Hokkaido in One Day: Sapporo & ｰ16:00 Otaru — Guide Akiko
December, 2024
This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 9:00 Meet at the hotel
- 9:30 Sapporo Station
- 10:20 Otaru Station
- 10:30‐12:00 Sankaku Market and lunch
- 12:20‐12:35 Otaru Canal
- 12:40-14:00 Sakaimachi Street
- 14:30‐15:00 Tanaka Sake Brewery Kikkogura
- 15:30ｰ16:00 Otaru Museum
- 16:30 Otaru Station
- 17:10 Disband at Sapporo Station
What Is a Private Otaru Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Crab, Sake, and Canal Sights
On the day of the tour, the weather was not very good and the wind was strong, so the Tenguyama ropeway that had originally been planned for the morning had suspended operations due to the high winds. We therefore gave up on climbing Tenguyama and prioritized the crab that the guests had wanted to eat. The guests had not had breakfast and said they did not mind an early lunch, so they enjoyed crab at Sankaku Market. I also suggested that they could enjoy crab more comfortably at a restaurant, but the guests wanted to eat within the atmosphere of the market, and they were very satisfied. After that, I guided them along the canal and Sakaimachi Street, where they purchased a glass for drinking Japanese sake that had a dragon painted on it. Next, I guided them to Tanaka Sake Brewery Kikkogura, explained how sake is made, and after they sampled the sake, they seemed to like Japanese sake very much and purchased three bottles. Since there was still time, I finally guided them to the Otaru Museum and explained the history of Otaru, which they listened to with great interest. After that, we returned to Otaru Station, and since the guests were planning to travel from Otaru to New Chitose Airport, we said goodbye at Sapporo Station.
Click here for more details: Otaru Day Trip from Sapporo in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Subway | Susukino～Sapporo | 210JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Sapporo～Otaru | 750JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Otaru～Sapporo | 750JPY |
| Total | 1,710JPY | ||
I’m Akiko Homma, who is a government-licensed guide of the Japan Guide Agency.
I have good communication ability and cooperative skills in spoken English.
Also, I have detailed knowledge of the features and attractions of Hokkaido, Kanazawa, Shizuoka and Yokohama as well as local culture, history, society, geography, nature, and food.
I have had the pleasure of satisfying all of my clients with my guiding so far.
My above skills and knowledge will help you make your trip more enjoyable and memorable!!
I’m looking foward to seeing you and showing you around!
Apr 15, 2026
F9244DCevar
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Loved Kanazawa!
Akiko was wonder! We had three generations, grandma, mom…
Apr 15, 2026
F9244DCevar
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Loved Kanazawa!
Akiko was wonder! We had three generations, grandma, mom and dad and two boys ages 9 and 12. She met us at the cruise terminal and we went by bus to the train station. We were going to take public transportation but opted for a mini van for three hours that cost an extra $130. Well worth the expense as we only had three ours in Kanazawa. We went to the Samarai Shrine, which was fantastic, everyone enjoyed it. Akiko accommodated us in every way, we even had our gold leaf ice cream- which is a must!
Mar 9, 2026
Karthik_R
Akiko was very…
Viator review: Sapporo 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Akiko was very knowledgeable and showed everything at…
Mar 9, 2026
Karthik_R
Akiko was very…
Viator review: Sapporo 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Akiko was very knowledgeable and showed everything at a good pace. I would recommend
this tour to anyone.
Mar 23, 2025
A8444ZRsimonm
Great morning in Kanazawa
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Amazing tour by Aki in Kanazawa. He…
Mar 23, 2025
A8444ZRsimonm
Great morning in Kanazawa
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Amazing tour by Aki in Kanazawa. He was fluent in English and very pleasant company. His
stories brought the city to life. We had a great time!
Dec 18, 2024
L5714WWmichaelm
Wonderful Otaru Private Tour with Akiko!
Tripadvisor review: Otaru 6hr Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
Akiko was an absolute gem! From…
Dec 18, 2024
L5714WWmichaelm
Wonderful Otaru Private Tour with Akiko!
Tripadvisor review: Otaru 6hr Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
Akiko was an absolute gem! From the moment I booked, she was incredibly communicative and ensured I saw all the key sights I was interested in.
The highlight was definitely the unexpected seafood lunch. Akiko seamlessly adjusted the tour to include a delicious feast of king crab and horsehair crab, which was an unforgettable experience.
Beyond the incredible food, Akiko was a fantastic guide. She shared fascinating insights into Hokkaido and Japanese culture, making the tour both informative and entertaining. I particularly enjoyed our visit to the sake brewery, where Akiko expertly explained the intricate process of sake making. It was fascinating to see the brewery in action.
The Canal was also breathtaking, especially with the fresh snow dusting the old warehouses.
Akiko was so down-to-earth and understanding when I was a little too ambitious with the food! I was eager to try the sea urchin, but I simply couldn’t fit another full plate. Akiko kindly offered me some of her own, which was incredibly generous and delicious.
I highly recommend this tour with Akiko. She’s knowledgeable, friendly, and goes the extra mile to make your experience truly special.