest station is "Otaru Chikko station" (second station from Otaru to Sapporo). This shopping mall is located next to the station. Or, many buses are operated from a bus terminal in front of JR Otaru station.
★During the term from 4:30 to 9pm, colorful illuminations are lit up. About 60,000 electrical bulbs britghten up Christmas days of Wing bay Otaru shopping mall.
【Tanaka Sake Brewery "Hokkaido Grain Festival"】
Schedule... Nov 22 (Thu) to 25 (Sun)
Place... Tanaka Sake Brewery Kikko Gura branch
Access... Take a stroller's bus "A" from Chuo-bus Otaru station terminal. Gate #4, get off at "Tanaka shuzou kikko gura mae"(田中酒造亀甲蔵前). Required about 20 minutes.
★This is thanksgiving for harvesting in which many kinds of grains produced in Hokkaido, will be displayed and introduced. Makgoli (Korean sake), wheat vinegar and rice distilled spirit made from them are sold. In addition, on 24th and 25th, they are going to do "Mochi (rice cake) pounding" using Hokkaido's rice.
【Snow Cruise Onze Ski Resort Opens】
Schedule... Nov 11 (Sun) 11:11am!!
Access... Free shuttle bus is operated from "Zenibako station" and some stations from Sapporo.
schedule from Zenibako station is 9:37, 11:37, 14:37, 16:37, 18:37. Required about 8 minutes.
★This is the first ski resort to be opened in Hokkaido. Firework display will be held at 6pm.
Some roads will be closed for winter season. If you're going to rent a car and enjoy driving in Hokkaido, please be aware of closure and the roads condition.
Would you like to see the early-morning sunlight on the new year's day from the top of the Mt.Tengu to pray for a good year?
【Countdown Events】
★Grand Park Otaru 2012 Contdown Party
★The 12th Tanaka Sake Brewery Yukusake Kurusake festival
←Image of "Praying star 祈り星"
This tree is made from about 300 glass balls. But these glass balls are special for us because every year in February, these glass balls are floated on the water surface of Otaru canal with candles inside them. During the Christmas days, we use them as parts of Christmas tree.
By mini-tree with visitors' message, we are going to complete the Christmas tree of four meters tall. We sell this mini-tree for 500 yen each.
11 Glass studios in Otaru exhibit beautiful works. You can enjoy them soon after you arrive at Otaru and through the ticket gate.
①Choose【Wifi：ON】→【FREESPOT】on setting page
Nowadays, there are more than 100 sushi restaurants in Otaru. Otaru faces the sea of Japan, so we can enjoy fresh seafood easily, and Otaru's amazing sushi is made from a wealth of seafood by sushi chefs..JPG)
Otaru has unique named street, "Sushiya-dori street". It's located just in 10 minutes walk from JR Otaru station. 25 years ago, only five sushi restaurants(Masa-zushi 政寿司, Machino まちの, Nihonbashi 日本橋, Yamatoya 大和家 and Shikama しかま) were on this street but now, about 20 sushi restaurants are in business on this street.
Of course you can try making music box as well. These products in this image are Music box museum's → 
You can find glass shops everywhere in Otaru, I'm often asked like "Why glass products are so famous in Otaru?" by visitors. Because... Otaru prospered by herring fishery. At that time, glass floating buoys were used for fishing net. That's why, glass industry has been developed together. Still now various glass products can be purchased in Otaru city. In addition, many glass studios prepare lots of menus for glass making experience. Accessory, mug, vase and so on. Would you like to try them?
★This is the music event which is planned and made by musicians and clubs, 106 music bands will join it. Common restaurants, cafes and bars change into clubs with live music. Regardless of musical genre, everybody can enjoy hot performance. Our tourist information centers have maps for this event. Please don't foeget to get them.
Schedule... start 6:30 pm (open 6 pm)
The hardest season in Otaru is winter.
And personally, I dress in layers during winter because I'm sensitive to the cold. Many stores sell great goods called "Hokkairo". It's small sheet packed from plastic bag. After you open it, it becomes very warm.