Otaru: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
Otaru is a city of 115,333 people in Japan (Hokkaido), 30 m (98 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is New Chitose Airport (CTS), 73 km (45 mi) from the centre.
Key facts
Daylight in Otaru runs from about 9 h 2 min a day in late December to 15 h 27 min in late June (computed for 43.19° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Otaru is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is New Chitose Airport (CTS), 73 km (45 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 9,843 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Sapporo Okadama Airport (OKD, 32 km).
Flights to Otaru: every airport, routes and times
Buses to Otaru · Driving and car hire
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Sapporo, 31 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Asahikawa, 128 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Akita, 393 km
- Aomori, 265 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Morioka, 388 km — buses · car rental
- Hakodate, 159 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Hachinohe, 302 km — buses · car rental
- Tomakomai, 79 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Hirosaki, 292 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Kushiro, 275 km — buses · car rental · tours
Common questions
Which airport serves Otaru?
New Chitose Airport (CTS), 73 km (45 mi) from the centre, plus 1 other airport with scheduled flights within 100 km.
How big is Otaru?
About 115,333 people live in Otaru (GeoNames).
What time zone is Otaru in?
Asia/Tokyo, currently UTC+9.
What currency is used in Otaru?
The Yen (JPY). Traffic drives on the left.
Which cities are near Otaru?
Sapporo (31 km), Asahikawa (128 km), Akita (393 km), Aomori (265 km), Morioka (388 km).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.