Hokkaido in Half a Day: Otaru Canal & Sakaimachi Street — Guide Max

What Is a 4-Hour Private Otaru Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Otaru Art Base and the Canal

[Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide led a 4-hour private tour of Otaru for the guests visiting from Oceania. Based on the guests' requests, the schedule was built around the Otaru Art Base.

I met the guests at the hotel. Due to the lunch reservation time, we started 10 minutes early. The tour began with an early lunch, and the guests mentioned they had skipped breakfast for this reason, enjoying a seafood rice bowl with great pleasure. Afterward, we strolled around the Otaru Canal area. I explained the historical background of Otaru and the canal, and the guests listened attentively to my explanations.

Next, we visited the main highlight, the Otaru Art Base. We visited 4 of its 5 facilities, and the guests showed strong interest and viewed the exhibits quite enthusiastically. Finally, they enjoyed souvenir shopping along Sakaimachi Street, purchasing glasswork and sweets from a local confectionery shop. The original plan also included a visit to a sake brewery at the end, but since we were running short on time, one of the guests suggested skipping it, showing thoughtful consideration for the tour's ending time.

Some of the guests had traveled to many countries around the world, and this was their second visit to Japan, while it was a first visit to Japan for others in the group. It was the first time in Hokkaido for the guests. They were very calm and kind, the weather was just right, and the tour ended in a relaxed atmosphere. The guests appeared very satisfied.

Click here for more details: Otaru Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

Tour Report by Max

Hi, my name is Masashi Aoki. You can call me Max. I Lived in the United States for four years and have experience working as an interpreter for a Japanese Major League Baseball player. I also worked for a Japanese professional baseball club for 22 years, which gave me extensive knowledge in the field of sports. In addition, I have deep knowledge of Hokkaido’s geography, history and culture. I would love to share how attractive Hokkaido is with the people from around the world. My top priority as a tour guide is to provide our guests with a wonderful and memorable experience.