When visiting Otaru city, a must-see is Kitaichi Glass Otaru, a renowned glassmaker with a history spanning over 100 years. It’s no exaggeration to say that Kitaichi Glass has shaped the history of Otaru. Originally named Asahara Glass, it was founded in 1901 during the Meiji era, initially producing oil lamps. By 1910, towards the end of the Meiji era, they began crafting buoys for fishing, aligning with Otaru’s growth as a major fishing industry hub in Hokkaido before World War II.
As Otaru City’s prominence waned post-war, Kitaichi Glass adapted by diversifying into original interior products and accessories, which became new and popular Otaru souvenirs, leading to a resurgence in their fortunes. Along the Otaru Canal Road, a series of shops showcase a variety of souvenirs including cups, interior decor items, accessories, wines, sake, and more. Additionally, Kitaichi Glass features cafes and the KITAICHI Venetian Art Museum, dedicated to glass art, where visitors can admire numerous works from Venice, Italy, showcasing the breadth of their craftsmanship.
Access
JR train from Sapporo
- Take a Hakodate line via Otaru to Minami-Otaru station(28min) and walk 10min.
Bus from Sapporo
- Take a Bus via Otaru to Otaru station(55min) and walk 20 min.
By Car
- Take a high way to Otaru exit(25min) and 10min to Kitaichi Glass parking
Neighborhood
- LeTAO —a sweets shop
- Otaru Orgel Do(小樽オルゴール堂)
- Otaru Museum of Art
- Temiya Cave —relief sculptures in the Jomon era, about 1,600 years ago.
- Otaru Gasu-to(小樽ガス燈) —a stained glass shop
- Kitakaro(北菓楼) —a sweets shop
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