Town in Hokkaido, Japan
Otaru for solo travelers
Is Otaru good for solo travel?
A canal and harbor town with old stone warehouses, glass shops, sushi and sweets, 30 minutes from Sapporo by train. Easy as a day trip or a quiet overnight; summer day crowds and snowy winters.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Limited |
| Safety | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Solo women | Very safe alone, day or night. |
How to meet people in Otaru
A few guesthouses near the station, counter seats in sushi restaurants and a small glass-craft workshop scene. Sapporo is the place for hostel and bar events.
Good things to do alone
- Eat at a Sushi-ya Dori counter
- Walk the canal at dusk when the lamps light
- Try a glass-blowing workshop
- Join the Snow Gleam lantern walk in February
- Soak at Asarigawa Onsen
Where to stay in Otaru
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Otaru Canal area | Canal walks, warehouses, glass shops and hotels |
| Sakaimachi Street | Sweets, music boxes and glass studios |
| Otaru Station area | Trains, markets and cheaper guesthouses |
| Asarigawa Onsen | Hot spring hotels with sea views |
Solo travel across Japan
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | 5/5 | Limited |
| Kyoto | 5/5 | Limited |
| Osaka | 5/5 | Limited |
| Fukuoka | 5/5 | Limited |
| Hiroshima | 4/5 | Limited |
| Nara | 4/5 | Limited |
| Sapporo | 4/5 | Limited |
| Okinawa | 4/5 | Limited |
| Niseko | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Yokohama | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Kanazawa | 4/5 | Limited |
| Takayama | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Nagoya | 4/5 | Limited |
| Kamakura | 4/5 | Limited |
| Kobe | 4/5 | Limited |
| Hakuba | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Ishigaki | 4/5 | Limited |
| Nagasaki | 4/5 | Limited |
| Miyakojima | 4/5 | Limited |
| Hakodate | 4/5 | Limited |
| Otaru | 4/5 | Limited |
| Beppu | 4/5 | Limited |
| Matsumoto | 4/5 | Limited |
| Koyasan | 4/5 | Limited |
| Sendai | 4/5 | Limited |
| Hakone | 3/5 | Limited |
| Kawaguchiko | 3/5 | Limited |
| Nikko | 3/5 | Limited |
| Shirakawa-go | 3/5 | Limited |
| Furano | 3/5 | Limited |
Quick answers
Is Otaru good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). A canal and harbor town with old stone warehouses, glass shops, sushi and sweets, 30 minutes from Sapporo by train.
How do you meet people in Otaru?
A few guesthouses near the station, counter seats in sushi restaurants and a small glass-craft workshop scene. Sapporo is the place for hostel and bar events. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Otaru?
Limited.
Is Otaru safe for solo female travelers?
Very safe alone, day or night.
More about Otaru
Going to Otaru solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Otaru meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.