Otaru's night view is known as one of Hokkaido's three best night views, alongside Hakodate and Sapporo. But you might be wondering what kind of night view spots there are and how to get there. Otaru's night view is one of the most beautiful in Hokkaido, with the lights of the port town, Otaru's coastline and cityscape shining brightly. You'll want to enjoy the night view to the fullest during your Hokkaido trip, right? On this page, we will thoroughly introduce the charm, enjoyment, and access to Otaru's night view spots, focusing on the famous "night view from Tenguyama in Otaru," which is considered one of Hokkaido's three best night views. After reading this article, you're guaranteed to enjoy Otaru's night view to the fullest!


1. [Introduction] Let's check the relative locations of Otaru's night view spots!
2. A spot certified as one of Hokkaido's three best night views! Tenguyama Mountain
　2-1. What is Tenguyama Observatory?
　2-2. How to get to Tenguyama Observatory
　2-3. When you arrive at Tenguyama
　2-4. How the night view of Tenguyama changes by time of day!
　2-5. Facilities at Tenguyama Observatory
　2-6. Enjoy skiing along with one of Hokkaido's three best night views.
3. A scenic driving spot offering panoramic views of Otaru city! Kenashiyama Observatory
4. Be moved by the night view of the canal, a landmark of Otaru. Otaru Canal
5. Other Otaru night view spots
　5-1. Bayside night view from Wing Bay Otaru
　5-2. Night view of Otaru city from Asahi Observatory
　5-3. Night view from Temiya Park and cherry blossoms in spring.

1. [Introduction] Let's check the relative locations of Otaru's night view spots!

Before introducing the various night view spots in Otaru, let me briefly show you an overview of the locations on a map. From the center of the map, heading north, the area from the railway tracks between "Minami-Otaru Station" and "Otaru Station" along the coast is the city center and tourist area of ​​Otaru. In the south of the map, "Kenashiyama Observatory" is the furthest night view spot, but even so, it's only about 30 minutes from the city center, so it's not that far.

2. A spot certified as one of Hokkaido's three best night views! Tenguyama Observatory

2-1 What is Tenguyama Observatory?

The Tenguyama Observatory, overlooking the city of Otaru, is a famous spot for night views, considered one of the "Three Great Night Views of Hokkaido," along with the night views of Hakodate and Sapporo's Moiwayama. Furthermore, the Tenguyama Ropeway and Observatory, which provide access to Tenguyama, have received a one-star rating in the "Michelin Green Guide Japan" published by the French company Michelin.

2-2. How to get to Tenguyama

The easiest way to reach Mount Tengu is via the Otaru Tenguyama Ropeway, located halfway up the mountain. A 30-person gondola takes you up a 735-meter-long slope with a 271-meter elevation difference in about four minutes. Enjoy panoramic views of Otaru city as you quickly arrive at the summit station.

Please note that the service is divided into summer and winter seasons, and does not operate during the transition between seasons. For example, the summer season in 2014 ran until November 3rd (a public holiday). Winter operations typically begin in mid-to-late November.
Fares: Round trip - Adults 1,140 yen, Children 570 yen. Operating hours: 9:30 AM - 21:00 PM (Summer season)

While it is possible to drive to the summit during the summer, the road is narrow, has many sharp curves, and there are almost no streetlights at night, so it is not recommended for tourists to drive there.
Information about the ropeway can be found here.
Otaru Tenguyama Ropeway　http://www.cks.chuo-bus.co.jp/tenguyama/

2-3. When you arrive at Tenguyama

The best spot to view the night scenery is the observation deck on the roof of the ropeway's mountaintop station! Just climb the stairs from the station and you'll be there.
However, the area is not very spacious, so only about 30 to 40 people can enjoy the night view up close. Therefore, if your purpose is photography, we recommend arriving early.
There is also an observation deck near the mountaintop station. It's less crowded than the rooftop observation deck, so it's recommended for those who want to enjoy the view at their own pace.

2-4. How the night view of Tenguyama changes by time of day!

Next, I'll show you the atmosphere of the night view at different times of the day, using photos I actually took in July.
Date of photo: July 11, 2014, Sunset: 19:11
*Please note that the position and composition of each photo have been changed. Taken with a DSLR camera and tripod. I am an amateur photographer (myself) with almost no experience in night photography.

The first photo was taken at 7:20 PM, a little after sunset. At this time, it's still bright, and the streetlights aren't very noticeable.

The next photo was taken at 19:41. The city lights were gradually becoming more visible. The twilight lingered on the left side of the image, creating a rather nice atmosphere.

The next photo was taken at 19:53. It was almost nighttime. This is the most beautiful time of day, isn't it? (Regardless of the quality of the photo itself...)

Next is the last photo. It was taken at 8:15 PM, more than an hour after sunset. By this time, it was completely dark. You can see a night view typical of a port town, with the coastline illuminated by lights.

So, if you want to enjoy the night view, aim to arrive at the mountaintop station about 30 minutes after sunset, and you'll surely enjoy it 100%!

[Things to keep in mind when shooting in summer!]
The weather was mild during the day, with temperatures exceeding 25 degrees Celsius, so I climbed in a short-sleeved shirt without thinking... but the wind was incredibly cold.
Absolutely bring long sleeves (like a windbreaker)! You will definitely regret it otherwise!

2-5. Facilities at Tenguyama Observatory

Now, at the summit station of the Tenguyama Ropeway, there are other things to enjoy besides just taking in the view from the rooftop.

・ Observation restaurant
A restaurant with a panoramic view of Otaru's spectacular scenery.
There's a bar counter about 25 meters long by the window, perfect for enjoying a romantic evening with a night view.
There are also other shops where you can buy merchandise.
・Tenguyama Slider (Daytime)
This thrilling grassland bobsleigh ride takes you even higher from the mountaintop station, reaching a top speed of 40 km/h.
Admission fee: Adults 310 yen, Children 210 yen *Summer season, daytime only

2-6. Enjoy skiing along with one of Hokkaido's three best night views.

Otaru Tenguyama is also a popular ski resort that is bustling with local skiers during the winter!
We offer night skiing from mid-December to late February, so enjoying the night view of Otaru, one of Hokkaido's three great night views, while skiing is a unique experience only available at Tenguyama.

You can find information about the ski resort's operating hours below.
http://www.cks.chuo-bus.co.jp/tenguyama/winter/ski_gelande_map/

3. A scenic driving spot offering panoramic views of Otaru city! Kenashiyama Observatory

Now, the next of Otaru's "Top 3 Night View Spots" is... Kenashiyama Observatory!
This is an observation deck located at an altitude of 470m on the slopes of Mt. Kenashi, which is 548.2m above sea level. It is closed during the winter months (approximately December to April) due to snow.

During the day, the autumn foliage is especially beautiful, and at night, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Otaru city and Ishikari Bay! On clear days, you can also see the Shokanbetsu mountain range (Mashike mountain range) in the distance, and it's said to be an auspicious place for those concerned about their hair, as you can see from "Kenashi" (meaning "hairless") to "Mashike" (meaning "hairy"). We hope your wish comes true!

This location is a 30-minute drive from the center of Otaru city towards Kiroro, a famous ski resort, and is only accessible by car.

Night view from Mt. Kenashi at dusk

You can enjoy this kind of night view once it gets dark!

4. Be moved by the night view of the canal, a landmark of Otaru. Otaru Canal

Now, let me introduce the last of the "Three Great Night Views of Otaru"! It's the Otaru Canal, a landmark of Otaru, which is especially beautiful when lit up at night.

The brick warehouse district along the canal, which retains the atmosphere of Hokkaido's development during the Taisho era, is illuminated at night.
Unlike during the daytime when it's swarming with tourists, you can enjoy a stroll in a calm and relaxed atmosphere.

For more details, please see "Otaru Canal Perfect Guide: Perfect for First-Timers!"
https://hokkaido-labo.com/otaru-canal-438

5. Other night view spots

5-1. Night view of Otaru from Asahi Observatory

Now, while the previously mentioned "Tenguyama" and "Kenashiyama" are night view spots a little distance from Otaru city center, "Asahi Observatory" is located on a hill behind Otaru Station and is a popular spot, especially among local couples, for its close-up views of the city's nightscape.

Asahi Observatory: Approximately 5 minutes by car from Otaru Station
*Closed during winter.

5-2. Night view of Otaru Bayside overlooking Wing Bay Otaru

Wing Bay Otaru is a waterfront commercial complex completed in 1999, featuring a shopping zone and a hotel. Its distinctive feature is that, when viewed from a distance, it resembles a luxury cruise ship floating on the water.
Incidentally, the Ferris wheel shown in the photo is currently closed for business, but it is still illuminated at night (as of August 2014).

5-3. Night view from Temiya Park and cherry blossoms in spring.

For our final night view spot, we'll introduce Temiya Park, a park that's a popular relaxation spot for the citizens of Otaru.
This spot is famous as a cherry blossom viewing location in Otaru, overlooking the city, and you can enjoy the blossoms from early to mid-May every year. A late cherry blossom viewing experience in Hokkaido sounds wonderful!

We've introduced some of the best night view spots in Otaru. When you travel to Hokkaido, why not stay in Otaru and enjoy its night view?
By the way, it only takes less than an hour to get from Otaru to Sapporo by car or JR train, so I recommend enjoying sightseeing and the night view of Otaru before heading to Sapporo!

◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
[Recommended articles to read together]
・[First Time in Otaru] A digest of Otaru's sightseeing and highlights!
Must-visit restaurants! Two top-rated spots in Otaru to enjoy the best of local cuisine!
Perfect Guide to the Otaru Canal - Perfect for First-Timers!
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆

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