Otaru's most famous sight is this canal. Hard to say what's so special about it, but it's often used as a backdrop in movies and TV dramas. Walkable from Otaru Station.

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Otaru is a living architectural museum. There are numerous old and distinguished buildings which have been preserved. The city has a building code requiring all buildings to be designed to fit in the overall architectural scheme. If you like 19th century and early 20th century architecture, glassware, and/or music boxes, you will love Otaru. The historic buildings are concentrated along the Ironai-dori and Sakai-machi-dori road. A short walk from the Otaru Canal.

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Two historical buildings in Otaru are Important Cultural Properties, and this is one of them. Nippon Yusen, or NYK Line, was and is a major shipping company. This building was their Otaru Branch office, elegant enough to be a State Guesthouse.

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A low, craggy mountain 371 meters high, Mt. Akaiwa faces the ocean and has steep but brief sides for climbing. Almost like rock climbing. The views are beautiful. Near Shukutsu.

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