is a

city A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...

and

port A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as H ...

Shiribeshi Subprefecture is a subprefecture of Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. The subprefecture's capital is Kutchan. As of July 31, 2004, the estimated population was 256,184 and the area was 4,305.65 km2. Geography Municipalities Mergers History ...

Hokkaido is Japan's second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; the two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel. The lar ...

, Japan, northwest of

Sapporo ( ain, サッ・ポロ・ペッ, Satporopet, lit=Dry, Great River) is a city in Japan. It is the largest city north of Tokyo and the largest city on Hokkaido, the northernmost main island of the country. It ranks as the fifth most populous cit ...

. The city faces

Ishikari Bay is a bay located in Hokkaido of Japan, connected to the Sea of Japan. Ishikari Bay is the area east of the straight line from Cape Shakotan on the west of Shakotan Peninsula to Cape Ofuyu. Geography Border communities ;Shiribeshi Subprefecture : ...

and the

Sea of Japan The Sea of Japan is the marginal sea between the Japanese archipelago, Sakhalin, the Korean Peninsula, and the mainland of the Russian Far East. The Japanese archipelago separates the sea from the Pacific Ocean. Like the Mediterranean Sea, i ...

, and has long served as the main port of the bay. With its many historical buildings, Otaru is a popular tourist destination. Because it is a 25-minute drive from Sapporo, it has recently grown as a

bedroom community A commuter town is a populated area that is primarily residential rather than commercial or industrial. Routine travel from home to work and back is called commuting, which is where the term comes from. A commuter town may be called by many o ...

. As of July 31, 2019, the city has an estimated population of 115,333 and a population density of 474.37 persons per km² (1,228.6 persons per sq. mi.). The total area is . Although it is the largest city in

, the subprefecture's capital is the more centrally located

Kutchan is a town located in Shiribeshi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. Kutchan lies slightly north of the volcano Mount Yōtei, and is approximately 50 kilometers west of Sapporo. The subprefecture government offices are located in this town, making it ...

History

The city was an Ainu habitation, and the name "Otaru" is recognised as being of Ainu origin, possibly meaning "River running through the sandy beach". The very small remaining part of the Temiya Cave contains carvings from the Zoku-Jōmon period of Ainu history, around A.D. 400. Mount Akaiwa (Northwest part of Otaru) is memorialized in the Ainu tradition in the story of

Sitonai Sitonai (Ainu: シトナイ) is a mythical Ainu heroine, known for a legend of slaying a giant snake of Akaiwa mountain (located northwest to Otaru). Synopsis In a cave in Akaiwa mountain there lived a giant serpent (the height of the body was s ...

, village chief's teenage daughter who had slain a white snake from the mountain's cave that demanded sacrifices of girls every year. The legend explains the name of a big cave on Mount Akaiwa, Hakuryu Gongen Cave (白竜権現洞窟, lit. White Dragon

Gongen A , literally "incarnation", was believed to be the manifestation of a buddha in the form of an indigenous kami, an entity who had come to guide the people to salvation, during the era of shinbutsu-shūgō in premodern Japan.Encyclopedia of Shint ...

Cave) and the reason why a shrine was built on the mountain (to protect the village from being haunted by the snake). Otaru was recognised as a village by the ''

bakufu , officially , was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, though during part of the Kamakura ...

'' in 1865, and in 1880 the first railway line in Hokkaido was opened with daily service between Otaru and Sapporo. An Imperial decree in July 1899 established Otaru as an open port for trading with the United States and the United Kingdom. The city flourished well as the financial and business center in Hokkaido as well as the trade port with Japanese ruled southern

Sakhalin Sakhalin ( rus, Сахали́н, r=Sakhalín, p=səxɐˈlʲin; ja, 樺太 ''Karafuto''; zh, c=, p=Kùyèdǎo, s=库页岛, t=庫頁島; Manchu: ᠰᠠᡥᠠᠯᡳᠶᠠᠨ, ''Sahaliyan''; Orok: Бугата на̄, ''Bugata nā''; Nivkh ...

until the 1920s. Otaru was redesignated as a city on August 1, 1922. On December 26, 1924, a freight train loaded with 600 cases of dynamite exploded in Temiya Station, damaging the warehouse, the harbour facilities, and the surrounding area. Local officials stated that at least 94 were killed and 200 injured in this disaster. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, Otaru housed a prison camp for Aleuts taken there following the

Japanese occupation of Attu The Japanese occupation of Attu was the result of an invasion of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska during World War II. Imperial Japanese Army troops landed on 7 June 1942 the day after the invasion of Kiska. The invasions on Attu Island and Kiska ...

. During the closing stages of the war, Otaru was bombed by American naval aircraft in July 1945. Since the 1950s, as the coal industry around the city went into a decline, the status of the economic hub shifted from Otaru to Sapporo. File:Otaruharbour-1876.png, Otaru in 1876 File:Otaru City in Hokkaido 1909 Meiji 42.png, Otaru in 1909 File:Otaru Port in Hokkaido 1909 Meiji 42.png, Otaru port in 1909 File:130823 Bank of Japan Otaru Museum02s4.jpg, Former Bank of Japan Otaru Branch, now home to the Otaru Museum

Geography

Otaru is a

port town A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Ham ...

on the coast of the

in northern

. The southern portion of the city is characterized by the steep slopes of various mountains (notably Tenguyama), where the altitude of the land sharply drops from the mountains to the sea. The land available between the coast and mountains has been almost completely developed, and the developed part of the city on the mountain slopes is called ''Saka-no-machi'', or "Hill town", including hills named ''Funamizaka'' (Boat-view Hill) and ''Jigokuzaka'' (Hell Hill).

Neighboring cities and towns

* Shiribeshi ** Yoichi District: Yoichi, Akaigawa * Ishikari **

( Teine-ku, Minami-ku), Ishikari

Rivers

Some of the rivers in Otaru are: Hoshioki, Kiraichi, Zenibako, Hariusu,

Asari Asari may refer to: The Asari are a caste of artisans and craftsmen who do metal working and make jewelry. They are also involved in the construction trades of carpentry and masonry. They are followers of Vishvakarman, the Hindu god of craftsmen an ...

, Katsunai, Shioya, Myoken, Irifune.

Climate

In the summer the weather, like all of western Hokkaido, is very warm and balmy, with a maximum temperature of around and high humidity – not as hot as southern Japan. In the winter, however, Otaru is very snowy, receiving as much as of snow from November to March, when it snows almost constantly and sunshine levels are extremely low. The average maximum snow cover is . Extreme temperatures have ranged from on July 28, 2021, to on January 24, 1954, in which month the highest snowfall of occurred. Monthly precipitation totals in a record dating back to 1943 have ranged from in August 1962 to in June 2007.

List of mayors (from 1923 to present)

Transportation

JR Hokkaido The is one of the constituent companies of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group), and is often referred to using its official abbreviation of . It operates intercity and local rail services in Hokkaido, Japan. The company introduced Kitaca, a sm ...

Station **

Hakodate Main Line The is a railway line connecting the cities of Hakodate and Asahikawa via Sapporo in Hokkaido, Japan. It is one of the trunk lines operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). The Sawara Line, a 35 km loop line from Ōnuma to Mo ...

: Ranshima – Shioya –

Otaru is a city and port in Shiribeshi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan, northwest of Sapporo. The city faces Ishikari Bay and the Sea of Japan, and has long served as the main port of the bay. With its many historical buildings, Otaru is a popular to ...

– Minami-Otaru – Otaru-Chikkō –

– Zenibako * Otaru Port Ferry Terminal(A

Shin Nihonkai Ferry is a marine transportation company based in Japan. Ships and Routes Highspeed Ferries Conventional Ferries Terminals Shin Nihonkai Ferry operates from six terminals. ;Maizuru ferry terminal :Located in Maizuru, Kyoto () ; Tsuruga fe ...

operates two ferries daily)

Education

Universities

National

* Otaru University of Commerce

Colleges

* Otaru Junior College

High schools

Public

* Hokkaido Otaru Choryo High School * Hokkaido Otaru Ouyou High School * Hokkaido Otaru Fisheries High School * Hokkaido Otaru Create Futures High School

=Former

= * Hokkaido Otaru Commercial High School * Hokkaido Otaru Technical High School

Private

* Futaba Gakuen High School * Hokusho High School * Otaru Meihou High School

Notable attractions

A canal adorned with Victorian-style street lamps runs through Otaru. The city attracts a large number of Japanese tourists as well as Russian visitors. A popular attraction on the west side of the city is Nishin Goten ( herring mansion). This large wooden building was built in 1897 and was once the house of Fukumatsu Tanaka, a magnate of the fishing industry. It was originally built in nearby Tomari village and moved in 1958. Visitors can clearly see the difference between the squalid conditions of the first floor sleeping quarters of 120 workers and the ground floor luxury of the magnate's rooms. Another notable building is the Sakaushi residence, constructed by Yoshiya Tanoue, a pupil of Frank Lloyd Wright. The Tomioka Catholic church is also a popular spot. Many of the buildings have been designated as landmark architecture. Otaru is well known for its beer, and Otaru Beer, next to the canal, is a popular restaurant with a medieval theme. Otaru is also known for its freshness

sushi is a Japanese dish of prepared , usually with some sugar and salt, accompanied by a variety of , such as seafood, often raw, and vegetables. Styles of sushi and its presentation vary widely, but the one key ingredient is "sushi rice," also ...

. Another food attraction unique to Otaru is the rainbow tower ice cream. The town also has substantial shopping arcades and bazaars, but fewer than nearby

. Otaru's prominent industries are arts and crafts, such as studio glass and musical boxes. Of the latter, it maintains the Otaru Music Box Museum.

Tenguyama

Otaru is an important port for Sapporo, and part of this hilly city is on the lower slopes of Tenguyama, a good place for skiing and other winter sports and one that is accessible via

Otaru Tenguyama Ropeway The is Japanese aerial lift line in Otaru, Hokkaidō, operated by . The company also operates bus terminals, Sapporo Municipal Subway kiosks, and ski resorts. Opened in 1979, the line climbs with the panoramic view of the city. There also is , w ...

Sister cities

Nakhodka Nakhodka ( rus, Нахо́дка, p=nɐˈxotkə) is a port city in Primorsky Krai, Russia, located on the Trudny Peninsula jutting into the Nakhodka Bay of the Sea of Japan, about east of Vladivostok, the administrative center of the krai. Po ...

, Russia *

Dunedin Dunedin ( ; mi, Ōtepoti) is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from , the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Th ...

, New Zealand * Gangseo District, Seoul, South Korea

Notable people

Seiji Aochi (June 21, 1942 – August 14, 2008) was a Japanese ski jumper who competed in the early 1970s. His best finish was a bronze medal in the Individual normal hill event at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo. Aochi attended Meiji University ...

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and

Olympic medalist This article includes lists of all Olympic medalists since 1896, organized by each Olympic sport or discipline, and also by Olympiad. Medalist with most medals by sport Summer Olympic sports Winter Olympic sports A. Including military patrol e ...

(

1972 Winter Olympics The 1972 Winter Olympics, officially the and commonly known as Sapporo 1972 ( ja, 札幌1972), was a winter multi-sport event held from February 3 to 13, 1972, in Sapporo, Japan. It was the first Winter Olympic Games to take place outside Euro ...

) *

Yōko Asagami is a Japanese voice actress who is represented by Aksent. She is most known for the roles of Yuki Mori (''Space Battleship Yamato'') and Saeko Nogami (''City Hunter''). Her married name is . Asagmi was born in Otaru, Hokkaidō. In 1992, she ...

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(''

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'' and ''

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'') * Gennosuke Fuse, anatomist of the

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* Sei Itō, Japanese poet, novelist, and translator * Chiaki Kawamata, Japanese science fiction writer and critic ('' Emblem of Roto'') *

Yukie Kawamura is a Japanese gravure idol, tarento, and actress signed to Japan Art. Biography Born in Otaru, Hokkaidō, Kawamura grew up in Yokohama, Kanagawa and later in Abiko, Chiba. She made her debut in 2003 as a gravure idol. In 2006 she started her ...

, Japanese

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, and

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* Hinako Kitano, actress and model (ex-

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) *

Masaki Kobayashi was a Japanese film director and screenwriter, best known for the epic trilogy ''The Human Condition'' (1959–1961), the samurai films '' Harakiri'' (1962) and '' Samurai Rebellion'' (1967), and the horror anthology ''Kwaidan'' (1964). ''Sens ...

, Japanese film director (''

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'', ''

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'' and ''

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'') *

Takiji Kobayashi was a Japanese writer of proletarian literature. He is best known for his short novel '' Kanikōsen'', or ''Crab Cannery Ship'', published in 1929. It tells the story of the hard life of cannery workers, fishermen and seamen on board a cannery ...

, Japanese author of

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Masaru Konuma is a Japanese film director known for his '' Roman Porno'' films for Nikkatsu during the 1970s. Life and career Early life Masaru Konuma was born in Otaru, Hokkaidō, on December 30, 1937. Konuma retains no memories of his father who was a te ...

, Japanese film director (''

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: 菅孝之進, ''Suga Kōnoshin'') * Natsuhiko Kyogoku, Japanese mystery writer, member of the Mystery Writers of Japan and the Honkaku Mystery Writers Club of Japan * Motosaburo Masuyama, Japanese statistician * Hideharu Miyahira,

Nobuko Miyamoto is a Japanese actress. She was born in Otaru, Hokkaidō, and raised in Nagoya. She was married to director Juzo Itami from 1969 until his death in 1997, and regularly starred in his films. She has been nominated for eight Best Actress Japane ...

, Japanese actress *

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and co-founder of

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* Takiko Mizunoe, Japanese actress, film producer, radio personality and TV presenter * Maki Murakami, Japanese manga artist ('' Gravitation'') *

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, Japanese actor (''

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'' and ''

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'') * Tetsuya Okabe, Alpine ski racer *

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, Japanese AV actress and idol singer * Sarah Midori Perry, musician (

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) *

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, Japanese female mixed martial arts fighter, kickboxer and former boxer and

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, Academy Award-winning Japanese actress and standards singer * Hirokazu Yagi,

* Akiko Yamanaka, Japanese politician * Ichiro Yamaguchi, musician (

Sakanaction , stylised as sakanaction, are a Japanese rock band from Sapporo, Hokkaido. Their music is a fusion of alternative rock, electronic music, electronic, Pop music, pop, and New wave music, new wave styles. The band consists of five members: Ichiro ...

) *

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, musician (

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) * Kazumi Yamashita, manga artist ('' The Life of Genius Professor Yanagizawa'')

References

External links

Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Otaru, Hokkaido Cities in Hokkaido Port settlements in Japan Populated coastal places in Japan

History

Geography

Neighboring cities and towns

Rivers

Climate

List of mayors (from 1923 to present)

Transportation

Education

Universities

National

Colleges

High schools

Public

=Former

Private

Notable attractions

Tenguyama

Sister cities

Notable people

See also

References

External links