1-Day Tour from Sapporo: The port city of Otaru & Local beer brewery

This tour will take us to the port city of Otaru. Otaru is just a 30-minute convenient train ride away from Sapporo. Otaru was once one of the most prosperous port cities on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido. Otaru is long past its proud history as a fishing and coal port town, but traces of its glory days remain almost everywhere and visitors should take note.

Most tourism activities in Otaru are centered around the Otaru Canal in The Sakaimachi Sightseeing and Shopping District. So many sights to see and activities to partake in in
this area. Specifically, on this tour we will “focus on” these well known locations along Sakaimachi Street

Highlights

• Take a stroll along the one kilometre Otaru Canal. Otaru’s canal played an important role in the town’s port industry during the first half of the twentieth century.

• Sightsee along Sakaimachi Street, a very well preserved traditional merchant street. The street runs about 800 metres north to south. Many western style buildings that were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s line this street.

• Lovers of “tinkly music” will love the visit to The Music Box Museum. Here, see many kinds of music boxes made of grass, wood or other material. Their gentle sounds will captivate you immediately when you step into the museum.

• Observe The Otaru Steam Clock which was a gift from the city of Vancouver, Canada to Otaru in June 1994.

• A visit to one of Kitaichi’s many glassware shops. Otaru’s most prominent. Nowadays, Otaru is a hub for Japan’s domestic glassware industry, attracting glass enthusiasts from all over Japan and the world. Beautiful glassware of all shapes and sizes are on display.

• Tour ending “beer tasting” along The Otaru Canal at the Germain Beer Brewery.

Description

This tour will start at Sapporo Station, in front of “MYOMU” (The Circular Stone Structure)at 9a.m. This circular stone structure is located in front of the doors at the South Exits of the station. Your guide (wearing a Snow Monkey tag) will be there to greet you.

The tour will begin with a walk along The Otaru Canal(Unga)which is the symbol of Otaru. It celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023. Brick and stone warehouses line the canal, a reminder of Otaru's role as a trading hub for Hokkaido during the rapid industrialisation of Japan in the Meiji and Taisho periods. In fact, Otaru City is now one of the TOP THREE tourist destinations in Japan, along with Sapporo and Hakodate. A nostalgic walk/leisurely stroll along the Otaru Canal, with the architecture and feel of yesteryear is “a must. Your guide will provide more in depth historic information of the canal and warehouses during the tour. After leaving the canal we will head towards Sakaimachi Street and have lunch at one of the many eateries. After lunch, it’s on to The Kitaichi Glass Factory dotted along Sakaimachi Street.

Guests on this tour will  be “in for a treat” at The Kitaichi Glass Factory. Kitaichi Glass Otaru is a long-established company that started operations in 1901 first producing oil lamps. Unbelievably, there are 18 shops of Kitaichi Glass in the city, proving its immense popularity. Building 3 is the most popular with locals and tourists alike. This building utilizes one of the stone warehouses, which are designed historical buildings of the city rich in culture and atmosphere. Finally, at the Kitaichi Glass Hanazono Shop you can “try your hand” at making your own glassware product to take back home. (optional).Today, glassware making is a major industry in Otaru. Your guide will provide you with reasons as to why this is during the tour.

The Otaru Music Box Museum lets you experience “heavenly music” played by an Aeolian pipe organ and offers rare glimpses at local antique music boxes.This is one of the largest museum shops of music boxes in Japan. The building itself is over 100 yrs old and is a historic landmark in Otaru. The Music Box Museum consists of 6 houses. Each house displays wonderful music boxes.Your guide will be able to provide further information of the museum and the building itself during the tour. You will have the opportunity to make your own “unique music box” at the Handicraft Studio(optional). Immediately upon leaving the Music Box Museum, we will come face to face with The Steam Clock.

The Otaru Steam Clock was a gift from Vancouver, Canada to Otaru in June of 1994.You will witness as a boiler sends steam into the clock, and whose steam whistle blows hourly to tell the time. In addition, every 15 minutes, the clock plays the same melody as the chimes of Westminster Abbey in London. A fascinating clock and chime to behold. Your guide will provide a little more in-depth information of this steam clock.

Finally, we will “quench our thirst” at the Germain Beer Brewery/Warehouse #1. Located in a quaint-rustic warehouse, it sits right along the canal. Its location is perfect. Guests will enjoy great beer inside a wooden beerhall type atmosphere with shiny copper tanks. The German style pretzels and schnitzel are to die for. Non-alcoholic beers and other drinks are available as well. This will be an excellent tour ending event for us to socialize and chat a bit about our Otaru experience. Your guide will be able to provide more historic information of the warehouse brewery, as well as the beer making process here.

TOUR MEETUP POINT

SAPPORO STATION @ 9:00 A.M.

After exiting the main JR gates of Sapporo Station TURN LEFT. Walk towards the
South Exits(南出口) of Sapporo Station. After a very short walk(in the near distance)
you will surely notice “MYOMU”(The Circular White Stone Structure/see above picture). Your guide will be standing in front of this stone structure wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour tag. You are kindly asked to be at this meetup point at 9a.m.

NOTES

Included

• English speaking tour guide
• Transportation fee from Sapporo Station to all listed destinations and activities as stated on each tour itinerary
• All entry/admission tickets to each attraction/sightseeing spot listed on the tour itinerary
• Glass of (non)-alcoholic beverage at local Beer Brewery

Excluded

• Lunch
• Accommodation

Other Information

• Please check the weather forecast before heading to the meetup point and prepare umbrella or raincoat if necessary.
• Clothes worn should be appropriate for the given season. Otaru(being a port city) gets windy at times, so a good coat and/or windbreaker is recommended.
• In winter, ice and snow will be prevalent on the ground. Thus, caution is advised to all  guests while walking on the tour. 
• Tour members must be 20yrs of age or older to consume alcoholic beverage.