Otaru Canal, Otaru: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

Otaru Canal runs roughly 1.3 kilometers through the port district of Otaru, a city on Hokkaido's western coast about 40 minutes by train from Sapporo. Built in 1923 as a shipping route for herring and coal cargo, the stone warehouse buildings along its banks have been converted into restaurants, glass workshops, and music-box shops. Gas lamps illuminate the canal path at dusk, and in February the annual Snow Light Path Festival lines the waterway with snow lanterns and candles. The city is also known for its fresh sushi sourced from the adjacent fishing port. When in Otaru it's worth considering not only but another main attraction like Mt. Tengu (Tenguyama).