Shiribeshi Subprefecture district, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan

Places to visit near Otaru

Otaru is a city in Shiribeshi Subprefecture district, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, home to about 143,792 people. Within 50 km by road there are 201 places to visit — 32 hill stations & viewpoints, 27 temples, 30 parks and 31 museums. The must-see places are 水天宮 (1 km), 本願寺 小樽別院 (1 km) and Otaru City General Museum (3 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Otaru on the map

Otaru, Hokkaido Prefecture
Otaru, Shiribeshi Subprefecture district, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Otaru at a glance

Location
Shiribeshi Subprefecture district, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan
Population
about 143,792
Coordinates
43.1894° N, 141.0022° E
Places within 50 km
201 (56 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; year-round for temples and parks

Top places to visit near Otaru

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Otaru: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Otaru

Things to see near Otaru, by type

Hill stations & viewpoints near Otaru

44 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Otaru. The closest is Mount Tengu (4 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

  • Mount Tengu · viewpoint · Shiribeshi Subprefecture · ~4 km
  • Mount Kenashi · viewpoint · Shiribeshi Subprefecture · ~6 km
  • Mount Akaiwa · viewpoint · Shiribeshi Subprefecture · ~6 km
  • 3号鉱床 · viewpoint · Shiribeshi Subprefecture · ~11 km
  • Mt. Haruka · viewpoint · Ishikari Subprefecture · ~15 km
  • Mt. Asari · viewpoint · Ishikari Subprefecture · ~18 km

All hill stations & viewpoints in Hokkaido Prefecture →

Temples near Otaru

42 temples within 100 km of Otaru. The closest is 水天宮 (1 km). Best time: year-round.

  • 水天宮 · temple · Shiribeshi Subprefecture · ~1 km · Must-see
  • 金吾龍神社 · temple · Shiribeshi Subprefecture · ~16 km · Must-see
  • 豊足神社 · temple · Shiribeshi Subprefecture · ~17 km · Must-see
  • Nishino Shrine · temple · Ishikari Subprefecture · ~32 km · Must-see
  • 新川皇大神社 · temple · Ishikari Subprefecture · ~32 km · Must-see
  • 江南神社 · temple · Ishikari Subprefecture · ~34 km · Must-see

All temples in Hokkaido Prefecture →

Parks near Otaru

35 parks within 100 km of Otaru. The closest is 手宮公園 (3 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

  • 手宮公園 · park · Shiribeshi Subprefecture · ~3 km
  • Teine Inazumi Park · park · Ishikari Subprefecture · ~28 km · Must-see
  • Aoba Park · park · Ishikari Subprefecture · ~32 km · Must-see
  • Noushi Park · park · Ishikari Subprefecture · ~34 km · Must-see
  • Snowcruse ONZE · park · Shiribeshi Subprefecture · ~14 km
  • Maruyama Zoo · park · Ishikari Subprefecture · ~37 km · Must-see

All parks in Hokkaido Prefecture →

Museums near Otaru

33 museums within 100 km of Otaru. The closest is Otaru Music Box Hall Number 2 Antique Museum (1 km); the best-known is Otaru City General Museum (3 km). Best time: year-round.

All museums in Hokkaido Prefecture →

Forts & heritage near Otaru

29 forts & heritage within 100 km of Otaru. The closest is スーベニール オタルカン (1 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Hokkaido Prefecture →

Buddhist sites near Otaru

13 buddhist sites within 100 km of Otaru. The closest is 本願寺 小樽別院 (1 km). Best time: october to march.

  • 本願寺 小樽別院 · Buddhist site · Shiribeshi Subprefecture · ~1 km · Must-see
  • 妙覚寺 · Buddhist site · Ishikari Subprefecture · ~37 km · Must-see
  • 龍雲寺 · Buddhist site · Ishikari Subprefecture · ~38 km · Must-see
  • 教願寺 · Buddhist site · Ishikari Subprefecture · ~40 km · Must-see
  • 中央寺 · Buddhist site · Ishikari Subprefecture · ~41 km · Must-see
  • 本龍寺 · Buddhist site · Ishikari Subprefecture · ~41 km · Must-see

All buddhist sites in Hokkaido Prefecture →

A one-day trip from Otaru

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 70 km on the road.

  1. Start in Otaru
  2. 1 km 本願寺 小樽別院 · Buddhist site, Shiribeshi Subprefecture
  3. 17 km 豊足神社 · temple, Shiribeshi Subprefecture
  4. 19 km Otaru City General Museum · museum, Shiribeshi Subprefecture
  5. 16 km 金吾龍神社 · temple, Shiribeshi Subprefecture
  6. 16 km 水天宮 · temple, Shiribeshi Subprefecture
  7. 1 km Back to Otaru

Plan a longer trip from Otaru — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Otaru

No traveller has reported from around Otaru yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Otaru

    All places near Otaru by distance

    Within 15 km of Otaru

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Otaru by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Hill stations & viewpoints3244Mount Tengu (4 km)
    Temples2742水天宮 (1 km)
    Parks3035手宮公園 (3 km)
    Museums3133Otaru Music Box Hall Number 2 Antique Museum (1 km)
    Forts & heritage2829スーベニール オタルカン (1 km)
    Buddhist sites1213本願寺 小樽別院 (1 km)
    Other attractions1113Marchen Crossroads (1 km)
    Waterfalls910張碓の滝 (11 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs66小樽運河 (2 km)
    Beaches & coast56Cape Hiraiso (4 km)
    Churches56St. Michael's Church Sapporo (39 km)
    Caves33Otaru City Board of Education Temple Cave Preservation Hall (3 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves11Ebisu Island (13 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens11Botanical Garden of Hokkaido University (39 km)

    Otaru: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Otaru?

    水天宮 (temple, about 1 km), 本願寺 小樽別院 (Buddhist site, about 1 km), Otaru City General Museum (museum, about 3 km), 金吾龍神社 (temple, about 16 km), 豊足神社 (temple, about 17 km), スーベニール オタルカン (heritage site, about 1 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Otaru?

    201 places on Spotwander: 32 hill stations & viewpoints, 27 temples, 30 parks, 31 museums, 28 forts & heritage.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Otaru?

    Mount Tengu, about 4 km by road; Mount Kenashi (6 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest temple to Otaru?

    水天宮, about 1 km by road; 金吾龍神社 (16 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest park to Otaru?

    手宮公園, about 3 km by road; Snowcruse ONZE (14 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Otaru?

    Start in Otaru, visit 本願寺 小樽別院, then 豊足神社, then Otaru City General Museum, then 金吾龍神社, then 水天宮, and drive back — about 70 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Otaru?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; year-round for temples and parks.

    Towns near Otaru

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Otaru’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Otaru on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.