Otaru - Day 1

On the way to Otaru, I got off the train on the way at "Hokkaidou's Navel" - Furano and walked around a bit eating icecream.

Me in front of the landmark showing Furano is the center of Hokkaidou. The other picture is a sort of a mascot for Furano's "Navel Festival".
During the actual festival lots of people walk around like this with a face painted on their bellies.

After I got to Otaru, I went to a ramen shop called "Shodai" and ate my first miso base ramen. It was pretty good.

Next I went to "Meruhen(fairy tale) Crossroads" where a lot of western style buildings stand.

A Canadian steam powered clock and the monument to a lighthouse which was known as the "jouyatou" (all night light).
While I was walking there was also a musical box museum, participatable glass blowing and places selling sweets.

The Otaru canal. It's not being used any more, but it's become Otaru's main tourist attraction.

I walked by the canal, enjoying the view as I walked to my lodge.

This is where the Japan Mail Shipping Line dock used to be. Barges used to load & unload their cargo here.

My lodge was on top of quite a high hill. The view was great.

I greeted the host then went down the hill again to eat conveyor sushi for dinner.

The canal and the view of Otaru were beautiful at night too, but I didn't do a very good job of photographing them.
I ate an "octopus head" cut - which is only available in Hokkaidou - at the restaurant.
It was surprisingly tasty, but I still like tuna and salmon better (excuse the poor comparison)