Otaru & Niseko Travel Guide sample book

The Regional Guide Mini

OTARU & NISEKO Sample Book

1

Introduction

OTARU & NISEKO Nostalgic port towns, world-class ski resorts and dramatic coastlines, both Otaru and Niseko areas are the perfect holiday destinations.

Yotei-zan (Ezo-Fuji)

Area Map RUMOI

Horokanai

Rumoi

Sea of Japan

Uryu-numa Shitsugen

Asahikawa Hokuryu

Fukagawa

Takikawa Shintotsukawa Urausu

Atsuta Tsukigata Shakotan-cho Ishikari Bay (Bikuni)

Ishikari

★

Otaru

Ebetsu

Yoichi

OTARU & NISEKO

Iwanai Bay Raiden Coast

Iwanai

Niseko ★

Mikasa Iwamizawa

Shintoku

ISHIKARI

Chitose

Abira (Oiwake)

HIDA

Rusutsu Kuromatsunai

Nibutani

HIDAKA

N TAI

Tomikawa

Shiraoi

TOKACHI

UN

IBURI

Mukawa

MO

Noboribetsu Onsen

Tomakomai

KA

Airport

Shikotsu-Toya Toya-ko National Park

Obihiro Tokachi Plain

Hidaka

Shikotsu-ko New Chitose

Suttsu

S

Date

EASTERN HOKKAIDO

Shimukappu

Yotei-zan

Toyoura Oshamanbe

Furano

Bibai

Kuriyama

SAPPORO

KAMIKAWA

SORACHI

Yubari

Kutchan

Uchiura Bay (Funka-wan)

Ishikari Tobetsu Plain

Utashinai

Daisetsuzan National Park

Yubar i

Kamuimisaki

Biei

Akabira

tains

Hamamasu

Sounkyo Onsen

Moun

Ofuyu

Shakotan Peninsula

NORTHERN HOKKAIDO

Shinhidaka (Shizunai)

Muroran

Niikappu

Yakumo

Hiroo Urakawa Apoi-dake

PACIFIC OCEAN

Mori Onuma Park Shin-HakodateHokuto Hokkaido Shinkansen

Kikonai

Samani

OSHIMA

SOUTHERN HOKKAIDO

Erimo Erimo-misaki

Hakodate N

0

50km

Tsugaru Strait 2

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OTARU & NISEKO 小

· ニセコ

Formally called Shiribeshi Region, this area has nicest attractions both impressive coastline and countryside.

From Sapporo, you will reach the romantic port town Otaru at first. The historic buildings and stone warehouses make a nostalgic atmosphere.

Heading west from Otaru, Yoichi is home to rich taste Japanese whisky. The coastal national route 229 leads to Shakotan Peninsula. Today, Niseko is one of highly renowned ski resorts in the world that provide slopes, trails and onsen with wonderful mountain views.

JR Hirafu Station and Niseko Grand Hirafu Ski Area

N

0

20km

Kamui-misaki

Shakotanmisaki

Shimamui Coast

Numamae-misaki Sai-no-kawara

Shakotan-cho (Bikuni)

229

Yobetsu

Shakotan-dake Furubira (1255m)

Kawashira

Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-National Park

229

Benzaima

Sakazuki Onsen

Tomari

Ranshima

Kariba-Motta Prefectural Suttsu Natural Park Motome Ohira Enoshima Harauta Sakaehama Chiwase

Mottamisaki

Suttsu Bay

Iwanai Onsen

Iwanai-dake (1086m)

Shimamaki

Rankoshi 5

Neppu

Jozankei Onsen

Kutchan Fukidashi Park

Hokkaido Expwy

Toyoura Uchiura Bay Toyako (Abuta)

Oshamanbe

Nakayama Pass

Kyogoku

Yotei-zan 230 (1898m) Aikawa Kimobetsu

Natural Park

Muroran Line 37

★

393

Hikari ★ 230

Garono-taki OSHIMA

Kiroro Resort

Makkari

Kariba-yama (1520m) Sukki HIYAMA Setana & Esashi

Kozawa

Niseko Annupuri (1308m)

Konbu

Yubetsuno-yu

Kuromatsunai

Akaigawa

Niseko United ★ Niseko

Utasutsu

393

Miyako

Kyowa

Katanakake-iwa

Benkiei-misaki

Tokiwa

SHIRIBESHI

Raiden Coast

229

Otaru

Maru-yama (629m)

5

Iwanai

Shell Fish Museum Minato

★

Niki

Hakodate Line

Iwanai Bay

Shukutsu

Shioya

Yoichi ★

Shakotan Peninsula

Benten-jima

Sea of Japan

Oshoro

★

Kamoenai

Ishikari Bay

Setakamuiiwa Candle Rock

Rusutsu Resort 276

Rusutsu

Shikotsu-Toya National Park

Toya-cho Toya-ko

Kitayuzawa Onsen 453

Toyako Onsen

Otaki

IBURI

Sobetsu

TOP DESTINATIONS IN OTARU & NISEKO ★

Otaru

Explore the nostalgic port town near Sapporo.

Otaru Canal and Sakai-machi shopping street are the best for a stroll. ★

Yoichi

The main joy here is tasting Japanese malt whisky at the Nikka Distillery. You can fruit picking at the sightseeing orchards. ★

Shakotan Peninsula

Best known for both its dramatic cliffs and cobalt blue ocean, as well as fresh sea urchin.

★

Niseko United

Asia’s leading ski resort sprawls over Niseko Annupuri overlooking Yotei-zan (Ezo-Fuji).

Getting into hot water after skiing or hiking. ★

Rusutsu Resort

The highland leisure complex of Rusutsu has a number of family-oriented attractions with ski slopes and an amusement park. ★

Oshamanbe

This railway town is famous for its kanimeshi (crab meat and rice).

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Yotei-zan, view from Niseko Annupuri

Otaru Canal

Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery

Rusutsu Resort

FOUR-DAY SUGGESTED ITINERARY Day 1: Otaru

Day 3: Niseko

Get in the historical port town Otaru, explore the city and spend a romantic night. ➡ Sapporo to Otaru by train or highway bus.

Tour in the Niseko Mountains. Enjoy hiking or rafting in summer, skiing or snowboarding in winter. Getting into hot water at night. ➡ Local buses, gondolas or on foot.

Day 2: Yoichi Head west to Yoichi and tour the distillery of Nikka Whisky, there are also historic fishing houses and orchards around the town. Then continue to Kutchan or Niseko. ➡ Otaru to Kutchan or Niseko by train or bus, stopover at Yoichi.

Day 4: Rusutsu Resort Visit the Rusutsu Resort for amusement park or ski area. Return to Sapporo via Jozankei or continue to Toyako Onsen by bus. ➡ Kutchan to Rusutsu Resort by bus. There are also ski buses in winter.

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Otaru 小 Otaru is a nostalgic port town grew rapidly since the 1880s, a number of major trading companies and banks opened branch offices.

This city has overtaken Sapporo in population during the Meiji period, Otaru was called the mercantile city of Hokkaido.

Today the historic buildings and stone warehouses still remain throughout the city, which are popular with tourists. It is recommend for a perfect day trip from Sapporo.

ATTRACTIONS Central Otaru 小 中心部 The historic attractions are dotted around the canal neighborhood, walking is a good way to explore the city.

Otaru Canal 小 運河 Built in the early 20th-century, this canal was used in the cargo handling on barges until the 1950s. In those days the canal had as many as hundreds of warehouses, you will find the original canal on the north side (Kita-Unga).

Currently the cobblestone promenade along the canal offers a romantic atmosphere, especially after dark.

Otaru Museum 小 市総合博物館運河館 Housed inside the city’s oldest warehouse Unga-kan built in 1893, situated next to the tourist information center. Exhibits traces the history of Otaru’s Stone Age, herring fishing, port, trade and financial. ‣ MUSEUM: 2-1-20 Ironai; 9.30am-5pm; ¥300 (common ticket ¥500 covers entry to the Railway Museum)

Chuo-dori

FAST FACTS Population: 119,000 Location: 30km west of Sapporo

HIGHLIGHTS ★ Stroll around the Otaru Canal ★ Shopping at Sakaimachi-dori ★ Photogenic Historic Buildings ★ Explore the Scenic Coastlines

HOTSPOTS @ Canal Plaza @ Sakaimachi-dori

LEFT LUGGAGE ✓ Otaru Station and JHB Bus Terminal ✓ Nagasakiya Shopping Mall ✓ Charinko Otaru 6

Central Otaru 14

Old Nihon Yusen Otaru Branch (450m): Otaru Railway Museum (650m)

Hokkai Can Otaru Factory KitaUnga

ri

-do ugu

0

N

500m

Otaru Port

IRONAI

Ry

INAHO

08

Otaru Museum

o06 Chushi Canal Plaza i ba

Pier 3 P

09

12 20

ai-d ori

04

Otaru Canal i

Post Office

aus i k a h As bas

-dori

HANAZONO

Old Suhara Residence

AIOI-CHO 23

15

18

Marchen Crossroads

-d

te

da

ne

ko ne

Otaru Park

Li

no azoRoad n a H een Gr

24

Old Kaiyotei

-zaka ongi Sanb

Ha

01

or i

5 ri -do Otaru n e Ko Congregational Church

SAKAI-MACHI

Suitengu

ute

Ro

City Hall

ori

n-d

agi

Han

Myoken Market

Otaru Anglican Church

ri

Iri fu

aka in-z

kun

Catholic ri Tomioka Church odai-do h S (300m)

Sho

iya Sush

do

sen

a -zak

17

hi-

ko-

02

ku Jigo

ac

Old Itaya Residence (Kaihourou)

Rin

Police Station

MINATO-MACHI

Chuo Bus Otaru Canal Terminal

19

Old Ironai 05 Station ri 01 S -do n i Bank of Japan akai 10 ichig m N Otaru Museum

TOMIOKA

Tengu-yama Ropeway (2.4km)

Iron

16

13

IRONAI

Line

n Tow e tral rcad Cen ako A Miy

22

oChu

a Temiy

i dor Charinko 21 Otaru Nagasakiya P Bus Shopping Mall INAHO Otaru Terminal Sta. i 11

er Form

Chuo Market

Otaru Ferry Terminal (600m)

Grand Park Otaru (1km) Old Sakaushi House (300m)

Tenjo-ji (350m)

Sumiyoshi Jinja (300m): Ryutoku-ji (800m): Soen-ji (1.6km)

Minami-Otaru Sta. Sumiyoshi Jinja (150m)

SUMIYOSHICHO Otaru-chikko Station (2.1km)

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