Salmon appeared @ Canal !!

Hello, how are you ??
Every year in Autumn, many salmons ascend streams to spawn.
Now, we can see lots of salmons at Otaru canal !!
Our tourist information staff took some pictures of them.

Passengers of Canal cruise must have been surprised.
Can you see the school of salmons in front of the boat ??

 

 

Also now, we can enjoy seasonal salmon in Hokkaido, of course in Otaru too.

Every restaurant provides various kinds of salmon menus.

I'll post about it if I try them :)



 

How to get Otaru's tourist infomation easily :)

Hi, how are you?
Otaru has been getting cold gradually. I can't stand cold only wearing short-sleeved T-shirt any more. Please don't forget to prepare worm clothes.
For visitors to Otaru, our city provides many kinds of information materials.
Please refer to the followings ↓

Tourist Map

We have Japanese, English, Chinese, Mandarin and Korean maps.
Website → http://www.otaru.gr.jp/blog/guide-map

Otaru City Guide Book

We have them in Japanese and English.

Website → http://www.otaru.gr.jp/blog/guide-map













Footloose

This is a map for strolling in Otaru city.
We have English, Chinese, Mandarin and Korean version.
Website → http://www.city.otaru.lg.jp/sisei_tokei/otaru/foreigner/otaru-map.html










Otaru Tourism Access Guide

This guide is for visitors for the first time in Otaru. Has many information such as how to get bus and train, Japanese manner and nearby other cities tourist information.
We have them in English, Chinese, Mandarin and Korean.
Website → http://www.city.otaru.lg.jp/kankou/torikumi/china/gengo_barrier_free.html

Of course each tourist information center in Otaru has these materials but you can request them from Otaru tourism association by E-mail. We can send you.
Please apply to us... http://otaru.gr.jp/contact/

Basic Tourist Information 3 ~ Climinate & Clothes ~

 

 Hokkaido is known as a really cold place...apart from this summer:-P
Last summer was soooo hot for us but Otaru is livable place by ordinary.
The hardest season in Otaru is winter.
Snowfall begin from the beginning of November, and come down till the beginning of April.
The coldest term is from January to the beginning of March. The outside temperature reaches below zero.
We can see beautiful views only because of the below freezing wolrd.
Otaru has every winter attractive spots, such as the Canal  frozen the surface of itself, historic buildings surrounded by snow, ski resorts and outside hot spring with winter scenery etc.
If you are planning to visit Hokkaido and enjoy these attractions for this winter, please refer to this.

Please don't forget to prepare protection against cold, for example woolen cap, groves, scarf and so on. It is important that don't expose your skin :)
In addition, during winter in Otaru, streets become sooooo slippery. Even for us, it's easy to fall down.
Please prepare shoes which have non-slip soles or, I recommend to get non-skid bands for your shoes. These bands can be purchased easily at every store during 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.
It might be interesting to find special protection against cold yourself.

Basic Tourist Information 2 ~Access in Otaru~

After you arrive at Otaru, there are some methods to look round.
I'll introduce you about "Access in Otaru" today.
←Click the picture to see a larger image

Otaru has many attractions in walkable distances from JR Otaru station.
Left image is the estimate of time for strolling.
On your first trip to Otaru, these methods are convenient such as sightseeing taxi, rickshaw and reglar bus tour.
For example, there is a taxi rank in front of JR Otaru station and  station road.
The taxi fare of Otaru is reasonable compared to city center.
The base fare is about 500 yen, that's why we also use it at ease.
If you request them as a sightseeing taxi, they will take you to  tourist spots with guiding. Basic fare rate is 5,200 yen per hour.
Another good way to look round Otaru is a taking rickshaw.

 

These cool guys guide you :)

They prepare many kinds of routes, for example...

◆Romantic Tour (charter for 30min)

Asakusa bridge ⇒ Otaru Port ⇒ North canal ⇒ Denukikoji street ⇒ Former Northern wall street etc.

◆Nostalgic Tour (charter for one hour)

Asakusa bridge ⇒ Otaru Port ⇒ North canal ⇒ Denukikoji street ⇒ Former Northern wall street ⇒ Former Nihon Yusen Co. (entrance) ⇒ Former Temiya railway etc.

◆Exotic Tour (charter for two hours)

Asakusa bridge ⇒ Otaru Port ⇒ North canal ⇒ Denukikoji street ⇒ Former Northern wall street ⇒ Whole canal ⇒ Former Nihon Yusen Co. (entrance) ⇒ Former Temiya railway ⇒ Former Bank of Japan (Museum of finance) ⇒ Recommended spots by ricksha man etc.

≪Fare≫

One zone (10min) ... 2,000 yen (one adult)   3,000 yen (two adults)

≪Charter≫

30 min ... 5,000 yen (one adult)   8,000 yen (two adults)

45 min ... 7,500 yen (one adult)   12,000 yen (two adults)

60 min ... 9,000 yen (one adult)   15,000 yen (two adults)

 

If you have whole day for sightseeing in Otaru, how about join a day bus tour?

Chuo-bus company provides "Otaru Bay Story Tour".

↓Click the picture to see a larger image

This tour starts from Sapporo. Of course you can join it from Otaru.

Please make a reservation  in advance.

This bus company operates  "Otaru Stroller's Bus".

This bus can be used easier without reservation. It's like a local bus and has four different routes going round lots of sightseeing spots from in front of JR Otaru station. If you get a one day pass ( Adult 750 yen, Child 380 yen), you'll be able to get every city bus.

 

Each method is not so difficult to take for visitors from overseas.

Feel free to ask us if you have any problems about access :)

 

【Applications & Inquiries】

Rickshaw Otaru Ebisuya

Tel +81 134 27 7771

Website ... www.ebisuya.com

 

Hokkaido Chuo-bus Co,Ltb.

Tel +81 11 231 0500

Website ... www.chuo-bus.co.jp/sightseeing.en/

 

International Information Center in Otaru

Tel +81 134 33 1661

Inquiry form ... http://otaru.gr.jp/contact/

 

 

 

Basic Tourist Information 1 ~Access to Otaru~

Hello, how are you??
The forecast calls for the hottest day in Otaru...probably this is the last hot day in this summer.

I often post information about attractions of Otaru but first of all, I thought that nobody can visit our city without basic tourist information.

That's why I decided to post these information periodically.

First basic information is "Access to Otaru".

Otaru is located in quite convenient area in Hokkaido.

Hokkaido has some airports and the largest one is "New Chitose Airport".

If you take a JR train from New Chitose Airport, you can reach Otaru just in 72 minutes, via Sapporo. (by rapid-service train.)

From Sapporo to Otaru, it takes 32 minutes by rapid train, and 50 minutes by local train.

Train from Sapporo run alongshore. You can enjoy amazing sea view.

【By JR Train】

-From New Chitose Airport-

It's operated about every 15 minutes. Rapid train is operated every 30 minutes. One way 1,740 yen for adult.

-From Sapporo-

It's operated at least every 10 minutes.One way 620 yen for adult, 310 yen for child.

【By Car】

-From New Chitose Airport-

Expressway toll(from Chitose to Otaru) is 2,050 yen (standard-sized car).

-From Sapporo-

Expressway toll (from Sapporo west to Otaru) is 800 yen (standard-sized car).

【By Bus】

-From Sapporo-

It's operated at least every 10 minutes. Fare is 590 yen for adult, 300 yen for child.  

※There is no bus from New Chitose Airport to Otaru directly. If you want to use bus, please transfer at Sapporo.

If you have any questions, never mind.

There are tourist information center at each station.

Also, each station has hire car service desk and bus terminal in front of itself.

Please feel free to ask us :)

Free admission ~Respect-for-Senior-Citizens Week~

Hello.
In Japan, September 17 is a public holiday as the Respect-for-Senior-Citizens day.
So, lots of Japanese people have three holidays from September 15.
Also I have a good information for people aged 70 or over.
During the Respect-for-Senior-Citizens week(Sep15 ~21), people over 70 years can enter following facilities for free. (※Need to show your identification.)

◆Otaru Museum
　Close: Tuesday
　Tel: +81 134 33 2523

◆Otaru Museum Canal branch
　Close: ×
　Tel: +81 134 22 1258

◆Otaru city Museum of Art
　Close: Monday
　Tel: +81 134 34 0035

◆Otaru Literary Museum
　Close: Monday
　Tel: +81 134 32 2388

◆Former Otaru branch of Nihon Yusen Co.
　Close: Tuesday
　Tel: +81 134 22 3316

◆Temiya Cavern Preservation Center
　Close: Tuesday
　Tel: +81 134 24 1092

◆Nishin Goten (Herring Mansion)
　Close: × (During this week)
　Tel: +81 134 22 1038

Please come and visit them, if you are planning to travel in Otaru :)

Little Halloween Party

 Hi, how are you??
Today's temperature is 28 degrees!
Still like we are in summer...normally in Hokkaido, September is the begging of Autumn but this year is special...too HOT!!
Talking with visitors to Otaru, everybody says "Too hot, is always Otaru hot like this?".
I think that Hokkaido is considered cold place, that's why everybody is surprised.
Still Otaru is like in summer but many kinds of products are prepared for Autumnal event.
In Canal Plaza, you can get these cute glass products.



Pretty isn't it??
If I find other pretty goods, I'll post again:)

 

Come to see us★