Otaru Sakaimachi Street: The Main Street for Souvenirs and Street Food

Otaru Sakaimachi Street is the main street of Otaru, lined with the town’s best-known shops such as Kitaichi Glass, Otaru Music Box Museum, LeTAO, Kamaei and the Snoopy Tea House. The street is about 900 m long and is always busy with visitors looking for souvenirs and snacking as they walk.

Kitaichi Glass Sangokan (No. 3 Village)

Kitaichi Glass is a long-established Otaru glass maker, founded in 1901.
It originally made kerosene lamps, an everyday necessity, and floats for herring fishing. Kitaichi Glass Sangokan (No. 3 Village) is a historic building designated by Otaru City. It displays and sells a wide range of glass products, also sells local sake and wine, and operates as a cafe and restaurant.

Otaru Music Box Museum (Main Building)

Otaru Music Box Museum (Main Building) is housed in a historic building built in 1915. It is one of the largest music box shops in Japan, with about 38,000 music boxes in about 3,200 varieties. You can also make your own music box at the museum’s workshop, Otaru Orgel Doh Music Box & Handicrafts Studio You-kobo. (Advance reservation required)

Taisho Glass Gallery

A glass shop in the renovated former Natori Takasaburo Shoten building, built in 1906 and designated an Otaru Historic Building.
Handmade glass, including works by Otaru artists, is on display and for sale. You can also make your own, with tombo-dama glass bead making, glassblowing and pin blow glass experiences.

LeTAO

LeTAO is a confectionery shop best known for its Double Fromage cheesecake. Besides the main store, Otaru has LeTAO PATHOS (LeTAO’s largest shop), Nouvelle Vague LeTAO Chocolatier Otaru Main Store (specializing in chocolate), LeTAO Plus, LeTAO Canal Plaza, Fromage Danish Deni LeTAO and Ekimo LeTAO, for a total of 7 shops. Each shop also has its own limited-edition sweets, such as the Du Fromage Roll sold only at the main store.

Kamaei Factory Direct Store

Kamaei’s factory direct store. Kamaei was founded in 1905, and the factory is next door, so you can also watch the production line.
The Pan Dome (kamaboko with bacon and other fillings, wrapped in sliced bread and deep-fried) and the Wiener Roll (a sausage wrapped in cheese-filled surimi) are sold only at the factory direct store.
There is also an eat-in space, so you can stop for a rest.

SNOOPY Village Otaru – Snoopy Tea House

A shop that blends “Snoopy” with Japanese style.
According to the official shop list, besides Otaru there are 3 shops in Chitose, including New Chitose Airport, and 1 in Sapporo.
Otaru-exclusive pudding and other products full of Otaru character make popular souvenirs.

Getting to Otaru Sakaimachi Street

• 13-minute walk from JR Otaru Station
• 6-minute walk from JR Minami-Otaru Station

The street runs 900 m from north to south, and Minami-Otaru Station is a little closer.

Parking at Otaru Sakaimachi Street

There is no free parking on Otaru Sakaimachi Street.

Some shops offer free parking with a purchase.
Kamaei, famous for its kamaboko, gives you 1 hour of free parking with any purchase, regardless of the amount.

There are many paid parking lots nearby, but they are often full during the tourist season and on weekends.
Note that many parking lots in Otaru are expensive, such as 500 yen per 30 minutes with no maximum charge.

We also recommend reserving parking in advance.

• Bookable Parking near Otaru

Around Otaru Sakaimachi Street

Around Otaru Sakaimachi Street there are plenty of sightseeing spots that let you fully enjoy Otaru’s charms, including Otaru Canal, historic buildings and museums.

• About 270 m (about 4 minutes) from Otaru Sakaimachi Street to the Bank of Japan Otaru Museum
• About 400 m (about 6 minutes) from Otaru Sakaimachi Street to Otaru Sushi Street (Otaru Sushiya Dori)
• About 550 m (about 8 minutes) from Otaru Sakaimachi Street to the Former JNR Temiya Line Site
• About 550 m (about 8 minutes) from Otaru Sakaimachi Shopping Street to Chuo Bridge on Otaru Canal
• About 1 km (about 16 minutes) from Otaru Sakaimachi Street to Otaru Sankaku Market