[A New Landscape Unfolding at Otaru Port]

When thinking of the iconic scenery of Otaru, Hokkaido, the Otaru Canal immediately comes to mind. However, the proximity of the port to the city center is another landscape uniquely characteristic of Otaru. The port is right at the edge of the city, with the gentle slope of Chuo-dori Street leading directly from Otaru Station to Pier No. 3. This area is familiar to citizens as the venue for the "Otaru Ushio Matsuri," the city's largest festival held every summer, and it is a place where one can easily stop by while sightseeing. I also find myself visiting occasionally, just to gaze out at the sea.

Redevelopment of this area began in 2014, with improvements made to the wharves and terminal facilities. Since 2024, the port has begun welcoming large 140,000-ton class cruise ships, with 33 port calls recorded last year. On days when these massive vessels are moored, the scenery at the pier feels even more dynamic.

The other day, I visited the newly developed green space, "Otaru Port Square." The park is an open space where you can feel the sea close at hand, and with many people relaxing on benches, it seems set to become a new seaside retreat. Looking down at my feet, I noticed a difference in the colors of the paving blocks. This design marks the former site of the "Chuo Sanbashi" (Central Pier), which once bustled with people. Compared to the current piers, this pier, which thrived from the Meiji to the Taisho era, felt quite small.

Around 1923, when the Otaru Canal was completed, passengers would transfer from large ships anchored offshore to small wooden boats called "hashike" (barges) to land at this very pier. It is said that at its peak, as many as 600 barges bustled about, making the port incredibly lively. Eventually, as modern piers were developed, the Central Pier fulfilled its role and disappeared. Yet, standing here, one's imagination expands, picturing the countless people who once stepped onto this land with hearts full of expectation.

Beyond the square stands a tourist boat terminal with a modern design. The form of the roof, stretching toward the sky, is said to symbolize the future expansion of Otaru City. By overlaying a design oriented toward the future onto a site where one can sense past history, the space itself becomes a continuous expression. It made me realize once again the power and fascination of design.

From here, you can also take a sightseeing boat to tour the Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-National Park. Watching the sparkling sea, I felt my heart naturally grow calm. In today's information-saturated society, it is important to occasionally stop and take the time to slowly take in the scenery.

Otaru Port Square is just a few minutes' walk from our Otaru Showroom along the canal. When you visit us, please consider extending your walk to this area.

Otaru Showroom
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/otaru.html
Otaru Port Square
https://maps.app.goo.gl/tFXQqAztDBw5Tj9u5

Reference
https://www.kanchi.or.jp/minato/vol/pdf/150/150_07.pdf