おたる: Entranced in Otaru

The slice of Amsterdam (and incidentally Norway) in Japan – the Canals of Otaru

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Otaru, in my humble opinion, is a perfection of some of the blithesome dimensions of Europe in a place thousands of miles away from the European shores. The landscape is dominated by baroque buildings but one item stands out and perhaps defines Otaru – the Canals, which are almost indistinguishanble from its celebrated cousins in the Netherlands.

As previously stated, the city of Otaru serves as an important port to the Metropolis of Sapporo located some 40 km away. The Canals were built to break bulk from larger ships and transport the goods to and from such seafaring ships to warehouses for transportation. Thus, it’s not surprising to know that Otaru was the host to the first railway line in the prefecture of Hokkaido in the late 19th Century CE.

The Canals are no longer used to transport goods as there is now a modern port in Otaru with state of the art facilities capable of handling very large cargo carriers which are in use today. However, massive credits are due for the people of Otaru and the Government of Japan for preserving these canals in their original state for the future generations to come- to showcase the past or the heritage of Otaru, the importance of the city and serve as a new source of income and employment generation for the economy of Otaru, and that is, through tourism.

Isn’t it pleasantly surprising to experience a slice of Amsterdam in a place more than 8,500 km away in the Land of the Rising Sun? Scroll through the pictures below.

Did you notice the Mountains of Ice descending into the mighty ocean? Doesn’t it look familiar to the deep icy fjords of Norway?

Well, unless it’s winter, such a sight is not common to Otaru. However, through sheer stroke of luck and through a complete unexpected twist in the weather, I encountered heavy sleet and snowfall in Hokkaido the day before and the temperature remained below zero for a significant part of the day and many more such days to follow, despite the season being that of the majestic cherry blossoms. Hence, the experience of a slice of the Norse coastline juxtaposed with the Dutch hinterland in the Land of Perfection, was a bonus.

Did you notice the red buildings alongside the canals? Those were originally used as warehouses for goods meant for transport to / from the ships. Those brick houses now serve a multitude of functions other than warehousing, the most common among them is related to hospitality. The brick houses now have fish markets, restaurants, souvenir shops and breweries located within them. One can enjoy a mug of the locally produced and nationally acclaimed Otaru beer with some fresh local seafood while soaking in the views of the Dutch-styled canals overlooking the Icy Mountains. I have chronicled my experience with Otaru food and drinks in a separate blog post which may be accessed by clicking the given links.

Oh, what a sight to behold for a chionophile, seeing the Mountains of Ice overlooking the city. One important activity to do in Otaru is to take the Canal Cruise, which takes about 45 mins and involves a guided tour (in Japanese and English) describing the city and the canals. Let’s explore that.

Otaru Canal Cruise

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A great and perhaps the only way to experience the splendour of these remarkably preserved historical Amsterdam-styled canals is through a boat cruise – a common and well acclaimed method present even in Amsterdam for that matter.

The cruise costs around ¥ 1,800 ($13-14 approx.) and lasts for about 45 minutes. The cruise allows you to absorb all the history behind these spectacular canals, the brick “warehouses” and the overall activities of the people of Otaru. Some breathtaking vistas can be observed from the cruise, transitioning from a typical countryside in the Netherlands to an array of picturesque huts quintessential to a typical idyllic coastal village in Scandinavia. Scroll through the pictures in the slideshow below.

Food and Drinks

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So much of walks, photography and cruises would eventually call for a hearty meal. And since I had been told about the brick warehouses now housing good eateries serving local delicacies, I knew I had to try one of them.

Enter Otaru Beer. It’s a fantastic German-brewery themed hotel serving a plethora of German delicacies, in addition to great local Otaru-based foods (perhaps for people like me who are strict about “Vocal For Local”).

I had chronicled my experiences with food and drinks in Japan (especially Hokkaido) and the delectables and elixirs I had in Otaru are mentioned therein. The following posts may help you with the food and drinks recommended, in strictly my personal opinion, in Otaru.

• たべもの: Part 2 – ごちそうさま / Thank You for the Experience
• たべもの: Part 3 – かんぱい / Cheers to the Drinks

Temiya Line / てみや-せん

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The Temiya Line or Temiya-sen is now an open air historical site or sort of museum which contains Hokkaido’s very first railroad constructed way back in 1880 CE under the Meiji Restoration period. Since Otaru is a port city, the railroad was constructed to aid in the transportation of goods and passengers from far reaches of Hokkaido to Otaru. The line was in service for a little over 100 years from 1880 to 1985 when it ceased commercial operations. However the people of Otaru decided to keep a section of the line preserved, like they had preserved the beautiful canals.

Doesn’t preserving the old help provide a learning opportunity for the younger generation in addition to opening new avenues for economic progress? I believe Otaru is a shining testament to this assertion.

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