While Otaru is definitely one of the best places for a holiday in Hokkaido, Japan, to make your trip truly unforgettable, it’s best to stay at or near the marina. Read on to discover why this area should be your go-to spot hereafter.
Sublime Setting and Accommodation
Of course, the marina setting overlooking Ishikari Bay is truly enchanting and provides a stunning backdrop to begin and end your day. You can stay at hotels like Grand Park Otaru right across from the marina, offering rooms and suites with luxurious comforts and ocean or mountain views. Such properties also feature Japanese-style rooms complete with tatami mat floors and traditional shoji paper screen doors for a more unique experience.
Diverse Dining Options
When looking for the best hotel in Hokkaido for your stay at the Otaru Marina, access to dining options is also important. Top choices include the Terrace Brasserie, a charming seaside restaurant overlooking the marina, Cocoro offering Teppanyaki-style dining and Bay Lounge, ideal for afternoon tea complemented by Ishikari Bay views. Of course, there’s also plenty more to savour for foodies at the nearby mall, which is coming up next!
Shopping at Wing Bay Otaru
When you stay at the marina, you have easy access to Wing Bay Otaru, which happens to be one of the largest malls in Hokkaido with lots of stores, restaurants, cafes and sweet shops. As you explore its four floors, you will come across clothing for men, women and children, stylish fashion, home furnishing and more. It also has a cinema, bowling alley and play centre, so the whole family can have a blast.
An Ideal Base for Sightseeing
The marina area makes an ideal base for sightseeing, and what’s more, the JR Otaru-Chikkō Station is nearby. Among the top sites to add to your itinerary are the iconic Otaru Canal, Sakaimachi Street, home to the Music Box Museum and glass workshops, Sumiyoshi Shrine and the Mt. Tengu Ropeway. Don’t forget that you can also go on boat tours from the marina to see the coastline as well as spellbinding sunsets over the Sea of Japan.
