Cruise AtlasWorld cruise atlas
View of Otaru
Photo: Soica2001 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Itineraries calling here have not been added yet. Climate, prices and access information are available as a guide.

View Japan & Asia on the mapA romantic port town of Hokkaido canals, known for retro streetscapes, glass crafts, and fresh seafood.

Otaru

Otaru · Japan · 43.20, 141.01

A port town in Hokkaido with a retro atmosphere created by stone warehouses and gas lamps along its canal. It retains traces of its former maritime prosperity and is known for glass crafts, music boxes, and sushi. The canal illuminated by winter snow is especially enchanting, while fresh seafood is another major highlight.

Port highlights

About 110,000
Population
Humid subarctic climate. Summers are cool and comfortable; winters are cold with heavy snowfall. Cruises mainly call in summer, when conditions are comfortable.
Climate
Japanese
Language
Japanese yen (JPY)
Currency
June to September (summer is the season for port calls and is comfortable). The snowy canal scenery in winter is also popular, but the cold is severe
Best time to visit
Local food

Sushi and seafood rice bowls, fresh seafood (sea urchin, salmon roe, crab), LeTAO sweets, Hokkaido dairy products

Sights
Otaru CanalSakaimachi Street (glass and music box shops)Otaru Sushi StreetFormer Nippon Yusen building (historic architecture)
Monthly average high / low temperatures
0°
-6°Jan
0°
-6°Feb
4°
-2°Mar
11°
3°Apr
17°
8°May
20°
13°Jun
24°
17°Jul
26°
18°Aug
22°
14°Sep
16°
8°Oct
8°
2°Nov
2°
-4°Dec

Unit: °C · Adapted from Japan Meteorological Agency climate normals · Period: 1991–2020 · Station: Otaru · about 1.9 km from port · Last checked: Oct 3, 2026 · A guide for choosing your travel month.

Local prices for travelers
Similar to Tokyo
Compared with Tokyo, Japan (median of items)100 (Tokyo = 100)

Compared with Tokyo, everything costs about the same.

¥108
Water 370 ml
¥485
Coffee
¥950
Inexpensive meal
¥650
Local beer
¥500
Big Mac

Prices from nearby Sapporo (about 32 km away) · Amounts in the recorded local currency. No currency conversion applied. · Last checked: Oct 2026 · Sources: Shop and menu prices · The Economist, Big Mac Index (CC BY 4.0)

Getting there from Japan

CTS
Nearest airport
—
Airport to port (approx.)
A — Direct flight
Ease of access

Access from Japan: A = direct flight / B = one connection / C = two or more connections (indicative)

Itineraries calling here

No itineraries listed yet.

Sources

Source: Wikipedia “Otaru” (CC BY-SA 4.0)