(2) Hokkaido Trip: 2-June 2015 Otaru

We checked out of the ryokan in the morning and drove north towards Otaru.

As we get closer nearer to Otaru, it became very winding and steep road cutting through the mountain range. And finally we knew we were reaching when we came upon the Mount Kenashi Observation Point

Mount Kenashi Observation Point. At 467m, the elevation gives one a broad view over the Otaru city.

We arrived in Otaru not long after and checked in to the the hotel. We also left the car there and decided to spend the rest of the day exploring Otaru on foot.

We were hungry and decided to go to Otarusankaku Market to have sashimi lunch.

Then we took a JR train to Minami-Otaru station.

Walking a bit and we were at the Marchen Square. It was the tourist centre with lots of shops around it.

Otaru Music Box Museum was at this place as well.

Many kinds of musical boxes to choose.

LeTAO Head Store

小樽洋菓子舗ルタオ本店

Famous for their cheesecakes and soft ice cream.

We began to walk along the streets, heading in the direction of our hotel and JR Otaru station.

A must-go attraction was the Otaru Canal.

Otaru Canal (小樽運河, Otaru Unga) was a central part of the city's busy port in the first half of the 20th century. Large vessels were unloaded by smaller ships, which then transported the goods to warehouses along the canal.

The canal became obsolete when modern dock facilities allowed for direct unloading of larger vessels. Thanks to a citizens' movement, a part of the canal was beautifully restored in the 1980s instead of being landfilled, while the warehouses were transformed into museums, shops and restaurants. The canal makes for a pleasant stroll during the day, when artists present their works to passing tourists, and during the evenings when old fashioned gas lamps are lit and provide a romantic atmosphere.

Finally we walked back to our hotel. It was late afternoon and we decided to stroll at the shopping mall opposite the hotel.

We came upon a local restaurant serving contemporary Western and Japanese food, this was where we had our dinner. We spend the rest of the evening strolling in the outside streets and did our laundry at the hotel before retiring for the night.