otaru

Sapporo-Otaru Welcome Pass

Please note that sales of the JR Hokkaido Sapporo-Otaru Welcome Pass ended on March 31st, 2017. The JR Hokkaido Pass is still available. The JR Hokkaido Sapporo-Otaru Welcome Pass allows for unlimited rides on JR Hokkaido trains between Sapporo and Otaru and on all subway lines in Sapporo for 1 day. It’s therefore a great way to visitContinue reading “Sapporo-Otaru Welcome Pass”

Hokkaido Rail Pass

The JR Hokkaido Rail Pass allows unlimited travel on all JR (national rail) trains and selected buses in Hokkaido, covering the whole prefecture. This includes the use of Shinkansen (bullet) trains and limited express trains. There are various options depending on how long you want to spend in Hokkaido. What does it cost? 3 day: Adults 16,500Continue reading “Hokkaido Rail Pass”

Get out of the big city! Relaxing day at Otaru Canal

Otaru is a big, but quiet town near Sapporo, in Hokkaido. The name Otaru means ‘River of Sands’ in the native language of Ainu. It grew as a harbour and port town and during the early development of Hokkaido experienced a boom as it was one of only a small number of ports on theContinue reading “Get out of the big city! Relaxing day at Otaru Canal”

Otaru (小樽) is one of the main tourist hotspots in Hokkaido, well known all over Japan for its lovely, quiet canal. While there are plenty of tour buses and touristy shops, the town has a really laid-back feel and is definitely worth a visit. Budget travel Pick up a free map from the station beforeContinue reading “Otaru”