Otaru, a charming port city located in Hokkaido, is a popular tourist destination. Renowned for the historic and scenic canal, Otaru canal is on my visitors must-see list when in the area. 

The Otaru Canal is a stunning and serene waterway that runs through the center of the city, providing a breathtaking backdrop for a leisurely stroll or a romantic evening. The canal is lined with shops, restaurants, and cafes, providing a perfect opportunity to sample some of the local cuisine or pick up a souvenir. The local seafood is especially noteworthy, with fresh sushi and sashimi being a must-try for any foodie.

Until a more modern port was built, the Otaru canal used to be a key economic powerhouse of the prefecture in the early 1900s, with boats travelling up the canal and dropping off goods directly at the warehouses all along the waterfront. The modern port was built in the 1980s, and has since made the Otaru canal obsolete, however a movement to protect the heritage of the canal has seen the once busy port turned into tourist destination, and a memento of the towns history.