Otaru Sakaimachi Street

Otaru Sakaimachi Street Shopping District is at the heart of sightseeing in Otaru. It is about a five-minute walk from the popular Otaru Canal and is located exactly between JR Otaru Station and JR Minami-Otaru Station. Lined with historic stone and brick buildings constructed in the Meiji, Taisho, and early Showa periods, it has a nostalgic atmosphere that feels like stepping back in time.

The shopping street stretches for about 1.3 km and consists of areas such as Sakaimachi Main Street and Ironai Boulevard. With around 120 shops in total, including 83 member stores, it offers a wide variety of souvenir shops, restaurants, and hands-on experience facilities, making it enjoyable all day long not only for tourists but also for couples, families, and groups of friends.

This area is home to popular Otaru-born brands such as LeTAO and Kamaei, as well as sushi restaurants and seafood bowl shops using fresh Hokkaido seafood, stylish cafes and bars, Western-style confectionery shops, general goods stores, and craft shops. Visitors can enjoy gourmet food walks and shopping to the fullest. In addition, there are plenty of experiential shops where you can try glassblowing, marble-making, and music box crafting, making it a perfect place to create travel memories.

Otaru once flourished as the economic center of Hokkaido, earning the nickname “the Wall Street of the North.” The stone warehouses that still remain along the canal, along with historic buildings such as the former Bank of Japan Otaru Branch, are precious reminders of that prosperity, and the stately streetscape unique to Otaru is one of its great attractions.

Around Sakaimachi Street, you can also find many popular souvenirs. From LeTAO’s “Double Fromage” to handmade glass accessories, music boxes, processed seafood products, Otaru Narutoya’s half-fried chicken, sake from Tanaka Sake Brewery, and Otaru Beer, there is a rich selection of products unique to Otaru.

Otaru Sakaimachi Street Shopping District is also easily accessible from New Chitose Airport, Sapporo, and the Niseko area, taking about 1 to 1.5 hours by train, bus, or car. Another charm is that the area offers different expressions in each season, so you’ll never tire of visiting no matter how many times you come.

A “one-of-a-kind experience” woven from streets rich in history and culture, a variety of unique shops, and warm hospitality awaits you. Please come and visit Otaru Sakaimachi Street Shopping District, where nostalgia and freshness come together.