Otaru Music Box Museum

Otaru Music Box Museum has not only the Main Building but also the Otaru Orgel Doh Hall Number 2 Antique Museum, the Otaru Orgel Doh Music Box & Handicrafts Studio You-kobo hands-on workshop and the Sakaimachi Store.
Shopping, antique music box demonstrations and workshops each take place in a different building, so it helps to know which building does what before you go.

Otaru Music Box Museum has four shops, each with its own role

The four shops that are easy to visit while sightseeing in Otaru have the following roles.

Shop	Highlights
Main Building	A three-story main shop with about 3,200 types and about 38,000 music boxes, spread over five floors.
Otaru Orgel Doh Hall Number 2 Antique Museum	Demonstrations of antique music boxes, automatic musical instruments and a pipe organ.
Otaru Orgel Doh Music Box & Handicrafts Studio You-kobo	A shop where you can try making music boxes, glass crafts and more. Advance reservation is required.
Sakaimachi Store	In addition to selling music boxes, you can tour the workshop of its in-house brand “OTARU MUSIC.”

All four shops are open 9:00–18:00. The 2nd and 3rd floors of the Main Building close at 17:45.
The last reservation at Otaru Orgel Doh Music Box & Handicrafts Studio You-kobo is accepted at 16:30. Before you visit, check the official shop list and the latest announcements.

Main Building highlights

The Main Building is a three-story brick building standing at the Marchen Intersection.
The building was built in 1915 as the headquarters of the former Kyosei Co., Ltd., and is designated Otaru Historic Building No. 17. The official Main Building floor guide divides the building into five floors.

About 3,200 types and about 38,000 music boxes fill the building.
At the center of the building is an atrium about 9 meters high, and you can look down at the 1st floor from the gallery on the 2nd floor. On the 3rd floor you can also see the pillars and beams that support the triangular roof, so you can take in both the merchandise and the building itself.

Steam Clock

There is a steam clock in front of the Main Building.
Steam is released every 15 minutes and five whistles sound. If you arrive at or leave the Main Building close to the quarter hour, you can watch it in action out front.

What’s on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors

The 1st floor offers a wide range of music boxes, including jewelry-box types and Japanese-style, wooden, ceramic and glass designs. The atrium great hall is in the center.

On the 2nd floor you can see high-fidelity music boxes, antique music boxes, crafts, and a diorama showing the history of music boxes. Orders for custom-made music boxes are also taken on the 2nd floor.

The 3rd floor carries music boxes and miscellaneous goods themed on characters and animals. The attic-like space also lets you see the building’s pillars and beams.

Finding a music box with your favorite tune

If you are looking for a list of tunes available at the Otaru Music Box Museum, you can search by tune title using the official product search and tune lists.

First, the official online shop has a product search where you can look for products by keyword.
To find made-to-order products with a tune you choose, see Easy Order Music Boxes. For the 18N type, the guide explains that on the purchase screen you choose a tune from the tune list and enter the title and artist name.

To look for a specific tune, check the official online shop’s product search or the Easy Order tune list. For items sold in the shop, please contact the shop before your visit.

You can also choose a tune in a workshop. For example, with the Topping Kit, you choose a tune from the dedicated tune list for each music box when you book. The tunes and number of tunes differ by kit, and some may be out of stock.

Make your own at Otaru Orgel Doh Music Box & Handicrafts Studio You-kobo

If your goal is to make a music box, check the Otaru Music Box Museum’s hands-on workshop, Otaru Orgel Doh Music Box & Handicrafts Studio You-kobo, rather than the Main Building. It is located at 1-1-5 Irifune, Otaru, open 9:00–18:00, with last reservations accepted at 16:30.

The official workshop guide describes experiences such as decorating a music box of your favorite tune and design with small items. Details differ by shop and course, and advance reservation is required.

Booking conditions also differ by course. For example, the Topping Kit requires a reservation, and if your desired date is within 3 days, reservations are accepted by phone only. The official contact information page also says that workshop reservations from 3 days before up to the same day are made by phone. Once your dates are set, check the booking conditions on the detail page of the course you choose.

Otaru Orgel Doh Hall Number 2 Antique Museum

The Otaru Orgel Doh Hall Number 2 Antique Museum is located at 6-13 Sakaimachi, Otaru, and is open 9:00–18:00. Its role differs from the Main Building: you can see demonstrations of antique music boxes, automatic musical instruments and a pipe organ.

The official demonstration guide says admission to the demonstrations is free. The times are 10:00–10:15, 11:00–11:15, 12:00–12:15, 14:00–14:15, 15:00–15:15 and 16:00–16:15.
Please check the official guide for demonstration times before your visit.

Getting There from Minami-Otaru Station and JR Otaru Station

The nearest station to the Main Building is JR Minami-Otaru Station.
According to the official guide, it is about a 7-minute walk from Minami-Otaru Station to the Main Building, and about a 25-minute walk from JR Otaru Station.

From Minami-Otaru Station, you walk down a long slope. In winter, the official guide advises wearing shoes suited to snowy roads. You can choose between walking from JR Otaru Station along Sakaimachi Street, or using Minami-Otaru Station to shorten the trip.

Parking

The Main Building and Hall Number 2 have no dedicated parking lot. The Sakaimachi Store has no parking lot either.
If you come by car, use a paid parking lot nearby. If you want to decide where to park first, also see Parking in Otaru.

On the other hand, Otaru Orgel Doh Music Box & Handicrafts Studio You-kobo has a parking lot. If you have booked a workshop, do not assume the parking conditions are the same as at the Main Building; check the shop you are heading to before you set out.

Places That Go Well Together

The Main Building is at the Marchen Intersection end of Sakaimachi Shopping Street.
If you plan to walk the same street, you can include Kitaichi Glass and Sakaimachi Street on the same day.

If you are looking for a place to rest along the way, Cafes and Sweets in Otaru can help too. If you are moving between shops, do not assume the Main Building, Hall Number 2, Otaru Orgel Doh Music Box & Handicrafts Studio You-kobo and Sakaimachi Store are all the same facility. Check their locations on the map before you set out.

FAQ

Is there an admission fee for the Otaru Music Box Museum Main Building?

The official shop list does not mention an admission fee for the Main Building. The Main Building is listed as a shop selling music boxes, open 9:00–18:00.
Note that the demonstrations of antique music boxes and the pipe organ at Hall Number 2 are officially stated to have free admission.

What is the difference between the Main Building and the Otaru Orgel Doh Hall Number 2 Antique Museum?

The Main Building is a three-story main shop with about 3,200 types and about 38,000 music boxes.
Hall Number 2 centers on demonstrations of antique music boxes, a pipe organ and more.

Can I find a music box with my favorite tune?

The official online shop has a keyword product search. The guide also explains how to choose a tune from a tune list in Easy Order.

Where can I make a music box?

In Otaru, the Otaru Orgel Doh Music Box & Handicrafts Studio You-kobo hands-on workshop is the main place. Advance reservation is required, and booking conditions differ by course.

Does the Main Building have parking?

No. The official shop list states that the Main Building has no parking. You can check nearby parking lots at Parking in Otaru.

Which is the nearest station, JR Otaru Station or Minami-Otaru Station?

The nearest is JR Minami-Otaru Station. According to the official guide, it is about a 7-minute walk to the Main Building. From JR Otaru Station it is about a 25-minute walk.