Otaru, Hokkaido, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan. It’s famous for interesting architecture, such as the Otaru Canal, beautiful night views, amazing sea views, and tasty seafood. You can relish the food at some of the best places to eat in Otaru.
Events to lookout for
If you want to truly imbibe the local culture, the annual Otaru Ushio Festival is not the one to miss. This festival, originally created to thank the bounties of the sea, is held every year in July over a three-day period. It is celebrated with stunning fireworks displays and entertaining parades, known as Shio Nerikomi.
Visit the charming city of Otaru during the winter months to have a blissful and magical experience. During this time of the year, The Otaru Canal is decorated with 10,000 LED blue fairy lights from November to December, from sunset to 10:30pm, giving the place an ethereal glow. According to the official site, the best time to make the most of this attraction is just after sunset. You can also enjoy a boat ride on the canal to maximize the fun.
For a great photoshoot opportunity, the ‘Wine Glass Tower’ inside Canal Plaza is a must-visit. Since Otaru is called the “City of Glass”, this tower made with about 2,000 wine glasses is a nod to the city’s unofficial nickname. It is typically open from 9am to 6pm during winter nights.
If you understand Japanese and want to know the city better, why not enjoy a guided night tour? Starting from the Otaru Canal, groups of 10 can enjoy this free tour which gives a deeper insight into the culture and history of the city. According to the official site, this event occurs every Saturday in December and January. Also note that the tour will be exclusively in Japanese and while you do not need to book it in advance, you need to register for it from 4pm to 5pm.
With so much on offer, it’s important to choose the right hotel to maximize your time here and fully enjoy the trip. So, check out some of the best hotels in Otaru, Japan.
We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) Superhost status, recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, availability of dates, decor, and amenities. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on April 04, 2024.
1. Enjoy the canal view at Hotel Sonia Otaru (from USD 68)
Located in front of the main attraction of the city, the Otaru Canal, Hotel Sonia Otaru is a fantastic accommodation option here. Boating spacious rooms, an in-house restaurant, and even a public hot spring bath, this hotel offers a relaxing and stress-free stay. After visiting the nearby attractions, you can unwind with a beverage at the on-site coffee shop or enjoy a movie in the well-appointed room.
While all the rooms in the hotel are non-smoking, there is a special smoking booth on the hotel’s first floor. Moreover, this canal-front hotel is the perfect place to view the annual Otaru Snow Light Path. It’s a festival where the canal and much of the city are lined with twinkling candles at night to welcome the winter. You can see the spectacular sights from dusk to 9pm.
Hotel Sonia Otaru
Address: Ironai 1-4-20
4.32 km (2.7 mi) from Otaru Aquarium
2. Experience a convenient stay at UNWIND HOTEL & BAR OTARU (from USD 95)
With a deep history that goes back to 1937, this accommodation was previously known as Echuya Hotel. The first hotel in the prefecture for overseas travelers, it promises you a marvelous vacation. While UNWIND HOTEL & BAR OTARU has undergone a modern update, its rich history and storied past can still be felt.
This 3-star boutique hotel provides an inviting ambiance as soon you enter the elegant lobby with a fireplace. The rooms are also well-appointed, with plush bedding, indoor entertainment, and a refrigerator. Some rooms even have lofts or include breakfast and a course dinner.
One of the most attractive features of this hotel is the vast number of rental items it provides, from aroma oils to humidifiers and projectors. Another advantage of staying at this Art-Deco-themed hotel is the complimentary wine service offered daily from 5pm to 6:30pm in the hotel bar, allowing you to relax.
UNWIND HOTEL & BAR OTARU
Address: Ironai 1Chome 8-25
4.47 km (2.8 mi) from Otaru Aquarium
3. Have a cozy stay at Grids Premium Hotel Otaru (from USD 67)
Stay comfortable at this stylish and well-furnished hotel that boasts a spa and wellness center. All its rooms are air-conditioned with WiFi available free of charge. You’ll also get a flat-screen TV, safety deposit box, and fridge in every unit. Furthermore, your laundry needs can be taken care of with the help of a coin-operated laundry machine on the first floor, which also has a smoking booth and a microwave. Its on-site restaurant serves buffet breakfast where you can relish Japanese, European and American cuisines.
The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk and a concierge service that can help you visit nearby attractions such as the Otaru City Museum of Art, Otaru Canal Park, the Otaru Museum, and so on. Grids Premium Hotel Otaru is about nine minutes from Otaru Station on foot, providing you with an efficient means of travel.
Also, ensure that you check in or return to the hotel before 1am, as it is locked at that time. However, you can unlock the entrance with your room key or use the intercom at the side of the entrance to get help.
GRIDS PREMIUM HOTEL OTARU
Address: 1 Chome-3-13 Inaho
4.7 km (3.0 mi) from Otaru Aquarium
4. Find comfort and convenience at Ryo An (from USD 79)
Incredible value for the size and furnishings offered.
Spacious, clean, and well-furnished with quality bedding. Full range of facilities available.
Conveniently located just a 5-minute walk from the train station, restaurants, and shops. Attractions like the Otaru canal are within walking distance.
Conveniently located near a Lawson convenience store and a variety of dining options.
Ryo An is a great combination of comfort and convenience. It’s located near Otaru station and you can easily reach the tourist spots such as Otaru Canal Park and the Otaru Museum. Furthermore, other tourist attractions, including Otaru Denuki Koji and Asahi Observation Deck, are also nearby. Otaru Denuki Koji alleyway is a collection of bars and food shops designed to create a nostalgic effect with Colonial Japanese architecture. Visit this place at night for a more magical experience, thanks to the swaying lanterns illuminating the entire alley.
As far as amenities are concerned, all its rooms are air-conditioned, spacious, and feature a desk, a flat-screen TV, and en suite bathroom. There is WiFi available for free so that you can stay connected to your loved ones. You can also avail of the washing machine and kitchen facility on site.
Ryo An
Address: Inaho 1-8-6
4.87 km (3.1 mi) from Otaru Aquarium
5. A resort surrounded by sea: Hotel Neu Schloss Otaru (from USD 134)
About 15 minutes from JR Otaru station, Hotel Neu Schloss Otaru is located in a quiet area with a magnificent ocean view. This magnificent hotel’s name translates to New Castle in German, and appropriately, its architecture and vibes invoke the feeling of living in a European castle. While here, feel free to celebrate your special days or surprise your loved ones through flowers, cakes, and massages.
Hotel Neu Schloss Otaru is located at the end of a cape where you can view the beautiful sunset and even the Isaribi (fire used by fishermen to attract fish) at night. In fact, all the rooms offer a splendid view of the sea.
The rooms are designed in a retro-yet-modern manner, which creates a relaxing atmosphere. A French restaurant, Blau Kuste, is also located within the hotel, and it serves delicious meals that use local Hokkaido products. There is also a bar lounge that you can enjoy.
Not only does the hotel have an onsen (hot spring with bathing facilities), each room in the hotel comes with an open-air bath too! The natural seawater used in the onsen is said to be good for the skin.
Although Hotel Neu Schloss Otaru may be slightly inconvenient due to its location, free shuttle bus services are available, and is a great place for those who want a peaceful accommodation with a beautiful sea view! (Please check the shuttle bus timings with the hotel.
Hotel Neu Schloss Otaru
Address: Shukutsu 3-282
352 meters (0.3 ft) from Otaru Aquarium
6. Enjoy the glorious sea views from Grand Park Otaru (from USD 83)
Grand Park Otaru is located at the romantic Otaru Bay area and is only 5 minutes from Otaruchikkou station. The waterfront hotel gives you a great view of the port and, at night, lights from the ferries and yachts look like jewels on the ocean. You can also enjoy the refreshing sunrise view in the morning.
The rooms are available in both a Japanese and Western style, and a total of 5 restaurants and bars are available. One of them is the Terrace Brasserie where breakfast is served buffet style. Although international cuisine is mainly served, there are numerous seafood dishes as well as sushi!
Not only is Grand Park Otaru in a convenient location, it is also located near Wing Bay Otaru, a shopping mall with numerous dining and entertainment options. To add to this, the bus stop right in front of the hotel has a direct bus to Mount Tengu where you can enjoy the marvelous Otaru night view. (The bus ride is about 35 minutes.)
Other than fantastic amenities and accommodations, Grand Park Otaru provides several special promotions, including tempting discounts for family stays and a gondola lift day pass to the nearby Kiroro Snow World.
Grand Park Otaru
Address: Chikko 11-3
6.06 km (3.8 mi) from Otaru Aquarium
7. Just 1 minute from Otaru station – Dormy Inn Premium Otaru (from USD 77)
Dormy Inn Premium Otaru is possibly one of the most convenient hotels around Otaru city – it is only a minutes’ walk from Otaru station. Popular amongst not just tourists but also business guests, various services may entice you to choose this hotel.
The members of staff smoothly attend to guests and check-in is extremely speedy; staff members are used to dealing with a large number of guests. Also, the hotel lobby has self-service coffee and tea as well as various free pamphlets in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean. This property also provides paid parking, ensuring that your travels are seamless. You will have to pay 1,200 JPY (8.37 USD) per night to accommodate your car. Motorcycles can also be parked here for 500 JPY (3.49 USD). Do note that if the parking area is occupied then the staff will direct you to a nearby parking lot.
The rooms are designed luxuriously, and an onsen with a sauna is also available. Furthermore, in Dormy Inn Premium Otaru, free ramen service is available after 9:30 pm! Breakfast is served buffet style within the hotel and includes both Japanese and International cuisine. Of course, fresh seafood dishes are available, including red caviar and scallops.
Various shopping malls, convenience stores, and eateries are located near the hotel too, making it an ideal hotel during a vacation to Otaru.
Dormy Inn Premium Otaru
Address: Inaho 3-9-1
4.52 km (2.9 mi) from Otaru Aquarium
8. Grand stay at Asari Classe Hotel (from USD 92)
Reasonable pricing for spacious rooms and onsen access.
Relaxing onsen, outdoor section with scenic views, live piano recitals in the lobby, shuttle to ski resort and train station.
Close proximity to Asari Ski Resort, but isolated from central Otaru without a rental car.
Delicious and well-presented dinner, sumptuous buffet spread for breakfast, but limited dining options nearby.
With a gorgeous view of Mt. Teine from every room, Asari Classe Hotel offers a grand stay. Along with basic facilities such as free WiFi, a satellite LCD TV, and en suite bathroom, there’s an indoor and outdoor hot spring bath, a sauna, and an indoor swimming pool for your relaxation. If you are into sports, you can play indoor tennis, ping-pong, and squash. There’s a fitness center for you to work out. Furthermore, the hotel has its own shop, too. Souvenirs, fresh farm produce, and other goods are readily available here.
You will find a variety of options to eat as the hotel has three on-site restaurants that serve Japanese and Western cuisines. At the restaurant Fuushi, you can relish a buffet breakfast with international dishes. At the restaurant Koushi, you can enjoy traditional Japanese seafood, while international cuisine is served at Sylphid.
Since the hotel is located right adjacent to Asarigawaonsen Ski Resort, winter here is nothing short of spectacular. Meanwhile, the summer includes golfing at Sasson Golf Club, just an 11-minute drive away. Strolling the banks of the Asari River is also a great idea while here.
Otaru Asari Classe Hotel
Address: Asarigawa Onsen 2-676
10.48 km (6.6 mi) from Otaru Aquarium
9. Right beside Otaru’s symbol! Canalside hotel in Furukawa (from USD 66)
Otaru Furukawa is conveniently located right beside the symbolic Otaru Canal. An ashiyu (foot- bath) is located at the entrance to welcome you from the cold environment, and a heart-warming whisky and tea is served when you check-in!
Otaru Canal is not only famous for its scenery in the day, but is also known for its fantastic night views when it is illuminated from the gas lamps along the boulevard. From Otaru Furukawa, you can have an exclusive view of the Otaru Canal all for yourself!
The hotel has two onsens, of which one is an open-air bath. Various types of bathtubs are available in the onsens, which will give you a relaxing rest, especially during winter. Furthermore, a private onsen can be reserved for 2,200 JPY (20 USD) per 50 minutes, which you can enjoy with your family and friends.
Breakfast is served within the hotel with a choice of Western or Japanese cuisine. Both cuisines make full use of Hokkaido’s local seafood, including sashimi, and will be a great start to the day.
Otaru Furukawa
Address: Ironai 1-2-15
4.38 km (2.8 mi) from Otaru Aquarium
10. Hotel Vibrant Otaru: a bank vault as your room?! (from USD 65)
Hotel Vibrant Otaru is found along the “Wall Street of the North”, one of the popular destinations of Otaru. The buildings that line the street there are those that supported Otaru when it was developing as a trade hub, such as the former Otaru Branch, Bank of Japan, and former Otaru Branch of Mitsui Bank.
There is little wonder why Hotel Vibrant Otaru fits in at the “Wall Street of the North” so well – the hotel is located in the former Hokkaido Takushoku Bank building. The grand hotel lobby certainly does carry the atmosphere of a bank.
The rooms in Hotel Vibrant Otaru are simple and clean, and basic amenities are also provided. However, Hotel Vibrant Otaru is more famous for two of the rooms available there – former bank vaults! The hotel actually renovated and transformed the bank vaults into rooms. The huge metallic doors of the rooms gives a grand atmosphere and your dream of spending a night inside a bank can actually come true!
Breakfast is served at the lobby for free, with bread and coffee available.
Hotel Vibrant Otaru
Address: Ironai 1-3-1
4.44 km (2.8 mi) from Otaru Aquarium
Nearby hotel
11. The best ayu breakfast: Hotel Suimeikaku
Yoichi is a town famous for its whisky industry, and there are various distilleries around the town. It is most famous for the Nikka Whisky Distilling that was founded by Masataka Taketsuru – the man who introduced whisky to Japan. Hotel Suimeikaku was originally a Japanese restaurant but was later established as a hotel, and its name was given by Masataka Taketsuru.
The rooms in Hotel Suimeikaku come in both the Japanese style and the Western style, and an onsen and sauna is also available. Rooms also provide a great view of Yoichi River that flows right in front of the hotel.
What makes Hotel Suimeikaku special is its luxurious breakfast. The meals served there makes great use of the seasonal food from Hokkaido, such as sea urchins in summer and shrimp from spring to autumn. You can even enjoy abalone dishes from winter to spring. It is best known for the ayu (a type of fish) cuisine with various types of dishes – grilled, fried, soups, and more.
If you visit Hotel Suimeikaku during the breeding season of the ayu fish (mid-July to August) you might even be lucky enough to view the ayu fish swimming up Yoichi River!
Hotel Suimeikaku
Address: 046-0012 Hokkaido, 687 Yamadacho, Yoichi-gun, Yoichi-cho
Access: 5 minutes from Yoichi Station by car
Contact: +81 135-22-2838
Luxury at its best
Comfort and good service are almost must-haves for hotels today, and these hotels certainly provide them. Exclusive views and amazing food, on the other hand, can only be enjoyed at certain places. Definitely consider these hotels for the best Otaru experience ever!
Frequently asked questions about hotels in Otaru, Japan
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