Do you ever take a boat ride when you visit a tourist destination?
While exploring Otaru on foot is enjoyable, sightseeing from a boat offers a unique perspective of the city's scenery.

This article will introduce sightseeing boats located in Otaru City, Hokkaido.
You can enjoy different views and scenery of Otaru from each boat, so I recommend taking a sightseeing boat when you visit Otaru!

<Table of Contents>
Otaru sightseeing boat
1. Otaru Marine Sightseeing Boat "Aobato"
2. Otaru Port sightseeing boat "Kaiyo"
3. Window Rock Cruise
4. Otaru Canal Cruise
5. Salt Valley 408
6. "Aobato" offers sightseeing and the opportunity to feed seagulls!
7. Otaru Canal Cruise: A Cruise You Can Enjoy Even in Winter
8. Enjoy Otaru to the fullest, whether it's summer or winter!

*The fares and routes listed are based on information as of August 2017. Please be aware of this in advance.

Otaru sightseeing boat

The Otaru sightseeing boat "Aobato" is the perfect way to experience the dynamic beauty of Otaru.
There are two main routes to the ferry terminal: the Shukutsu route, which passes by the Otaru Aquarium and the Herring Mansion, and the Otamoi route, which offers breathtaking views of towering cliffs.

● Shukutsu ferry route
Tour duration: Approximately 20 minutes (one way)
Price: Adults 700 yen, Children 350 yen

● Otamoi Route
・Course A
(Departure from Otaru Port Pier No. 3 ~ Otamoi sightseeing ~ Arrival at Otaru Port Pier No. 3)
Tour time: Approximately 90 minutes
Price: Adults 2500 yen, Children 1250 yen

・Course B
(Departing from Otaru Port Pier No. 3 ~ Sightseeing around Otamoi ~ Arriving at Shukutsu Port)
Tour time: Approximately 65 minutes
Price: Adults 1950 yen, Children 970 yen

Course C
(Departure from Shukutsu Port ~ Otamoi sightseeing ~ Arrival at Otaru Port Pier No. 3)
Tour time: Approximately 65 minutes
Price: Adults 1950 yen, Children 970 yen

Course D
(Departure from Shukutsu Port ~ Otamoi sightseeing ~ Arrival at Shukutsu Port)
Tour time: Approximately 40 minutes
Price: Adults 1300 yen, Children 650 yen

URL:http://otaru-kankousen.jp/

"Kaiyo," the only traditional Japanese houseboat in Hokkaido, offers guided tours of Otaru Port.
The view of Otaru from the sea allows you to fully appreciate how nature and the city coexist.

Tour time: Approximately 40 minutes
Price: 850 yen for adults, 420 yen for children

Sushi lunch is popular!

On the sightseeing boat "Kaiyo" in Otaru Port, you can enjoy a sushi lunch while cruising around Otaru Port and taking in the scenery.
Enjoying sightseeing while eating and drinking is a unique experience offered by the "Kaiyo" sightseeing houseboat in Otaru Port.

The price includes the boarding fee, a sushi bento box, and tea. You are also welcome to bring your own food and drinks.
We offer a children's lunch plate, so you can relax even if you're bringing your children. Please let us know when you make your reservation.

Tour time: 60 minutes
Price: 2500 yen per person
URL:http://otaru-kankousen.jp/
*Please make your reservation at least 3 days in advance.

We'll cruise by boat to scenic spots, including the Blue Grotto.

The sea around the cave takes on a mystical blue color in the sunlight. It's so beautiful it takes your breath away.

In addition, you can enjoy a truly spectacular cruise that includes sights such as "Window Rock," a rock formation with a window-like hole in the rock face, and "Sea Lion Rock," where sea lions gather in winter.

●Course: Todoiwa Rock → Akaiwa Rock → Otamoi Coast → Madoiwa Rock (Blue Grotto)
Tour duration: Approximately 1 hour
Price: Adults 2500 yen, Children (elementary school age and younger) 2250 yen (for groups of 2 to 10 people)
URL:http://www.mw-otaru.jp/enjoy/

★Travel with JAL! Classic Sapporo & Otaru Tour★

A new must-try for Otaru sightseeing is the "Otaru Canal Cruise," which offers guided tours of the canal from a boat.
In about 40 minutes, you can enjoy Otaru's history and the romantic scenery of Otaru as seen from the canal.

There are day cruises (departing before sunset) and night cruises (departing after sunset), allowing you to enjoy a cruise during daylight hours, but the night cruise, where you can enjoy the beautiful cityscape of Otaru lit up at night, is also highly recommended.

Otaru Canal Cruises also offer charter (private) services, and the staff will support you in planning various surprise events such as birthdays or romantic proposals on the Otaru Canal.

If you have any specific requests, such as "I'd like to do this kind of thing!", please contact us at least two weeks before your reservation.

Tour time: Approximately 40 minutes
Price (Day Cruise): Adults 1500 yen, Children 500 yen
Price (Night Cruise): Adults 1800 yen, Children 500 yen

Charter fee:
URL:https://otaru.cc/

"Salt Valley 408" is a cruise that allows you to explore inside the Blue Grotto.
There are two types of boats: boats and rafts. If you're looking for a stable ride, a boat is recommended. If you want to experience a feeling of being almost flush with the water's surface, a raft (inflatable boat) is a better choice.

As you weave through the rocks and make your way towards the blue cave at the bottom of the cliff, the variety and excitement of the ride are far more impactful than any other boat ride.
From mid-July to mid-August, you can also float around on the sea while wearing a life jacket.

Tour time: Approximately 60 minutes
Admission fee: Adults 5000 yen, Children 3000 yen (up to 6th grade of elementary school)
URL:http://saltvalley408.jp/boat-rafting.html

Bird feed for seagulls and black-tailed gulls is sold at the ticket office.
As soon as we set sail, seagulls will follow us, so you can enjoy feeding them.

When you board the Otamoi ferry, you can admire the beautiful blue sea of ​​Otaru while looking up at the towering cliffs of Otamoi.
Due to a landslide, access to Otamoi Beach from the walking path is prohibited, making it impossible to walk there. Therefore, the only way to view Otamoi Beach is from the sea.

One of the unique experiences offered by the sightseeing boat "Aobato" is being able to feed seagulls and black-tailed gulls directly from the boat while enjoying the dynamic natural scenery.

In Otaru, a city in northern Japan, the scenery changes dramatically during the winter season. The combination of snow and the canal is so beautiful that you can't help but be captivated by it.

For those who want to fully enjoy Otaru in winter, the recommended sightseeing boat is the "Otaru Canal Cruise."
Most sightseeing boats in Otaru are closed during the winter season, but the Otaru Canal Cruise operates year-round.

The boat, specially designed to blend seamlessly into Otaru's cityscape and history, evokes a nostalgic and gentle feeling.
In winter, the boat is equipped with heated seats and a canopy, so even if the outside temperature in Otaru is cold, it's warm and comfortable inside.

You can enjoy a special winter view at the Otaru Canal.

To fully enjoy the retro and nostalgic atmosphere of Otaru, a sightseeing boat is highly recommended.
You can enjoy the great outdoors and experience firsthand the changing history of Otaru.

There are various types of sightseeing boats available, so you can choose one that suits your purpose.

In winter, only the Otaru Canal Cruise is available, but you can experience the beautiful combination of snow and Otaru's scenery.

*The fares and routes listed are based on information as of August 2017.

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