Herring fishing! Coal mining! And would you believe… even music box manufacturing? Otaru, located on the island of Hokkaido, has certainly had a history of boom cycles, but the herring era, when its waters supplied all of Asia, holds an important place in the city’s history. After all, icons remain in the form of 19th century tycoons’ “herring mansions” — like the coast-hugging Otaru-shi Nishin Goden — which still draw the fascination of visitors. But even outside of history itself, the island’s scenic natural attractions, like national parks and its rugged west coast,... Read More

Herring fishing! Coal mining! And would you believe… even music box manufacturing? Otaru, located on the island of Hokkaido, has certainly had a history of boom cycles, but the herring era, when its waters supplied all of Asia, holds an important place in the city’s history. After all, icons remain in the form of 19th century tycoons’ “herring mansions” — like the coast-hugging Otaru-shi Nishin Goden — which still draw the fascination of visitors. But even outside of history itself, the island’s scenic natural attractions, like national parks and its rugged west coast, have a timeless appeal. The freshness of the sushi is of course unsurprising, while the local whiskey distillery — perhaps surprisingly — uses traditional Scottish methods to produce a smoky malt. Don’t miss exploring the capital city, nearby Sapporo, and its spots for taking in the best sights, like Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill at Hokkaido Agricultural Experimental Station, which shows off the pastureland of Sapporo’s outskirts, and also the 482-foot Sapporo TV Tower at Sapporo Odori Park, which shares with the curious visitor some amazing city views, day and night. Read Less