おたる: Entranced in Otaru

And I am completely onboard with this quote (of mine). Literally.

As stated in a few of my earlier posts, Japan is mesmerising, hands down. The cynosure of Japan, aka, the さくら (sakura) or the cherry blossoms is just one part of Japan (a more famous one I would say) which usually catches the attention of the world (I have however made a post on that, do click here to read it).

However, as a part of exploring the “uncliched” locations and explore the stunning beautiful vistas and culture a place has to offer, I undertook an exploration sojourn of the Northernmost and quite underrated region of Japan – Hokkaido. You can read more about the places I visited here.

One gem of a place in Hokkaido I had the honour of visiting is おたる / Otaru. This place may be unknown to quite a lot of my readers, yet, there is immense beauty in this place waiting to bedazzle the inquisitive traveler beyond measure. Let us now explore the town of Otaru and see some of the hidden gems of Japan.

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Introduction to Otaru

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Otaru is a rustic, unspoilt and supremely picturesque port town located in Hokkaido Prefecture. It serves as a major port for the City of Sapporo, the Capital of Hokkaido, and is located some 40 km from the bustling Metropolis of Sapporo. One can easily feel the romantic vibes the moment one lands in Otaru. It served initially as a major fishing spot being close to the Sea of Okhotsk, a hotspot for fishing since ages. One can also find some European baroque styled buildings standing side by side with traditional Japanese buildings, which are a testament to the opening of Japan during the Meiji period, allowing European merchants and Companies to set up operations in Japan during that period.

Otaru is a great weekend gateaway for the residents of Sapporo to unwind themselves amidst the picturesque beaches of the Sea of Okhotsk and soak in the astounding sceneries the city has to offer. This is one great hidden gem of Japan which isn’t that common outside the country. But again, that’s the point of traveling – to explore the unknown.

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A slice of Amsterdam, a pinch of Norway – and a jewel of Japan

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I couldn’t find a better description to summarise the qunitessence of the modern day Otaru.

But more elaboration on that later on. Let’s start exploring the city ab-initio, that is, right from the entry and the journey to this gem of Japan.

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