Otaru City Japan 2012 Trip: Otaru Canal

Otaru Canal the romantic place that i knew trough japan movie 'Love Letter', but this canal have their own history. Otaru Canal, 1140m in length and 40m in width, was completed in 1923 after nine years of construction work. At first, the canal was crowded with bargeｓcarrying coal or marine products.

Around that time, many stone warehouses were built to store these goods. But after the piers were built at Otaru Port, enabling goods to be carried directly from ships onto trucks, the canal fell into disuse and the water became stale and smelly. At first, the city planned to fill in the entire canal and build a road over it. But citizens resisted the plan, and ten years later, in 1986, the city finally gave in and agreed to preserve the canal.Though it had already been partly filled in, most was left intact. Walking paths were built alongside, and 63 gas lights were installed. Now Otaru Canal is a popular tourist destination. The old stone warehouses have been turned into restaurants, shops, and museums.

When i was there, the temp was -5.8. I can't stay longger.

I enjoy viewing snow candle light reflecting on Otaru Canal Water and along the verge of the path

Otaru City Japan 2012 Trip : Steam Clock

Another interesting spot at Otaru city is the steam clock. The location just in front of the museum. The Steam Clock made by a Canadian clock maker and was a gift from Vancouver to Otaru. Powered entirely by steam, the clock plays a chime every 15 minutes.

Otaru city, Japan 2012 Trip: Musical Box Museum

Otaru city, second famous city in Hokkaido after Sapporo. Be the first city for my trip last weekend. we arrived there around 4 pm. So it already dark. first place to visit was Otaru Musical Box Museum. Here, we can build our own musical box. we can choose own song with on decoration. but, i didn't do that, 'someone' should buy for me soon.

Musical Box Museum

Otaru Music Box Museum is one of the largest museum shops of music boxes, orgel, in Japan. The beautiful century-old building, designated as one of historic landmarks of OtaruCity, is full of music boxes in various sizes and types.

The Entrance

Various song for your musical box

Among of the musical box

Weekend at Hokkaido

Still feel tired for the hectic weekend at Hokkaido. the northest prefectures of Japan. i will update soon. Waiting pictures from Ma san.Had Breakfast at Haneda Airport before Depart.