Otaru
From Hakodate, I took the train to Otaru changing midway. Nothing extra to pay, as I used the JR rail pass that I had bought which covered Northern Honshu (Tohoku) and Hokkaido.
Otaru is a small and recent city and a port on Hokkaido’s northern coast. It is a short distance form the island’s capital city, Sapporo. Otaru is best known for its striking main canal that divides the old warehouses of the port from the developing modern city.
The warehouses were built between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. The old port area has a surprisingly western feel to it, and many of the warehouses have been converted into shops, cafes, and restaurants.
On the edge of the modern city and just over the road from the main canal is the very European looking Hotel Nord. Accommodation in July and August is in high demand. Otaru is a popular travel destination for the Chinese, many of whom come to escape the summer heat of Beijing.
The main thoroughfare is Sakaimachi Hondori Street. There’s plenty going on and lots of tourist trinkets for sale.
