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Top 16 Attractions to Visit in Hokkaido, Japan

Planning a (solo) holiday trip in Hokkaido, Japan? Here are a list of 16 attractions from Lake Toya to Otaru to Sapporo to north of Sapporo in Hokkaido, Japan.

To know more about each individual attraction, click the image or “Continue Reading” to go to the post.


1. Odori Park

Odori Park spans about 1.5 km and covers 78,901 square meters in the center of Sapporo. It stretches from east to west across 13 blocks of fountains, monuments, and gardens. (Continue Reading)

2. Sapporo TV Tower

Sapporo TV Tower stands exactly in the heart of Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. The Sapporo TV Tower was built in 1957 and is a 147.2-metre-high (483 ft) TV tower with an observation deck at a height of 90.38 metres. (Continue Reading)

3. Sankaku Market

You can’t give Sankaku Market a miss when you visit Otaru in Hokkaido. It is a down-to-earth marketplace with vendors selling fruits, veggies, seafood, and prepared seafood dishes in this wet market. Where is Sankaku Market It is the closest tourist attraction (200 meters or about 2 minutes walk) to Otaru JR station. (Continue Reading)

4. Otaru Canal

Beautiful Canal Lined with Old Warehouses ‘Otaru’ is one of the leading tourist spots in Hokkaido with high popularity, and its symbol is the Otaru Canal. But what’s so special about the Otaru Canal? And how much tourism time should you set aside for it? (Continue Reading)

5. Sakaimachi Street

Sakaimachi Street is an attractive, preserved merchant street in central Otaru, a short walk from Otaru Canal. Sakaimachi Street is about 900 meters in length. It is here you can find souvenir shops, museums, restaurants, historical buildings, and landmarks. (Continue Reading)

6. Lake Toya

Lake Toya is located southwest of Sapporo and New Chitose Airport, between Niseko (one of Hokkaido’s finest powder snow ski resort areas) and the Pacific Ocean. Lake Tōya is a volcanic caldera lake in Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Abuta District, Hokkaidō, Japan. (Continue Reading)

7. Showa Shinzan Volcano

Shōwa-shinzan is one of Japan’s youngest mountains and is also a volcanic lava dome in the Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Hokkaido, Japan, next to Mount Usu. The peak is 398 m (1,306 ft) tall, and still actively smoking. (Continue Reading)

8. Silo Observatory

It is a great place to have a superb, large panoramic view of Lake Toya as well as Nakajima Island, Mt. Usu, Mt. Showa Shinzan, Toyako town, and Nishiyama Crater. (Continue Reading)

9. Fukidashi Park

Perfect for a relaxing stroll in the early morning, visit Fukidashi Park and listen to the water gushing from the grounds. (Continue Reading)

10. Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery

In Yoichi, a town in the Yoichi District, Shiribeshi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan is one of Japan’s top whisky maker and main distillery. (Continue Reading)

11. Otaru Tenguyama Ropeway @ Mount Tengu

On a clear day you can see as far as Mt. Shokanbetsu and the Shakotan Peninsula. The views offered of downtown Otaru and the Sea of Japan are said to be one of the three best night views in Hokkaido. (Continue Reading)

12. Campana Rokkatei

It boasts a view of grapevines sprawling across almost 80,000 square meters of rolling hillsides, as well as Mt. Tokachi from the glass-fronted shop right in front of you. It’s the ideal place for viewing the Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group while savoring sweets available exclusively in Furano. (Continue Reading)

13. Furano Winehouse

Located on a hill overlooking the Furano City in Hokkaido is the Furano Winehouse. You can enjoy splendid views of the city, lavender fields, and mountains of Tokachi. (Continue Reading)

14. Farm Tomita

Farm Tomita, located in the heart of Hokkaido in Nakafurano, Hokkaido, Japan, is home to Hokkaido’s lavender fields. Farm Tomita is one of Hokkaido’s largest tourist attraction site that brings in over 1 million people annually from all over Japan and the world. (Continue Reading)

15. Shikisai-no-Oka

Located in the rural town of Biei in Hokkaido, Shikisai-no-Oka attracts many people with its beautiful scenery of panoramic flower gardens. It is a paradise of seasonal blossoms from spring through to fall, in which several dozen different species of flowers and grasses flourish. (Continue Reading)

16. Shirogane Blue Pond

The Blue Pond outside the hot spring town of Shirogane Onsen is named after its deep blue colour which it owes to natural minerals dissolved in the water. It is one of Hokkaido’s most popular sightseeing destinations! (Continue Reading)


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Sakaimachi Street: Private Walking Tour in Otaru

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Attractive Street in the City Center of Otaru

Sakaimachi Street is an attractive, preserved merchant street in central Otaru, a short walk from Otaru Canal.

Sakaimachi Street is about 900 meters in length. It is here you can find souvenir shops, museums, restaurants, historical buildings, and landmarks. Many of these restaurants and stores are in these historical buildings, many being converted from old warehouses. So, not only can you do some shopping and dining, but you can also get some great photos while on your travels.

Sakaimachi Street (境町通り, Sakaimachi Dōri)


Where is Sakaimachi Street

Sakaimachi Street is a ten minute walk from Otaru Station or a five minute walk from Minami-Otaru Station. Alternatively, two of the four Otaru Stroller’s tourist bus lines pass along the street, providing frequent connections with Otaru Station.

The north entrance of Sakaimachi Street is near the Bank of Japan Otaru Museum and around the south end of Otaru Canal.

The south entrance is a five-street intersection, and it is called Meruhen-Kôsaten. Formally, this intersection is “Sakaimachi Intersection”.

“Meruhen” is a German word “Märchen” and means “fairy tale”. “Kôsaten” means “intersection”.


Walk with us on this private walking tour

1. Otaru Denuki-Koji

Quaint alleyway with a retro feel, lined with restaurants and food stalls serving ramen and yakitori. There are around 20 small shops in the historical building.

Address: 1 Chome-1 Ironai, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0031, Japan
Address: 〒047-0031 北海道小樽市色内1丁目1

If you are looking for a great view of Otaru Canal, there is a free observation deck upstairs. It is little narrow to climb up the tower, but Otaru Canal and the ocean is in front of your eyes. Enjoy 360-degree panoramic views from the observation deck!

2. Seafood Restaurant Donburi Chaya

Donburi Chaya is a seafood rice bowl specialty restaurant, which originated from the Nijyo seafood market.

Address: 3-24 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027, Japan
Address: 〒047-0027 北海道小樽市堺町3−24

Muslim Friendly Menu @ Seafood Restaurant Donburi Chaya

3. Crepe Plus – RE di ROMA Otaru

Address: 3-18 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027, Japan
Address: 〒047-0027 北海道小樽市堺町3−18

Crepe Plus – RE di ROMA Otaru

4. 抹茶スイーツ処 茶和々 小樽店

A building cannot get anymore maccha than this! Dubbed the Green Tea Matcha Building.

Address: 4-14 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027, Japan
Address: 〒047-0027 北海道小樽市堺町4−14

Japanese Maccha Sweets (The GreenTeaMatcha Building)

5. Venetian Cafeteria

Take a break with a rainbow tower ice cream. My rainbow ice cream had 7 layers of a variety of tastes: Grape, Strawberry, Powdered Green Tea, Melon, Chocolate, Milk, and Lavendar.

Rainbow Tower Ice Cream Menu @ Venetian Cafeteria

6. LeTAO Pathos

On the 1st floor is a confectionary where they offer their popular products, including Double Fromage. There is a takeout corner where you can eat their limited edition “Hokkaido Jersey Milk Pudding” made with Hokkaido Jersey milk and LeTAO’s original fresh cream. On the 2nd floor is a cafe where you can enjoy original cakes only from PATHOS as well as plates of pasta.

Pathos is the Greek word for “passion” and it’s logo mark of the sun expresses that meaning as well.

Address: 5-22 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027, Japan
Address: 〒047-0027 北海道小樽市堺町5−22

LeTAO Pathos

7. Snoopy Cha-Ya

All-things Snoopy!

Address: 6-4 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027, Japan
Address: 〒047-0027 北海道小樽市堺町6−4

8. Kitaichi Glass Crystal Shop and Kitakaro

Kitaichi Glass Crystal Shop
Set of shops selling items made from glass, such as decorative snow globes & kerosene lamps.
Address: 7-26 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027, Japan
Address: 〒047-0027 北海道小樽市堺町7−26

Kitakaro
Address: 7-22 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027, Japan
Address: 〒047-0027 北海道小樽市堺町7−22

9. Fromage Danish Dani LeTAO

Stop for a coffee break here.

Address: 6-6番13号 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027, Japan
Address: 〒047-0027 北海道小樽市堺町6−6番13号

10. Otaru Music Box Museum

Our private walking tour along Sakaimachi Street ends here. Otaru Music Box Museum is a specialty retailer featuring artisanal tabletop music boxes in many styles with ornate decorations.

On June 25,1994, the world’s largest and second ever steam clock was installed in front of Otaru Music Box Museum is a popular music box museum in the Otaru Orgel-do II building in Otaru, Japan. It includes various examples of music boxes as well as CDs that have music box-esque versions of various songs.

Otaru Music Box Museum (小樽オルゴール堂)

The British-style bronze clock measures 5.5 meters high and weighs 1.5 tons. It was assembled by Mr. Raymond Sanders, who also made the first steam clock located in Gastown, Vancouver, Canada.

Watch on YouTube

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Credits to:

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6704.html
https://hokkaidoguide.com/sakaimachi-street/
http://www.travel-around-japan.com/k12-01-03-sakaimachi.html
https://otaru-denuki.com/en/about_en/
https://donburi.jp/en/
https://www.letao.jp/global/en/sp/shop/pathos.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otaru_Music_Box_Museum

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