Otaru, Hokkaido, is a famous port town. You might want to buy fresh seafood at the market, but you're not sure when or which market to go to, right? There's not much information available online, and it's hard to find out about opening hours, the atmosphere, and what kind of products you can buy.

So, this time, we'll introduce five of the nine markets scattered throughout Otaru City, excluding the smaller ones, and describe their access and atmosphere exactly as we saw them on site!

If you read this before going to Otaru, you'll be able to enjoy exploring the markets and shopping in Otaru with peace of mind, even if your travel time is limited.

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[Introduction] A map showing the locations of each market in Otaru!
1. The earliest opening time in Otaru, at 4 AM: Otaru's morning market, Rinyu Morning Market.
2. A convenient station-side market for tourists: [Sankaku Market]
3. A small market where you can experience a local atmosphere: Temiya Market
4. The most popular market with the best car access and the largest number of shops: Shinnantaru Market
5. A beloved local market representing Otaru: Nantaru Market
6. Conclusion
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[Introduction] A map showing the locations of each market in Otaru!

Otaru has long flourished as a port town, and as such, there are numerous markets in the city that handle fresh seafood. Currently, there are nine markets, located around the city center where the Otaru Canal and historical buildings are situated.
The area where the markets are located in Otaru is not very large. For example, the distance from ① Rin'yu Morning Market to ④ Minami-Taru Market on the map above is about 4km, which takes about 10 minutes by car. The markets are scattered over a relatively small area.
Now, let's go through the markets one by one.

1. Opens at 4 AM, the earliest in Otaru! If you want to enjoy a morning market, this is the place! [Rinyu Morning Market]

First up is the Rinyu Morning Market. It's located in a market-like spot in a port town, with the harbor stretching out before you.

[Exterior view of the Rin'yu Morning Market]Here it is. The entrance to the market is in the middle of the photo, and there are restaurants on either side where you can eat seafood bowls, set meals, and more.
Incidentally, when you think of morning markets or markets, you might imagine open-air stalls like those in Tokyo's Tsukiji Market or Sapporo's Outer Market or Nijo Market, but Otaru's morning markets and markets are all located inside buildings, so you can enjoy shopping even on rainy or snowy days.

[Inside the Rinyu Morning Market]It looks like this.
I visited around 9 AM on a Saturday when I took the photos, and there were only about 20 customers in total, giving it a relaxed atmosphere.
About half of the shops in the market were fishmongers selling crabs, salmon, and sea urchins, while the others sold vegetables, fruits, and miscellaneous goods. There were about 10 shops in operation.

When I visited (in July), king crab was the main item, but there were also sea urchin and salted salmon, specialties of Shakotan, which is close to Otaru, and lots of cherries, which are a specialty of the Otaru area and are in season right now.

Incidentally, while Yamagata Prefecture is famous for its cherries, Hokkaido is actually the second largest cherry-producing region in Japan. Furthermore, Yoichi and Niki towns, located close to Otaru, are also famous cherry-producing areas, so you can buy freshly picked cherries cheaply in Otaru!

[Business Information]
Rinyu Morning Market Opening Hours: 04:00 AM - 14:00 PM (may vary by store) Closed: Sundays
Address: 3-10-15 Iroinai, Otaru City TEL: 0134-22-0257
Parking (free): Approximately 8 spaces
◎The morning market is closed on Sundays, but the restaurant "Ajisaki" located at the entrance of the market is open.
Seafood Restaurant Misaki　　http://misaki.hokkaido-chuka.or.jp/

　

Next 2. For a convenient market near the station, perfect for sightseeing, check out this one! [Sankaku Market]

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