Whimsical Otaru Day Trip (17 December 2024)

Otaru, a charming port city located northwest of Sapporo, was just a 40-minute ride on the rapid train.

From Otaru Station, we took a local bus for about 25 minutes to reach Otaru Aquarium, a small marine park. We were eager to catch the Penguin Parade and the dolphin show. Thankfully, we arrived just in time for the penguin parade.

The parade lasted only 10 minutes, after which we explored the aquarium, marveling at the Northern Hemisphere fish we had never seen before. They looked like creatures from the Stone Age. We ended our 2-hour visit with the dolphin show before rushing to catch the bus back to the city.

For lunch, we headed to Sankaku Market to try King Crab. Our curiosity about the taste of King Crab was finally satisfied when we picked a live crab, which they steamed and grilled for us. It was incredibly satisfying to share a 2.4 kg crab with the family.

After our crab feast, we took a leisurely stroll around Otaru Canal. The area looked whimsical at sunset as the lights began to illuminate, creating a magical atmosphere. We then headed to Sakaimachi Road, lined with local souvenir shops selling glass art, music boxes, and other local crafts.

Before heading back to Sapporo, we stopped by Le Tao for a delightful dessert of cheese tarts and apple pie.

Though our day trip to Otaru was short, we felt that the town, with its beauty and charm, deserved more time to explore.