In Otaru there are many shops that sell handmade glass craftworks and the most famous one out of all is Kitaichi Glass. They have multiple shops in Sakai Town, but Kitaichi Hall is a popular shop that is loved by the locals and tourists. The stone warehouses along Sakai Street give off a strong historical vibe.

The dim store with the high ceiling is filled with oil lamps giving off warm light. There are a total of 167 lamps in the store and the only light source. The lamps give a majestic feeling to the store. These romantic lamps are all lit by hand, if you stop by the store at 8:45 AM you can see the staff lighting the lamps. After about 30 minutes the overhead lights are turned off and the lamps emit the distinct magical feeling. There are many visitors who come to store early to witness this moment.

Some might wonder why the café has the word “Hall” in its name, but when you enter the shop the impressive open feeling should be convincing enough. The café used the warehouse’s original structure and kept the high ceiling, which resembles a music hall. The café has live piano performances ever week from Monday to Friday, the times are 2 PM ~ 2:30 PM, 3 PM ~ 3:30 PM and 4 PM ~ 4:30 PM. The café becomes a music hall and offers a fantastic tea time.

The popular Kitaichi Special Milk Tea Soft-Serve Ice Cream (450 yen) has the fresh sweetness of a milk tea made from Hokkaido milk. They also have a complete meal menu including items like Kaisendon (seafood rice bowl). Enjoy your time eating sweets and listing to live piano performance in a lamp filled magical atmosphere.

Otaru’s largest live theater holding events such as concerts for famous musicians, bridal parties, and private presentation and concerts. During the day GOLDSTONE CAFÉ is operated as a café that serves lunch and sweets.

Otaru’s largest live theater holding events such as concerts for famous musicians, bridal parties, and private presentation and concerts. During the day GOLDSTONE CAFÉ is operated as a café that serves lunch and sweets.

The first thing that grabs your attention entering the facility is the 7.5 meter Makore African Cherry counter. The stylish coloring gives a very mature feeling. Since the café is built in a renovated warehouse, the high ceiling gives an open feeling and adds to the uniqueness.

The menu includes meals focused on western dishes such as the Seafood Paella (980 yen) with a healthy portion of shrimps, squids and octopuses, and the One Plate with 9 Items (1,200 yen) with pasta and quiche and other dishes.

For drinks they have coffee (410 yen), Darjeeling tea (410 yen), and a full bar including local beer Otaru Beer (670 yen), whiskey and wine. The facility has a parking lot and is also one click of the meter on a taxi from JR Otaru Station. During the day you can relax and take a break at the café and at night you can have a drink and enjoy the charm of Otaru’s night.

LeTAO is a western sweets shop that is famous in Japan. Their largest facility is the LeTAO Pathos with a sweets shop on the first floor and a spacious café on the second floor.

In the center of the second floor café is a white open kitchen with a very sanitary feeling. We strongly recommend the limited dish only available here, the double plate (1,404 yen).

The plate offers the number one sweet Double Fromage (front), Chocolate Double (right), and the right Crème Brulee Venice Rendezvous (back left).

The popular Double Fromage combines the rare cheese cake on the upper layer and the rich milky baked cheese cake on the bottom layer, and creates a miraculous taste. They also server soup curry, pasta and other meals.

LeTAO Pathos is located on Sakai Street, along the street there is the LeTAO main store and the chocolate specialty store LeTao Le chocoLat. Each store has their own limited items and a slightly different variety, it is probably worth the visit to each store to find something special!

A perfect café to spend a romantic day is the stylish Otaru Muse. With candle lights resembling the soft gas lamps lit at night on the streets of Otaru, the café offers homemade cooking with specially selected ingredients and wonderful music. The store with an antique feeling has country style British tables with candles on top, you can also choose which candle to light.

The café has a piano, guitar and PA equipment, at times they have concerts and even impromptu music sessions. The café offers a calm atmosphere and some excitement at the same time.

We recommend the Muse Special Stewed Hamburger Steak [150g] (1,080 yen). The handmade hamburger steak using specially selected local beef and pork, and the additive free demi-glace sauce made from beef tendon with lots of collagen, creates a perfect harmony in the mouth. Muse Special Combo (2,200 yen) offers the Muse Special Stewed Hamburger Steak [150g] and Cheese Omurice (fried rice inside an omelet) on a big plate. Their demi-glace sauce is spectacular!

Matching the moody mature atmosphere the café menu offers items like the rum cocoa (600 yen) with a nice aroma, and the dark chocolate parfait (650 yen) made with bitter chocolate gateau. Experience delicious food and wonderful music in a candle lit café.

Le Quatrieme has a sweets shop on the first floor and the second floor is a café space where you can dine while having a view of the Otaru Canal.

The menu has dishes such as cake made with seasonal fruits by a talented chef and lunch menu with local seasonal vegetables. A great place to visit to have some healthy food, also the arrangement of the food is beautiful and photogenic.

The lunch menu is available from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM (last order). They have a total of three courses, the Pasta Lunch (1,000 yen), Main Lunch of the Day (1,300 yen) and Meat Lunch of the Day (1,600 yen). All courses come with appetizer and drinks. The appetizer for all courses are warm vegetables. The presentation of the appetizer is so beautiful that you will want to take a picture.

Main dish changes daily, the photo above is the Beef Cheek Simmered in Red Wine. The beef is so tender that it almost melts in your mouth.

For an additional fee you can add desert to your course. For 350 yen you can pick a cake out of their selection of 12 ~ 15 cakes and for 500 yen you can pick a desert such as parfait from a selection of 4 deserts.

It is possible to view the Otaru canal and cruises, Le Quatrieme is a perfect place to spend a relaxing and elegant time.

Make your trip extra memorable by booking one of these recommended tours.