Like Hakodate, where your ship calls at the beginning of this journey, Otaru was one of the early ports where commerce was concentrated when Hokkaido began trading with the rest of the world in the 19th century. The main canal survives from that era and its streets are still illuminated by gas lamps though many of the warehouses have been converted into restaurants, shops, and museums. If you’d rather get out of town, Mount Yotei, an active volcano which has been described as Hokkaido’s Fuji, awaits nearby with hiking trails and natural springs.

Cruising The World

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