OTARU SHORE EXCURSIONS: OTARU CANAL, HERRING MANSION & MT TENGU

Otaru is a small port town in Hokkaido that got rich on herring fishing about a hundred years ago. The cruise pier is close to the old town.

Route 1: Otaru town (about 6 hours)

• Otaru Canal, lined with old stone warehouses and gas lamps.
• Aoyama Villa (the herring mansion), the house of a rich fishing family, full of fine woodwork and art.
• Mt Tengu by ropeway for the view over the town and the bay.
• Tanaka sake brewery for a tasting.
• Time on Sakaimachi street for glass shops and the music box museum.

Route 2: Whisky and coast (about 6 hours)

About 30 minutes along the coast to the Nikka distillery in Yoichi, where Japanese whisky began, with a tasting. Then the herring fishery house and the Shukutsu lookout, and back to the canal.

Sapporo is about 45 minutes away if you would rather see the city; ask us.

How these shore excursions work

• Private tour for your group only, from a few people in a van up to a full coach.
• An English-speaking local guide meets you at the cruise terminal (or at the tender pier if your ship anchors).
• We plan the day around your ship's times and bring you back well before all-aboard.
• Send us your ship name, port date and docking hours, and we fit the route to them.

Included

• English-speaking local guide
• Private vehicle with driver
• Entrance tickets and boat rides in the route you choose

Not included

• Lunch and drinks, unless we agree on a lunch stop in the price
• Tips for the guide and driver

Price

The price per person depends on your group size and the route. Tell us your ship, date and number of people and we will send a plan and a price.

More in Japan: all Japan shore excursions. Other ports: Miyazaki & Aburatsu, Akita, Beppu. Or see all our cruise port tours in Asia.