As a Hokkaido tourism expert with over 15 years of experience exploring the region, I have written over 1,000 travel articles for magazines and websites and have stayed at hundreds of hotels and inns across the region, including about 20 in Otaru alone.

Otaru has a variety of accommodations, ranging from hotels to guesthouses. Some provide breakfast, while others focus solely on overnight stays. Given its status as a port town, some Otaru visitors opt for overnight-only accommodations. Otaru also boasts a number of restaurants in the market that serve delicious kaisendon (seafood bowls) early in the morning!

However, while restaurant kaisendon is an option for lunch, hotel breakfasts can offer a unique, limited gourmet experience exclusive to guests. So we highly encourage checking out the breakfast options of whatever accommodation you stay at!

To assist you in selecting an ideal spot, I’ll begin with a quick guide on how to find and choose a hotel with great breakfasts, followed by five recommended plans to stay.

A satisfying meal experience is not solely determined by the taste and quality of the food but also by the environment in which you eat. Hotels typically offer two breakfast styles: buffet and set menu. Buffet breakfasts offer a wider selection of dishes for guests to choose from, while set menu breakfasts provide predetermined servings of food to each guest.

Buffet-style is ideal for those who want to enjoy a wide variety of dishes. And if you’re traveling with a large group or small children, it may be safer to choose a buffet-style hotel to accommodate everyone’s different food preferences, ensuring everyone finds something they enjoy!

Alternatively, those who prefer a more relaxed meal without having to get up to grab food on their own, or worrying about the certain foods running out (which can happen with the buffet), may wish to opt for a set menu breakfast.

When choosing a hotel with tasty breakfast options, it's important to make sure they offer dishes you want to eat.

Otaru boasts an array of local delicacies, from the kaisendon and sushi to kamaboko (fish cakes), bread rolls, and Otaru ankake yakisoba. While some Otaru hotels offer these specialties for breakfast, others serve up fish and meat dishes with freshly baked bread and scones made from Hokkaido wheat. You'll also find hotels with buffet-style meals with Hokkaido favorites like ramen, jingisukan, and soup curry, while others offer a delectable assortment of sweets.

Knowing what you'd like to eat is key when selecting the right hotel. The best way to know what kind of food is available at an accommodation is to thoroughly examine the photos and descriptions on the booking platform or hotel website. And if these sources are not enough, you can also refer to word-of-mouth reviews and recommendations.

Word-of-mouth recommendations indeed play a crucial role in assessing the quality of available breakfasts. The firsthand experiences of guests who have been there in person can provide valuable insights into food selection, ambiance, and overall experience.

However, food preferences and tastes vary from person to person, and can influence one's perception of a meal, along with the atmosphere and the mood. Also, as the dishes served often vary day by day, it's important not to rely on word-of-mouth information 100%. Rather, by reading and comparing a number of reviews, potential guests can gain a more comprehensive idea of which hotels have the best reputations for consistently satisfying breakfasts.

Even if you find the perfect breakfast, it won’t matter much if you don’t have time to enjoy it! So, when selecting a hotel for its breakfast, it is essential to know the serving times.

For example, if you need to depart by 7:30 AM the following morning, opting for one that starts at 6:30 AM, as a 7:00 start time would mean rushing your meal. On the other hand, if you’re in no particular rush, you may opt for a more relaxed morning with a hotel that serves breakfast until 10:00 rather than 9:00. So, for the most satisfying morning experience, we highly recommend checking the breakfast times in advance.

Some hotels may have the option to reserve breakfast either the day before or on the same day. However, in many cases, breakfast is only available with advanced reservations. So, to ensure availability, we recommend reserving your breakfast when you book your room.

Otaru has a wide array of accommodations to choose from. But for this occasion, we've handpicked five lodgings within walking distance of Otaru Station, the Otaru Canal, and Sakaimachi-dori Shopping Street, all of which are popular tourist attractions. Each location offers easy access without needing a car, making them ideal bases for exploring Otaru's sights.

Dining at Grids Premium Hotel Otaru offers a blend of Japanese and Western buffet-style meals, emphasizing the concept of "emotional" dining. Guests can indulge in Otaru's specialty "Ankake Yakisoba" (fried noodles with sauce), as well as kamaboko (fish cakes) from a famous local kamaboko store with a long-standing reputation.

The soup dishes vary daily, featuring options like aqua pazza, which showcases the region’s abundant seafood, and “ohau,” a traditional Ainu dish. Ohau is a hearty soup with an assortment of ingredients like salmon, pork, chicken meatballs, and vegetables, with specific ingredients varying depending on the day.

A variety of dressings are also available to drizzle on the fresh salads, including original options like coffee dressing and apple soy sauce dressing, which offer distinct flavors worth tasting. For dessert, we highly recommend the panna cotta, made with Hokkaido milk. Its sweet and creamy texture pairs perfectly with the bittersweet coffee sauce, and was so delicious, even Nobuka couldn’t resist enjoying three servings!

It goes without saying that all of these dishes are delicious. But for the sake of this article, here are two of them that you absolutely must try!

Kaisen bara-chirashi is a sushi dish consisting of chopped seafood served on a bed of rice, made with fresh seafood sourced from Hokkaido. Served in a petite glass, its presentation is as stunning as it is photogenic. Whether enjoyed as-is or combined with the accompanying condiments and broth for a delicious chazuke, guests will enjoy tasting and comparing both serving styles!

Sukiyaki is one of Japan’s beloved hot-pot dishes, typically made with beef. However, pork is the preferred choice in Hokkaido, specifically the famous Kitajima Pork from Yoichi Town, which neighbors Otaru. Served in a Western-style arrangement in a small bowl, it pairs perfectly with rice and comes highly recommended for anyone eager to try Hokkaido’s local sukiyaki.

The hotel mostly features twin rooms, suitable for families and groups of up to four people. Rooms on the upper floors face the ocean, offering picturesque views of the sea and harbor. On the 11th floor—the top floor—guests can enjoy a spacious public bathing area with an open-air bath with a view. The men's bath has a dry sauna, while the women's bath includes a mist sauna.

OMO5 Otaru by Hoshino Resorts invites you to immerse yourself in the nostalgic ambiance of the restored former Otaru Chamber of Commerce and Industry, originally built in 1933. Here, you can enjoy a buffet-style breakfast with an array of original dishes inspired by the Spanish travel culture of staying in historical buildings and the flavors of Spanish cuisine, known for its creative use of seafood.

The Spanish buffet offers a fusion of Japanese and Spanish cuisine, with delights such as the Parfait Chirashi, a gorgeously arranged seafood rice bowls, and about ten kinds of side dishes sourced fromOtaru’ss long-established Nantaru Market (Minami-Otaru Market), including vegetable plates, fish cakes, and squid tempura, served with rice and miso soup. There’s also a wide selection of bread, with approximately ten varieties, including croissants. All are bite-sized, allowing you to enjoy them with ease.

Noteworthy dishes include the tortillas (Spanish omelets) and freshly fried churros, prepared and served before your eyes by the staff. For dessert, you can enjoy churros as well as fruits and other delectable treats.

OMO5 Otaru by Hoshino Resorts is appealing not only for its cuisine, but also for its overall ambiance. Inside you’ll find the staircases, walls, and lamps preserved in their original state since the building's completion, along with interior furnishings that were actually used in the past.

Rooms cater primarily to solo travelers or couples, but options are also available for small groups or families of up to three people. Some rooms have been renovated from historical buildings to give them a retro look. Some of the rooms have been renovated from the historical building for a retro vibe, and are especially recommended for history and culture enthusiasts!

UNWIND HOTEL & BAR Otaru is a lifestyle hotel that underwent renovation from the Former Etchuya Hotel, Hokkaido's first guest hotel for foreigners, founded in 1931. The hotel offers a Western-style breakfast set menu called Morning High Tea. They’re also vegetarian-friendly and popular with foreign tourists!

The set menu is served on a three-tier plate stand and varies daily. Below is a detailed example of the offerings.

In addition to these set menus, there are self-serve homemade scones and drinks, which guests can refill freely.

The meals here are primarily crafted with Hokkaido ingredients and homemade items, many sourced from the outskirts of Otaru. The in-house pork roast is cooked like bacon, with the smoked salmon also being homemade. Their milk and fruit juices are also sourced from Hokkaido, while the coffee is brewed with beans from Sapporo’s RITARU COFFEE, and the tea is made with tea leaves from the Niseko-based LUPICIA.

While the hotel maintains its classic appearance, the restaurant and guest rooms have undergone modern renovations, resulting in a unique blend of retro and contemporary flair. Four room types are available, accommodating two to four guests. The spacious interior boasts high ceilings and is highly recommended for those seeking a relaxing morning experience.

Hotel Nord Otaru offers a buffet-style breakfast menu featuring Hokkaido produce and regional specialties. With around 70 Japanese and Western dishes to choose from, guests can enjoy original creations like ankake soba from a local Otaru noodle manufacturer, the hotel's signature soup curry, gluten-free croquettes (made by coating Inka no mezame potatoes with rice flour and deep frying them), and the hotel's exclusive milk pudding.

Amongst the array of dishes on the menu, we highly recommend the katte-don from the seafood corner. Here, you can select from various seafood, such as salmon, sweet shrimp, salmon roe, and more, allowing you to customize your rice bowl to your liking. While it's tempting to indulge, moderation is key to fully enjoying the other delicious dishes. If you want to enjoy a wide range of flavors, we recommend serving yourself a smaller portion of rice.

Other popular choices include the Bakudan Kaisen Don, a rice bowl topped with a medley of salmon, tuna, okra, and yam, and the Dashi Chazuke, salmon flakes and seaweed served with dashi broth. Guests will delight in the chance to customize their original dishes with as many ingredients as they like. Incidentally, Nobuka prefers the Dashi Chazuke with either salmon or amaebi sashimi. Feel free to enjoy your meals in any way you’d like!

Hotel Nord Otaru faces the Otaru Canal, making it one of the best locations for exploring the city. Rooms can accommodate various group sizes, from solo travelers and couples to families and groups of 4-5 guests. Many rooms also feature gorgeous views of the canal!

The bar lounge on the top floor offers a pleasant spot with views of the illuminated Otaru Canal, warehouses, and harbor, where large passenger ships come and go.

Hotel Sonia Otaru offers buffet-style dining with 60 Japanese and Western-style dishes made with seasonal Hokkaido ingredients. Amongst the menu highlights are dishes unique to the port town of Otaru, including Okonomi Kaisen Don, a customizable rice bowl topped with your selection of seafood, and seared fish. There’s also the hotel’s original creation, Sesame Herring, a Japanese delicacy featuring Otaru’s famous herring served with sesame paste over rice.

The highlight of the menu is undoubtedly the noodles. From May to October, guests can enjoy the famous Otaru Ankake Yakisoba, while from November to April, they can indulge in their own customizable Okonomi Ramen.

Otaru Ankake Yakisoba holds a special place in the hearts of Otaru locals, making it a must-try dish for all visitors. However, a single plate at a typical restaurant can be quite filling. At a buffet-style restaurant, guests can enjoy a lighter sampling, allowing them to savor their meal without feeling overly stuffed.

Okonomi Ramen toppings include pork cubes, butter corn, tempura, and more, which may vary depending on the season. Interestingly, the tradition of topping ramen with tempura is a culinary practice unique to a few areas near Otaru. While Japan boasts a wide variety of ramen styles, this particular dish is a rare delicacy you won’t find anywhere else!

Most rooms at Hotel Sonia Otaru are designed for 2-3 guests, with some accommodating up to four persons. Situated facing the Otaru Canal, nearly all rooms offer views of the waterway. This prime location facilitates leisurely strolls around this picturesque city, with a spacious hot spring bath on the top floor where guests can unwind. The hot spring water is soft to the touch and is popular for its ability to retain heat. After a relaxing soak, guests can retreat to the lounge area overlooking the Otaru Canal and harbor, providing a tranquil space to cool down.

Many of Otaru's hotels offer breakfasts featuring local ingredients and delicacies, each with its own unique offerings. If any of the accommodations featured here have caught your attention, why not book a stay for a few nights and sample their daily offerings? Or if you’d like even more variety, consider switching accommodations halfway through and see what other places have to offer!

If you’re planning to trip Otaru, a gourmet town blessed with gastronomic diversity, choosing the right hotel breakfast is essential for a memorable culinary experience. So find your perfect hotel, book your stay, and start your morning with a delightful breakfast dish!

*Information in article as of March 2024. Please see official websites for the latest updates & information.

English translation by: Krys Suzuki