- April 21st, 2017
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[Sakaimachidori Shopping Street Marchen Crossroads in Otaru] One of Most Popular Tourist Attractions in Otaru
CONTENTS
Sakaimachidori Shopping Street
Sakaimachidori Shopping Street (堺町通り) and Marchen Crossroads (メルヘン交差点) are tourist attractions between Otaru Station (小樽駅) and Minami-Otaru Station (南小樽駅), and is located in the eastern direction of the Otaru Station, and the distance between the Sakaimachidori Shopping Street and the station is about 900 m. It takes about 15 minutes through Chuo Street (中央通り) on foot. The street with atomosphere of Taisho Period and Medieval Europe is one of most popular tourist attractions in the Otaru along with Otaru Canal, and is an established spot that almost all 8 million tourists that visit the otaru go to see. Otaru Sakaimachi Yukata Wind Chime (小樽堺町ゆかた風鈴まつり) is held between 2days in early August. Admission free. There are toll parking lots around here.
Movie of Sakaimachi-Dori Street
Otaru Canal
Otaru Canal (小樽運河) is a canal in the center of Otaru city, and is located in the eastern direction of the Otaru Station, and the distance between the Otaru Canal and the station is about 700 m. It takes about 10 minutes through Chuo Street (中央通り) on foot. It is well-known as one of most famous tourist attractions in the Otaru, and is an established spot that almost all 8 million tourists that visit the otaru go to see. At Ironai area once called Northern Wall Street (北のウォール街) beside the canal, historical buildings of the Bank of Japan (日本銀行), Former Nippon Yusen (旧日本郵船), Former Mitsubishi Bank (旧三菱銀行), Former Yasuda Bank (旧安田銀行) and Former Hokkaido Takushoku Bank (旧北海道拓殖銀行) make poeple feel a splendid atmosphere of Meiji period. The stone canal goes well with the Ironai area, and the tourists feel Taisho Roman (大正浪漫). Admission free. There are toll parking lots around here. Read More
A highway bus "Otaru-go (おたる号)" runs between the Otaru and the Sapporo. Unfortunately, the express bus does not run between New Chitose Airport and the Otaru. Besides, Rent-a-car can be rented around Otaru Station.
OTARU
Otaru (小樽) that 120,000 people live is the 9th largest port city in Hokkaido, and is located in the northwestern direction of Sapporo city. It takes about 30 minutes from the Sapporo to the Otaru by a train. The Otaru is one of most popular tourist cities in the Hokkaido, and about 8 million people visit here. It is also well-known as a city with a lot of slopes, and there are 30 slopes with its name, so the Otaru has a lot of slope lands, and has a lot of narrow roads. It is famous as a city with a lot of sushi restaurants, too, and more than 100 sushi restaurants open their businesses. Fresh seafood caught in the Sea of Japan facing the Otaru or caought in various places of the Hokkaido can be enjoyed. As for a climate, the Otaru has calm climate, it is cold in a summer, and it snow hard. The Otaru was called an inaccessible land in the old days because all transportation facilities paralyzed by a heavy snow. Read More
Look of Sakaimachi-Dori Street
The Sakaimachi-Dori Street is adjacent to Ironai area once called Northern Wall Street (北のウォール街) and the Otaru Canal. About 900 m-length one‐way street from Otaru Canal Terminal (小樽運河ターミナル) to Marchen Crossroads (メルヘン交差点) is called "The Sakaimachi-Dori Street". About 90 restraunts, popular souvenir shops such as Kitaichi Glass (北一硝子), Otaru Music Box Museum (小樽オルゴール堂) and LeTao (ルタオ) are built side by side along the stone pavement road, and a lot of tourists come here. I recommend taking a walk along the street because it is hard to find the parking lots. My visited places are as follows.
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Marchen Crossroads
A official name of the Marchen Crossroads, 5 other forked roads, is "Sakaimachi Crossroads (堺町交差点)". I tried searching why it was called "Marchen Crossroads" on the internet, but I did not know. I guess the stone pavement road and stone buildings are associated with fairy tales of Medieval Germany for Otaru people. I think it is a cathy name. Joyato (常夜灯 * a light that lit all through the night.) and a steam clock (蒸気時計) are built around the Marchen Crossroads, and those are one of most famous objects of the Marchen Crossroads. The Minami-Otaru Station is most nearest station to the Marchen Crossroads.
Marchen Crossroads Can Be Watched on Youtube
Movie of Marchen Crossroads
| Admission fee | Free of charge |
|---|---|
| Parking lot | Pay parking lots is provided |
| Business hours | Open 24 hours |
| Regular closing day | Open all year round |
| Telephone number | +81-134-32-4111 |
| Home page | Home page is not provided |
| Mapcode | 493 661 579*54 |
LeTao Head Office
Otaru Western Pastry Store LeTAO (小樽洋菓子舗ルタオ) is a popular pastry store based in Otaru city, and is run by KCC corp. (株式会社ケイシイシイ) opened in 1996. Kotobuki Spirits corp. (寿スピリッツ株式会社), a famous confectionery company in Tottori prefecture, is a parent company. Most of people think that the origin of the Letao inverts words of Otaru (オタル) in Japanese, but it is wrong. It is an initial "Dear tower of Otaru in French (Le Tour Amitie Otaru)". That is unexpected. Their branches open a business in the Otaru, Sapporo, Chitose and New Chitose Airport, and they serve cakes, baked confectioneries and breads. Read More
Pathos
LeTao Head Office (ルタオ本店) is built along Sakaimachidori Shopping Street (堺町通り), and LeTAO PATHOS, Nouvelle Vague LeTAO Chocolatier, Fromage Danish DANI LeTAO and LeTAO PLUS are along the street. My visited place is the LeTAO PATHOS. A souvenir shop and a shop are on the 1st floor, and a restaurant is on the 2nd floor. A place for custmers to enjoy foods and drinks is provided on the 1st floor. Read More
List of Events
Otaru Sakaimachi Yukata Wind Chime is held between 2days in early August.
Movie of Otaru Sakaimachi Yukata Wind Chime
List of Accommodations
Refer to following websites for the accommodations in the Otaru. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.
OTARU
ASARIGAWA ONSEN
A page of Otaru is here
Otaru
By the way, Club Tourism (クラブツーリズム), a Japanese tour travel agency, provides various types of tours such as day trip tours or ordinary tours. In the case of bus tours, tourists do not drive their cars themselves, so they can savor alcohol. Choosen tourist attractions are national parks such as Rishiri and Rebun, Shiretoko, and popular tourist places such as Furano and Biei, and some activities such as hiking and fruit picking are also enjoyed depending on seasons. If you are interested in tour trips, you should visit the club tourism's website for details.
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