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