One Of Japan's Most Romantic Destinations Is A Port City With A Popular Picturesque Canal

What is your ideal romantic city vacation? Perhaps a candlelit dinner at an intimate restaurant overlooking the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or maybe snuggling up together on a gondola ride in Venice? Maybe wandering the souks of Marrakech is more your thing, or savoring the melancholy grandeur of Prague's Hundred Spires? All great options, but if you want to think outside the box, Otaru in Japan lends itself very nicely to the occasion with its picturesque gaslit canal, quirky sights, and fantastic seafood.

Otaru is a port city overlooking Ishikari Bay on Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, and is renowned as a great destination for skiing and snowboarding. With a population of around 100,000 people, Otaru feels a world away from the hectic lifestyle of Tokyo, Osaka, or even Sapporo, Japan's ultimate snowy wonderland. The latter is just an hour away by train or car and home to the island's international airport.

 Once a major port and trading hub, Otaru has now become a popular tourist destination, drawing visitors with its quaint neighborhoods, local crafts, historic buildings, and hushed, snow-lined streets in the winter. A visit is attractive for even the most modest budget, with hotels averaging as little as $40 a night and a two-course meal in a restaurant costing around $30 for two diners. Let's take a look at some of the highlights of a trip to the gorgeous harbor city.

Otaru's must-see landmark is its world-famous canal, once an integral part of the city's boom period as a busy port in the early 20th century. It fell by the wayside with the opening of the modern dockland but was lovingly restored in the 1980s. Nowadays, the warehouses that line the canal are home to a range of shops, restaurants, and museums. It's a beautiful place for a stroll at any time of the day, but it is particularly evocative at night when the old-fashioned gas lamps cast a warm glow on the water and the brick facades. It is also an amazing sight during the Snow Light Path Festival, held every February, which features illuminated snow sculptures and candles bobbing on the canal.

Elsewhere, you can enjoy the Renaissance-style architecture of Otaru's grand historic buildings and marvel at the vast array of magical contraptions at the Music Box Museum. Outside the building is another of the city's curiosities: The world's largest steam-powered clock, which toots a melody every 15 minutes. While you're in town, spare some time for shopping. Sakaimachi Street is a beautifully preserved merchant thoroughfare lined with boutiques, restaurants, candy stores, and glassblowing workshops selling Otaru's famous glass crafts. For panoramic views of the city and the bay, take a hike or a cable car ride to the summit of nearby Mount Tengu. It is a popular spot for skiing in the winter, and you can also visit the observatory, Tenguyama Shrine, and feed the friendly squirrels.

Otaru's culinary scene is well-known for its seafood. Head to Sankaku Fish Market early in the morning for the catch of the day. The tiny alleyways are lined with stalls selling the absolute freshest fruits of the sea, including tubs of live Hokkaido crab. The enormous crustaceans are a local delicacy, and you can also feast on them steamed and cracked open by your server in one of the market's many small, cheap restaurants. As you might expect, sushi is also very big here, and there is a wide variety of eateries to choose from. They range from homely family-run joints to modern eateries with soothing lighting and warm wooden interiors. Among the best include Sushi-dokoro Tatsutoshi and Kukizen (which has a 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor). Book ahead for seating at the counter, where you can watch the chef work their magic.

If seafood isn't your thing, check out Yabuhan, a popular spot for hot and cold Soba noodles. Or hit up Ramen Tokaiya for its show-stopping BBQ pork miso ramen or Hanmi-Age, a traditional restaurant that has been serving its famous deep-fried chicken since 1952. If you're more in the mood for European fare washed down with a crisp craft beer, head to Otaru Soko No.1. The brewery is set in an old warehouse with high ceilings and plenty of timber and serves hearty German dishes, sausages, pizza, and pretzels to go with its range of Pilsner and Weiss-style beers. Tours of the brewery are also available.