小樽
Kiroro Snow World is an international ski resort said to have the highest amount of snowfall in Hokkaido with an average of 21m in season and is easily reachable by shuttle bus from Otaru. Otaru also has 3 local resorts within half an hour from town Mt Tenguyama, Snow Cruise Onze and Asarigawa Onsen all of which are are well serviced by public transport. These resorts have well priced tickets and night skiing, so you can make the most your day.
| 33% | 29% | 38% |
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| 22% | 45% | 33% |
| 16% | 42% | 42% |
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Otaru has a network of resort liners and local buses that can transport you to the local ski resorts. Taxis in Otaru will also take you to the ski resorts. They are mainly standard sized sedans, so make sure you book one with a roof rack if needed. You have to organise your own taxis back from ski resorts. The resorts will not do it for you and will direct you to call your hotel to arrange the booking.
There are local buses to Tenguyama
Driving: 15 mins
Public Bus: ~30mins
Run as an all inclusive day trip. You can buy a bus, lift and rental ticket to visit ONZE. For some weird reason, you have to buy the additional rental package for this ticket.
Driving: 20mins
Resort Liner (Booking required): ~30mins
Run as a day trip. You can buy a bus & lift ticket to Asarigawa onsen.
Driving: 20mins
Free Shuttle Bus (Booking required): ~30mins
The Kiroro Liner has multiple pick up points in the city and does trips twice a day to Kiroro and back. Requires booking ahead.
Driving: 40 mins
Resort Liner (Booking required): 1 hr 15 mins
Thanks to its unique location surrounded by the Sea of Japan and Sea of Okhotsk, Otaru is famous for its exceptional seafood sourced from the local harbor. It is said that the freezing temperatures here mean that fish develop more fat which makes them more delicious. Otaru is also known as the The "Kingdom of Sweets” for the numerous patisseries and dessert shops lining its streets offering treats such as the famous LeTAO cheesecakes and crispy cream puffs from Rokkatei.
You are absolutely spoiled for choice in Otaru when it comes to great food. The gourmet city has great dining options everywhere and you won’t go wrong at one of establishments along the canal, Sankaku market and Sakaimachi.
Being a popular destination, Otaru has a variety of accommodation options ranging from luxury hotels to budget-friendly guesthouses. Some hotels offer equipment rental services, and are on the ski shuttle network to nearby ski resorts. Factors in getting a hotel would be distance to train stations, bus stops, sightseeing spots, food & entertainment. Thankfully in Otaru, most of these spots are within a small area from the train station to the canal.
Otaru has a small selection of sports and outdoor shops where you can pick up some gear. The Otaru Kitashiribeshi Ski & Adventure center operates a rental service network which can deliver equipment to your hotel.
With its rich history, artisanal culture, and natural beauty, there's no shortage of things to do and sights to see in Otaru. The city is conveniently made up of 4 areas - the station area, canal area, shopping area and bay area, all within walking distance of each other. The Otaru Unga (Otaru Canal) is a must visit for any tourist. Especially on Winter evenings, when the antique gas lamps light up beautifully the stone facades of the warehouses along the canal.
Ski Japan: Hokkaido Road Trip Part 1
The first thing we did in Otaru was seek out Tokaiya. It’s a small space and there was a bit of a wait but it was worth it. We came for the special pork miso ramen which was recommend by a friend. The charred pieces of pork was something I have never had and it tasted 🤤!
