---
title: "Otaru (Sapporo) Cruise Port"
url: https://cruisello.com/destinations/japan-korea-china-taiwan/otaru-sapporo
description: "Hokkaido's canal town of glass and music boxes"
---

# Otaru (Sapporo)

🇯🇵 · Japan · Japan, Korea, China & Taiwan

> "Hokkaido's canal town of glass and music boxes"

## At a Glance

- **Avg. Ships/Day:** 1
- **Avg. Time in Port:** 9.3h
- **Visiting Sailings:** 3
- **Cruise Lines:** 2

## Peak Season

Busiest months: Apr (2 sailings), Oct (1 sailing)

## About Otaru (Sapporo)

Otaru sits on the coast of Hokkaido, about 40 minutes from Sapporo by train. The main attraction is the Otaru Canal, a short stretch of waterway lined with stone warehouses from the early 1900s, now converted into restaurants and shops. Gas lamps light the canal at night. In winter, it's covered in snow, and there's a festival with ice lanterns.

Otaru has a strong glass-blowing tradition, and several workshops sell their pieces in shops along Sakaimachi Street. The street also has music box shops, including a large music box museum. LeTAO is a famous local cheese tart shop, usually with a queue outside. Otaru's sushi is considered some of the best in Hokkaido, thanks to the port's fresh seafood supply. Sapporo, reachable by frequent trains, has the beer museum, ramen alley, and in winter, the Snow Festival.

## Quick Facts

- **Currency:** JPY (Japanese Yen)
- **Language:** Japanese
- **Timezone:** Asia/Tokyo (UTC+9)
- **Tipping:** Not customary; can be considered rude

## Location

Coordinates: 43.1907, 140.9946

- [Open in Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/cruise+terminal+Otaru%20(Sapporo)/@43.19068,140.9946,13z)
- [Open in Apple Maps](https://maps.apple.com/?q=cruise%20terminal%20Otaru%20(Sapporo)&ll=43.19068,140.9946&z=13)

## Things to Do in Otaru (Sapporo)

Top-rated shore excursions that fit a typical ~9h port call. Prices are starting prices per person.

| Tour | Rating | Duration | Fits Port Day | From | Provider |
|------|------|------|------|------|------|
| [Otaru Rickshaw Tour](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/4fb78102-a243-4875-89cf-1dc61ae3f9b4.md?via=markdown) | 5★ (90) | 2h | ✓ | €35 | Viator |
| [Sea Kayaking Tour – Otaru Coastal Adventure](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/41a60b07-74d1-4985-9608-02c339025f04.md?via=markdown) | 5★ (20) | 2h | ✓ | €86 | Viator |
| [Otaru Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/9da2a7c2-2eb1-4ae9-8e1e-127e73f2d59d.md?via=markdown) | 4.7★ (23) | 4h | ✓ | €95 | Viator |
| [Private Customizable walking Tour in Otaru](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/b89eaf05-a0c7-4fe3-9149-5fd9c63daedf.md?via=markdown) | 5★ (6) | 4h | ✓ | €149 | Viator |
| [Create an Original Seal with Natural Stone and Otaru Artisans](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/ababe887-6084-47d3-8582-400c0c1b972c.md?via=markdown) | 5★ (4) | 1h 30m | ✓ | €50 | Viator |
| [Otaru Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/618395bd-96b8-44b1-913d-031d64340535.md?via=markdown) | 4.9★ (27) | 6h | – | €95 | Viator |
| [Otaru Private 4hr Walking Tour: Tailored for You](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/38a7c119-66b6-4306-b628-8b303ca97331.md?via=markdown) | 5★ (2) | 4h | ✓ | €89 | Viator |
| [Sapporo Beer Museum from Otaru](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/7595d9a3-02f7-44c1-9a6e-18c12361bf47.md?via=markdown) | 4★ (2) | 7h | – | €285 | Viator |
| [Otaru Kihinkan Admission Ticket](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/a2c83885-215e-475e-91d7-7b7af1701ca2.md?via=markdown) | – | 3h | ✓ | €9 | Viator |
| [Otaru: Day & Night Walk in a Nostalgic Historic Port Town](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/b407b42d-7bdb-4df4-bc70-aa725b341c68.md?via=markdown) | – | 2h 30m | ✓ | €45 | Viator |
| [Otaru: Local Izakaya Bar Hopping in the Historic Canal Town](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/40e1c4f3-b3d3-4c0f-b5cb-dbf6ff54266a.md?via=markdown) | – | 2h | ✓ | €88 | Viator |
| [Otaru Sushi and Seafood Food Private Tour with Licensed Guide](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/e5086f2d-425b-4063-b9e6-91b487333024.md?via=markdown) | – | 4h | ✓ | €95 | Viator |

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews.

## Nearby Ports

- [Muroran](https://cruisello.com/destinations/japan-korea-china-taiwan/muroran.md): 51 nm
- [Hakodate](https://cruisello.com/destinations/japan-korea-china-taiwan/hakodate.md): 85 nm
- [Aomori](https://cruisello.com/destinations/japan-korea-china-taiwan/aomori.md): 141 nm

## Cruise Lines Serving This Port

- [Carnival Cruise Line](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/carnival-cruise-line.md)
- [Princess Cruises](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/princess-cruises.md)

## Cheapest Available Sailing

**[View this cruise →](https://cruisello.com/cruises/pacific-crossing-tokyo-from-san-francisco~CCL-LUMINOSA-20271002-16.md)**

- **Price:** €1,372 per person (€2,745 total for 2 guests)
- **Cruise Line:** [Carnival Cruise Line](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/carnival-cruise-line.md)
- **Ship:** [Carnival Luminosa](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/carnival-cruise-line/carnival-luminosa.md)
- **Duration:** 16 nights
- **Departure:** 2027-10-02
- **Itinerary:** Pacific Crossing – Tokyo from San Francisco

## Browse Cruises

- [All cruises visiting Otaru (Sapporo)](https://cruisello.com/cruises.md?stopoverPorts=otaru_sapporo) (3 sailings)

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