Otaru

The highlight of the Otaru sightseeing is the Otaru canal. The gaslights and warehouses made of stone alongside the canal were built in the Meiji and Taisho Periods (end of 19th century to the beginning of 20th century). As a lively trading city, Otaru has grown to become the center of the Hokkaido's economy, sometimes called as a "Wall Street in Hokkaido," There are many historic buildings here and there in the city, some of them have been redesigned and rebuilt as old-fashioned cafes and restaurants, attracting the locals and tourists alike. At the trading port, Minami Otaruchikko, an amusement complex Wing Bay Otaru has become a new popular spot in the area with hotels, movie theaters, restaurants and other shops.