Otaru, a historic harbour town on Hokkaido's west coast and the port for Sapporo, developed as a base for opening up Hokkaido, and the Otaru Canal, stone warehouses, historic buildings, museums and glass workshops are all within walking… More about Sapporo-Otaru →
October 2026 · from today · all times local (Japan Standard Time)
No more ships are scheduled in Sapporo-Otaru this month
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Today and the next 7 days · all times local (Japan Standard Time)
Thousands of people in port, guests plus crew. Crowd level compared with a typical Sapporo-Otaru day.
The crowd calendar shows every ship and how busy the port is, hour by hour, plus the quietest and busiest days for the next 90 days.
Ships calling at Sapporo-Otaru dock at Otaru's No. 3 Wharf (berths 16 and 17) in Minatomachi, right next to the Otaru Canal, where the Otaru Port Cruise Terminal stands. Sapporo itself is about 38 km away by road (typically 35 minutes to 1 hour 5 minutes by car, or about an hour by JR train and a walk). JR Otaru Station is a 20-minute (1.4 km) walk. The city also lists Katsunai Wharf, about 2 km southeast, as a cruise berth.
88 km · 65–102 min by car
New Chitose Airport, Hokkaido's main airport, is 88 km from the terminal by road (typically 1 hr 5 min to 1 hr 40 min). The JR Rapid Airport train runs through Sapporo to Otaru, and the airport bus serves Otaru Station and the canal area.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
JR and airport bus fares are official. Taxis are metered. Distances and times are approximate.
2 terminals
Cruise terminal on No. 3 Wharf (3-3 Minatomachi), next to the Otaru Canal; berths 16 and 17 take ships of up to about 140,000 tons. Currency exchange machine and temporary tourist information on call days; dedicated coach parking.
Wharf (berths 2 and 3) about 2 km southeast of No. 3 Wharf, listed by the city as a cruise berth.
Daily rate · per vehicle · confirm before travel
There is no cruise passenger parking at No. 3 Wharf; the city asks drivers to use nearby paid car parks, and the operator points port visitors to Tourist Car Parks No. 1 and No. 2 at the base of the wharf. Both are gated, at JPY 300 per 60 minutes with a maximum of JPY 1,000 a day. Whether cars may stay for a whole cruise is not stated.
Prices are approximate. Coffee is drip coffee at chain cafes; lunch is at ramen shops near Otaru Station and Ironai, and dinner at sushi and seafood restaurants on Sushiya-dori, in Ironai and Inaho.
Street of sushi restaurants in Hanazono, a short walk from the canal; most dinner sets JPY 4,000-8,000.
Seafood market beside Otaru Station with small restaurants serving seafood bowls.
Ramen shops and casual restaurants between the station and the canal.
Otaru, a historic harbour town on Hokkaido's west coast and the port for Sapporo, developed as a base for opening up Hokkaido, and the Otaru Canal, stone warehouses, historic buildings, museums and glass workshops are all within walking distance of the cruise pier. No. 3 Wharf, beside the Otaru Canal, takes cruise ships of up to about 140,000 tons, with the Otaru Port Cruise Terminal and dedicated coach parking. The port is about 70 minutes by train from New Chitose Airport and is increasingly used for cruises that start and end here.
Canal lined with stone warehouses and gas lamps, a 10-minute walk from the station; free, with the warehouses lit in the evening.
Seafood market next to Otaru Station with stalls and small eateries; free entry.
Historic main building on Sakaimachi Street selling thousands of music boxes; free entry.