Otaru

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Otaru-shi
小樽 市
Otaru
Geographical location in Japan
Otaru (Japan)
Red pog.svg
Region : Hokkaidō
Prefecture : Hokkaidō
Coordinates : 43 ° 11 '  N , 141 ° 0'  E Coordinates: 43 ° 11 '25 "  N , 140 ° 59' 39"  E
Basic data
Surface: 243.13 km²
Residents : 114,947
(September 30, 2019)
Population density : 473 inhabitants per km²
Community key : 01203-3
Symbols
Flag / coat of arms:
Flag / coat of arms of Otaru
Tree : Betula platyphylla var. Japonica
Flower : azalea
Bird : Sphenurus Sieboldii
town hall
Address : Otaru City Hall
2 - 12 - 1 , Hanazono
Otaru -shi
Hokkaidō  047-8660
Website URL: https://www.city.otaru.lg.jp/
Location Otarus in Hokkaido Prefecture
Location Otarus in the prefecture

Otaru ( Japanese 小樽 市 , - shi ) is a city about 30 km west of Sapporo on the Japanese island of Hokkaidō in the sub-prefecture of Shiribeshi . Although more than half of the total population of the sub-prefecture lives in Otaru, Kutchan is the seat of the sub-prefecture administration.

The name comes from the Ainu and probably means "river that flows through the sand".

history

Otaru was an important fishing port in the 19th century. In the first half of the 20th century , there was significant coal mining in the area. Until the 1950s, Otaru was even the most populous city on Hokkaidō, only then was it overtaken by the capital Sapporo, and industry also migrated there. Today Otaru functions as a “ sleeping town ” for Sapporo and is known nationwide as a starting point for several ski areas and because of its picturesque old town with stone warehouses on the river.

traffic

The city has a seaport with a container terminal and regular ferry connections to Niigata , Tsuruga , Maizuru and the Sakhalin Island in Russia .

There are several train stations in the city; the main ones are Otaru Station and Minami-Otaru Station on the Hakodate Main Line of JR Hokkaido Railway Company .

Otaru is served by the Sasson Highway , National Road 5, and National Roads 337 and 393.

education

Otaru has a commercial college and a pharmaceutical college.

Town twinning

Personalities

Neighboring cities and communities

Web links

Commons : Otaru  - collection of images, videos and audio files