Refer to below links for more Hokkaido summer trip blogs:
1. Our Pre Wedding Photoshooting Memories: Pre Wedding Photoshooting Blog
2. Executive Summary: Executive Summary Blog
2. Executive Summary: Executive Summary Blog
3. Day 1 & 2 (Furano): Day 1&2 (Furano) Blog
4. Day 3 (Furano & Biei): Day 3 (Furano & Biei) Blog
5. Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo): Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo) Blog
6. Day 5 (Hakodate): Day 5 (Hakodate) Blog
7. Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu): Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu) Blog
8. Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport): Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport) Blog
7. Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu): Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu) Blog
8. Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport): Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport) Blog
9. Top Foods in Hokkaido: Top Foods in Hokkaido Blog
10. Top Dessert in Hokkaido: Top Dessert in Hokkaido
Itinerary Summary:
Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo):
Otaru Canal → Otaru Old Town → Otaru Sakaimachi Shopping Street → Otaru Music Box Museum → Old Temiya Railway Track → Shiroi Koboito Park → Former Hokkaido Government Office
It is the 2nd day of our pre wedding photoshoot in Hokkaido! The theme today is buildings. As our 1st day of pre wedding photoshoot already covered the outdoor scenery and flowers feeling, we would like to add in buildings and casual feeling for the 2nd day. We drive all the way from Furano to Sapporo, overnight over there and early morning depart to Otaru. It is a long way drive from Furano to Sapporo, it takes about 3.5 hours to Sapporo, and another 45 minutes to Otaru. Otaru is the Japanese movie "Love Letter" photoshooting place, and it gradually becomes popular ever since then. Now, Otaru is a town that crowded with tourists especially when it is just a short drive away from Sapporo city and you can get yourself the Japan feeling here, i.e. old town scenes, nice Japanese foods, cute souvenir shops, and etcetera. We also passby Shiroi Koboito Park/ White Chocolate Factory when we drive on the way to Sapporo. The place is a factory that produces the famous Japan souvenir snacks - White Chocolate! You can see this everywhere around Japan, not only Hokkaido! You get the chance to visit the factory here if you are in Hokkaido, sounds good right! It is decorated with beautiful outdoor garden and cafe as well. Oh yes forget to mention, we love strolling in Otaru so much that we have cancelled the initial plan to visit Sapporo city on last day of our trip and visit this Otaru town instead (p/s: Actually I can't forget all the nice ice cream and dessert shops here.. sweeth tooth girl 😃). Thus, I have combined all the Otaru's places that we have visited in both days for this blog post. Let's see today journey below.
Otaru Canal
Map Code: 493690589*33
Operating Hours: 24 hours
Average Time Spent: 0.5 hours
Highlights: Pretty scenery
Suits: Sightseeing
Personal Star Rating: ★★★ (Worth to Visit)
Description & Tips:
👉 A canal that runs in the middle of Otaru city, with the views of warehouse made of bricks along the canal, a long stretch of street beside the canal for tourists to stroll along, and Japanese street artist standing beside and drawing the canal view. That's practically the view of Otaru Canal!
👉 Heard a lot reviews on the night view of Otaru Canal is better than day view. Although day view you get a clearer photo, however night view in Otaru is different than day. When the day tour crowds left Otaru, it reverts back to the original Otaru with much more romance in the air when strolling along the street of Otaru Canal.
👉 Able to join the tour to ride the 'gondola' along the canal.
👉 There is one special kind of transportation around this area which you can see. It is human trishaw ride, i.e. muscular Japan man will take you roaming the Otaru city and their speed is very fast! I watch it from online tv show before, really impressed, especially the weather is hot and they need to run around the city carrying the heavy trishaw.
💗 Author: Ng Mei Lian/ Adrian Yeoh Aun Hong👉 Heard a lot reviews on the night view of Otaru Canal is better than day view. Although day view you get a clearer photo, however night view in Otaru is different than day. When the day tour crowds left Otaru, it reverts back to the original Otaru with much more romance in the air when strolling along the street of Otaru Canal.
👉 Able to join the tour to ride the 'gondola' along the canal.
👉 There is one special kind of transportation around this area which you can see. It is human trishaw ride, i.e. muscular Japan man will take you roaming the Otaru city and their speed is very fast! I watch it from online tv show before, really impressed, especially the weather is hot and they need to run around the city carrying the heavy trishaw.
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| Boat ride along the canal |
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| Strolling along the canal |
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| Whole row of unique warehouse view |
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| Famous tourist spot |
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| Street designer spotted |
Otaru Old Town
Map Code: 493690589*33 (Note: It actually is map code for Otaru Canal, we use this map code to reach Otaru city, park the car and just start to explore those famous streets in Otaru by walking!)
Operating Hours: 24 hours
Average Time Spent: 2 hours
Highlights: Pretty scenery, Japan houses, Traditional, Vintage, Culture
Suits: Sightseeing, Cultural
Personal Star Rating: ★★★★★ (Must Go)
Description & Tips:
👉Few rows of streets all stretched in the vicinity of Otaru Canal, super crowded with tourists. There are many souvenir shops, dessert shops, eateries be it restaurants, cafes, street foods.
👉 Have the chance to enjoy summer festivals in Otaru, with parades marching through Otaru street, which makes it very lively. There are quite a number of summer festivals and booths all around Hokkaido, such as Sapporo. One of them is beer festival in Sapporo (we do not get the chance to explore thou). For those interested, may google for more details when planning your trip.
👉 Very beautiful town as we explore by foots, we get to see different kinds of shops, indulge in Japan culture such as glass making etcetera.
👉 Remember to try matcha ice cream in a shop called Sa wa wa. The store is fully green in color, thus is quite hard to miss it! There are two types of ice cream sold over there, one is light matcha, another is thick matcha. It is just like the Japanese curry which has spiciness level 1 to 10, here we have light and strong intensity of matcha flavour ice cream as well! It is so so nice that I back to buy again, nicest matcha ice cream that I have ever tried before! 💚Drooling.. 😋
👉 Have the chance to enjoy summer festivals in Otaru, with parades marching through Otaru street, which makes it very lively. There are quite a number of summer festivals and booths all around Hokkaido, such as Sapporo. One of them is beer festival in Sapporo (we do not get the chance to explore thou). For those interested, may google for more details when planning your trip.
👉 Very beautiful town as we explore by foots, we get to see different kinds of shops, indulge in Japan culture such as glass making etcetera.
👉 Remember to try matcha ice cream in a shop called Sa wa wa. The store is fully green in color, thus is quite hard to miss it! There are two types of ice cream sold over there, one is light matcha, another is thick matcha. It is just like the Japanese curry which has spiciness level 1 to 10, here we have light and strong intensity of matcha flavour ice cream as well! It is so so nice that I back to buy again, nicest matcha ice cream that I have ever tried before! 💚Drooling.. 😋
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| Human trishaw |
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| Very nice matcha ice cream! Must try if you are green tea lovers! |
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| At last bought lovely souvenir for US from Hokkaido! |
Otaru Sakaimachi Shopping Street
Map Code: 493690589*33 (Note: It actually is map code for Otaru Canal, we use this map code to reach Otaru city, park the car and just start to explore those famous streets in Otaru by walking!)
Operating Hours: 24 hours
Average Time Spent: 2 hours
Highlights: Japan houses, Traditional, Vintage, Culture, Dessert, Souvenirs
Suits: Sightseeing, Cultural, Foodies
Personal Star Rating: ★★★★★ (Must Go)
Description & Tips:
👉 Taste those famous snacks and cookies in dessert shops. Note that for those famous snacks which we can buy from airport, we actually have the chance to test the taste in those shop branches in Otaru! It is very exciting and really assists you a lot when you choose what kind of snacks to buy as souvenirs! You can ONLY get this in Otaru, no where else in Hokkaido for this kind of free tasting! And there are generous with their samples!
👉 There are many foods on both rows of streets around the Sakaimachi area, be it live seafoods, Otaru's famous sushi shops, Hokkaido's famous sweet corn, Otaru's famous rainbow and green tea ice cream etcetera.
👉 For those sweet tooth lovers, remember to go to dessert stores such as LeTao, Ginnokane, Rokkatei, and Kitakaro. When you visit LeTao which is just located at this Sakaimachi Marchen street, you can sit the lift and go to the top floor for observatory to look out the Otaru street as well as the port view. There is a nostalgic bell for you to ring as well. Not to mention you can have high tea on 2nd floor of LeTao shop as well, but the queue is crazy. In LeTao, must buy the cheese cookies, it is so so nice and I get addicted after the free testing 😂. There is limited edition puff as well which can sold out very fast, so grab it before sold out! It is so delicious, puff skin is crunchy, inside is soft and melted with foamy cream. In a short time, you will eat finish the whole puff without realizing!
👉 There is one Snoopy theme cafe in this street as well, and same theory applies, be prepared for the crazy queue. The cafe is on 2nd floor and souvenir shops at 1st floor. For those snoopy lovers, you must come here and try those 'kawaiiii' snoopy style dishes!
👉 Remember to try rainbow ice cream, it is top.1 ice cream in Otaru! Choose the 7 flavors of ice cream so you can try all famous ice cream flavors at once! The 7 flavors are lavender, milk, chocolate, melon, green tea, strawberry, and grape! Have to plan tactics when eat this, 1st is choose the photo spot, then buy ice cream, then faster rush to the designated photo spot, quick shot on you with the ice cream, selfie, wefie etcetera, then faster bite your ice cream. By this time, is already melted and stained your hands, trust me.. It is the messiest ice cream that we have ate so far, and of course heaviest! 😅
👉 There are many foods on both rows of streets around the Sakaimachi area, be it live seafoods, Otaru's famous sushi shops, Hokkaido's famous sweet corn, Otaru's famous rainbow and green tea ice cream etcetera.
👉 For those sweet tooth lovers, remember to go to dessert stores such as LeTao, Ginnokane, Rokkatei, and Kitakaro. When you visit LeTao which is just located at this Sakaimachi Marchen street, you can sit the lift and go to the top floor for observatory to look out the Otaru street as well as the port view. There is a nostalgic bell for you to ring as well. Not to mention you can have high tea on 2nd floor of LeTao shop as well, but the queue is crazy. In LeTao, must buy the cheese cookies, it is so so nice and I get addicted after the free testing 😂. There is limited edition puff as well which can sold out very fast, so grab it before sold out! It is so delicious, puff skin is crunchy, inside is soft and melted with foamy cream. In a short time, you will eat finish the whole puff without realizing!
👉 There is one Snoopy theme cafe in this street as well, and same theory applies, be prepared for the crazy queue. The cafe is on 2nd floor and souvenir shops at 1st floor. For those snoopy lovers, you must come here and try those 'kawaiiii' snoopy style dishes!
👉 Remember to try rainbow ice cream, it is top.1 ice cream in Otaru! Choose the 7 flavors of ice cream so you can try all famous ice cream flavors at once! The 7 flavors are lavender, milk, chocolate, melon, green tea, strawberry, and grape! Have to plan tactics when eat this, 1st is choose the photo spot, then buy ice cream, then faster rush to the designated photo spot, quick shot on you with the ice cream, selfie, wefie etcetera, then faster bite your ice cream. By this time, is already melted and stained your hands, trust me.. It is the messiest ice cream that we have ate so far, and of course heaviest! 😅
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| Otaru Sakaimachi Street view from LeTao's observatory |
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| Otaru Sakaimachi Street view from LeTao's observatory |
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| Snoopy shop and cafe 2-in-1! |
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| Limited time mow mow pie! |
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| Crunchy outside, creamy inside! |
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| Famous 7 layers rainbow ice cream, must try in Otaru! |
Otaru Music Box Museum
Map Code: 493690589*33 (Note: It actually is map code for Otaru Canal, we use this map code to reach Otaru city, park the car and just start to explore those famous streets in Otaru by walking!)
Operating Hours: 9am - 6pm
Average Time Spent: 1.5 hour
Highlights: Souvenirs, Specialty Shop
Suits: Sightseeing, Shopping
Personal Star Rating: ★★★★★ (Must Go)
Description & Tips:
👉 There are two music box museums side by side, one is the most famous and largest in scale (3 storey), you will not missed it as they are many crowds going to the direction, and there is one steam clock tower in front of the museum. Another one is a smaller shop in scale (2 storey) just situated beside, and you can see small statues of Mickey and Minnie, as well as Totoro outside.
👉 There are two music box museums side by side, one is the most famous and largest in scale (3 storey), you will not missed it as they are many crowds going to the direction, and there is one steam clock tower in front of the museum. Another one is a smaller shop in scale (2 storey) just situated beside, and you can see small statues of Mickey and Minnie, as well as Totoro outside.
👉 The 3 storey shop is named Otaru Music Box Museum Main Building and the 2 storey shop is named Toy Store (梦之音) from the Google map. The Main Building sells a wide varietiesssss of music boxes, so much till you will be spoilt of choice, can you imagine they sell sushi style of music box as well? 😂 Haha, so creative, you got to venture around and dig the treasure in this shop to get your souvenirs back! 😍 The Toy Store (梦之音) mostly sells cute cartoon characters music box and those Japanese anime characters.
👉 The steam clock tower outside the Main Building will chimed and played music every 15 minutes! There will be people standing outside to watch the steam clock tower performance. Join the crowd if you are there as well. Although it is just a short moment of music playing and chiming, it is a special sight especially you are in the middle of Japanese feeling town and everything surrounding you feels so nostalgic and romantic!
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| Exterior look of music museum building |
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| Beautiful shop packed with tourists |
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| Look alike the long long dog in cartoon 'Secret Life of Pet' xD |
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| Steam clock tower outside the building |
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| Fluffy bearssssss! |
Old Temiya Railway Track
Map Code: 493690589*33 (Note: It actually is map code for Otaru Canal, we use this map code to reach Otaru city, park the car and just start to explore those famous streets in Otaru by walking!)
Operating Hours: 24 hours
Average Time Spent: 0.5 hour
Highlights: Historical
Suits: Sightseeing, History
Personal Star Rating: ★★ (Can Skip if Time Constraint)
Description & Tips:
👉 An old railway line that connects Otaru to Sapporo. Now it has been left there as part of the historical sightseeing place. Besides the track, there are houses everywhere. May come if you have extra time and pose as many photos as you like here as this place is usually vacant unlike other Otaru streets!
Shiroi Koboito Park
Map Code: 9602235*82
Operating Hours: 9am - 6pm
Average Time Spent: 2 hours
Highlights: Souvenirs, Specialty Shop, Cute garden
Suits: Sightseeing, Shopping
Personal Star Rating: ★★ (Can Skip if Time Constraint)
Description & Tips:
👉 Shiroi Koboito is the famous white chocolate cookies that you can see everywhere in Japan. In Hokkaido here, you can see the factory that manufactures this nice white chocolate cookies. A very good time spent with family and kids.
👉 There are outdoor english style gardens, cute little candy houses, and cafes for you to strolling around and take photos. The colorful exterior design of building reminds us of those France style building. Inside the building there are souvenir shops which are very crowded with tourists. In the middle of the shops, there is a long red staircase which manyyyy people are queuing to take photo as it feels like from one of the princess story.
👉 May join the factory tour if you are interested to see how they manufacture Shiroi Koboito. At the end of the tour, you can DIY your very own personalized cookies as well!
Former Hokkaido Government Office
Map Code: 9522361*47
Operating Hours: 8.45am - 5.30pm
Average Time Spent: 0.5 hour
Highlights: Landmark, History
Suits: Sightseeing, History, Culture
Personal Star Rating: ★★ (Can Skip if Time Constraint)
Description & Tips:
👉 A red brick style of building that portrays the Hokkaido history exhibition to public.
👉 The striking red color of building makes it stands out be it in what season, especially the winter season. You can have different kind of photo feeling when you visit here in different season.
👉 The striking red color of building makes it stands out be it in what season, especially the winter season. You can have different kind of photo feeling when you visit here in different season.
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| Credit to dreamstime |
Refer to below links for more Hokkaido summer trip blogs:
1. Our Pre Wedding Photoshooting Memories: Pre Wedding Photoshooting Blog
2. Executive Summary: Executive Summary Blog
2. Executive Summary: Executive Summary Blog
3. Day 1 & 2 (Furano): Day 1&2 (Furano) Blog
4. Day 3 (Furano & Biei): Day 3 (Furano & Biei) Blog
5. Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo): Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo) Blog
6. Day 5 (Hakodate): Day 5 (Hakodate) Blog
7. Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu): Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu) Blog
8. Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport): Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport) Blog
7. Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu): Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu) Blog
8. Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport): Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport) Blog
9. Top Foods in Hokkaido: Top Foods in Hokkaido Blog
10. Top Dessert in Hokkaido: Top Dessert in Hokkaido
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👉 Date: 22/7/2018 ~ 29/7/2018
