North Pacific Passage to Japan
Ocean Cruise from Vancouver to Tokyo via Alaska
Around Town in Otaru
We spent time walking around the area around the harbor, including the short walk to the Otaru Brewery, a German-styled place with excellent beer and decent food served by a robot. Nearby, there is an abandoned historic railroad, the Temiya line, laid in 1880 to transport coal mined from inland Hokkaido and shipped from Otaru. A US company, H.K. Porter built the locomotives used on the narrow gauge tracks.
One evening aboard ship, we were treated to a traditional Japanese performance by Matsumae Kagura, Shinto music and dance from the Matsumae Clan dating from 1674.
Otaru (2614)
Otaru (2609)
Otaru (2608)
Even smoking outdoors is discouraged (2612)
Former Otaru Warehouse (2610)
Little Honda (2617)
Denim is Edwin (2618)
Denim is Edwin (8472)
Gasoline Price $3.59/gal. (2657)
There are a lot of vending machines in Japan (2661)
Historic Railroad (2615)
Historic Railroad (2616-1)
H.K. Porter Locomotive (2616-2)
Otaru Brewery (2597)
Otaru Brewery (8464)
Otaru Brewery (4969)
Otaru Brewery (8459)
Otaru Brewery (4977)
Otaru Brewery (4978)
Otaru Brewery (4983)
Food Delivery by Robot, Otaru Brewery (4972)
Food Delivery by Robot, Otaru Brewery (4974)
Otaru Brewery (4975)
Otaru Brewery (4975)
Traditional Performance by Matsumae Kagura (4989)
Traditional Performance by Matsumae Kagura (4990)
Traditional Performance by Matsumae Kagura (5006)
Traditional Performance by Matsumae Kagura (5010)
Traditional Performance by Matsumae Kagura
Viking Orion (2601)
Otaru at night from ship (2603)
Otaru at night from ship (8468)
© Tom Lebsack