Private Customizable walking Tour in Otaru

The Otaru Canal is 1,140 meters long and features gentle curves, making it one of Otaru's most iconic tourist attractions. The fantastic and nostalgic scenery of 63 gas lamps along the canal attracts many tourists. The stone warehouses and old buildings along the canal have been reused as stores and restaurants, and together with the historical buildings and retro streetscape, have won many awards, including the 100 best cityscapes and 100 most beautiful historical climates in Japan. In addition, there are abundant sightseeing spots around Otaru Canal, such as historical buildings, museums, Otaru Sakai-machi-dori Shopping Street, Otaru Music Box Hall, etc., where you can fully experience the charm of Otaru. Your guide will take you to places of your interest.

Otaru Sakaimachi-dori Shopping Street is the main street of Otaru sightseeing, located close to the Otaru Canal, the most popular tourist attraction in Otaru, where the streets are formed by many historical buildings built in the Meiji, Taisho and Showa periods. The shopping street, with its time-travel-like atmosphere, is famous for its sweets, glass, and music boxes, and you can enjoy Otaru's typical restaurants and shopping.

At the entrance, you will be greeted by a steam clock, the symbol of the store. The retro atmosphere of the store is filled with about 80,000 music boxes collected from all over the world. The music boxes come in a wide variety of designs and materials, including jewelry boxes, stuffed animals, wall hangings, ceramics, and other unique items.

Famous for its signature “Double Fromage” cheesecake with a light and creamy texture, LeTAO attracts visitors from across Japan and abroad. The main store offers desserts and café menus available only here, giving you the chance to taste exclusive flavors in the very heart of Otaru. With its European-style building and tower, LeTAO also adds charm to the cityscape and makes a popular photo spot. Beyond enjoying sweets, you can browse a wide selection of chocolates and baked goods, ideal as gifts to take home. Visiting LeTAO on your Otaru tour is more than a stop for dessert—it is an experience of local culture, hospitality, and the city’s world-famous taste of Hokkaido.

A sake brewery that uses 100% Hokkaido rice to produce local sake all year round. At Kikkogura, visitors can join a brewery tour any time of the year to see the traditional brewing process up close and learn about the history of sake in Otaru. For those who prefer a lighter experience, the main store offers tasting opportunities and a wide selection of local sake and related products for shopping. The main store is also closer to the cruise port, so please let your guide know which location you would like to visit.

The atrium, which was originally a bank hall and extends to the second floor, is now a large art museum with six impressive classical columns. Visitors can walk through the Lewis C. Tiffany Stained Glass Gallery on the first floor and admire modern and contemporary Japanese paintings.