In a thread titled “Heading to Otaru,” locals and past visitors chimed in one after another with specific recommendations — the night view from Mt. Tengu, Shukutsu Observatory, and a late-night stroll along the Otaru Canal.
They also shared practical heads-up info worth knowing before the trip: sea urchin season is over, so you’ll need to head out to Shakotan for that, and restaurant prices run high thanks to tourist-area markups.
Any recommendations?
The Mt. Tengu Ropeway in Otaru, home to one of Hokkaido's three great night views
Lived there back in my student days — sounds like it's way more touristy now.
For seafood you don't need a proper sushi place, a seafood izakaya is delicious too.
I'd recommend Shobo Banya or Shotoku Taishi.
For seafood you don't need a proper sushi place, a seafood izakaya is delicious too.
I'd recommend Shobo Banya or Shotoku Taishi.
Restaurants in the tourist areas are pricey, so budget for meals accordingly.
I'm a fan of Takuboku, so I went to see his poetry monument (Ishikawa Takuboku, the famous early-20th-century poet).
It was in the grounds of a shrine up a hill, a little off the main tourist path.
Not a soul around.
It was in the grounds of a shrine up a hill, a little off the main tourist path.
Not a soul around.
There used to be a little independent izakaya called Isshin Tasuke or something — their atka mackerel and dried fish were great.
Meals are technically included, three a day, but eating out on top of that gets pricey I guess?
It's pricey.
With the cost of living up, the food quality's dropped too.
With the cost of living up, the food quality's dropped too.
Asari or Otamoi — which driving school is it?
Asari doesn't really feel like Otaru lol
That's basically the next town over.
That's basically the next town over.
Truth is, Gold Stone is the only thing I've actually seen there.
Are you going for a large-vehicle license?
>>18
No, just a regular license.
No, just a regular license.
Sea urchin season in Otaru's already over, so you'd have to go all the way to Shakotan to get any.
What's Gold Stone?
>>22
A fantastic live house that Hello! Project idol acts favor.
A fantastic live house that Hello! Project idol acts favor.
Is the driving school training camp in Otaru cheap?
How much fun you have really depends on which town the training dorm is in, I'd think.
>>26
Not especially cheap.
Actually it's crazy expensive in August.
>>28
Right in front of JR Otaru Station.
Not especially cheap.
Actually it's crazy expensive in August.
>>28
Right in front of JR Otaru Station.
Here's Otaru's famous Shukutsu Observatory
https://gzo.ai/i/ynyWZkQ.jpg
And the night view from Mt. Tengu
https://gzo.ai/i/LTdRWAG.jpg
https://gzo.ai/i/ynyWZkQ.jpg
And the night view from Mt. Tengu
https://gzo.ai/i/LTdRWAG.jpg
>>30
The first shot really hits.
>>39
φ(´･ω･｀) noted
>>40
Which aquarium is that?
The first shot really hits.
>>39
φ(´･ω･｀) noted
>>40
Which aquarium is that?
So the Herring Mansion at Cape Otamoi is gone too now, huh.
>>38
It's all run-down these days.
It's all run-down these days.
My top recommendation has to be the local Chinese diner, Gokou Hanten.
You can only reach the aquarium by bus, but it's great — plenty of shows to catch.
If your timing's good you can see about five in a row.
If your timing's good you can see about five in a row.
Didn't get your license when you were young?
>>47
Nope.
Now that I'm middle-aged, work finally let me take a long stretch off this year.
Nope.
Now that I'm middle-aged, work finally let me take a long stretch off this year.
>>1
Are you from Hokkaido?
Where's your hometown?
Are you from Hokkaido?
Where's your hometown?
>>53
I'm from Tokyo.
>>54
I'll check it out.
I'm from Tokyo.
>>54
I'll check it out.
>>46
The first pic is the Sea of Japan seen from the hill above Otaru Aquarium.
You can walk up, but you'll be drenched in sweat.
The first pic is the Sea of Japan seen from the hill above Otaru Aquarium.
You can walk up, but you'll be drenched in sweat.
It moved to a new location, but it's still around.
>>57
Ah, thanks.
There's a Rosy-chan (idol) live show in October, might go check it out.
Ah, thanks.
There's a Rosy-chan (idol) live show in October, might go check it out.
You're from Tokyo — why go all the way to Otaru to get your license?
>>62
Figured since I'm at it, I'd rather do Hokkaido or somewhere south of Kyushu, and this one happened to have an opening.
>>64
φ(´･ω･｀) noted
Figured since I'm at it, I'd rather do Hokkaido or somewhere south of Kyushu, and this one happened to have an opening.
>>64
φ(´･ω･｀) noted
The Otaru Canal at midnight is a great walk, about 10 minutes from the station.
During the day and evening tourists get in the way,
but the canal late at night is just gorgeous.
During the day and evening tourists get in the way,
but the canal late at night is just gorgeous.
Staying right in front of Otaru Station basically screams 'go sightsee while you're here.'
>>72
Sadly I'm an introvert, but I'll force myself to get out and about.
Sadly I'm an introvert, but I'll force myself to get out and about.
Isn't Yoichi all about whisky?
>>89
There's a winery there too.
There's a winery there too.
Anyway, the place is crawling with foreign tourists.
>>93
So no different from Tokyo's Yamanote Line then.
So no different from Tokyo's Yamanote Line then.
*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project) thread “Heading to Otaru”.
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