Day trip from Sapporo to Otaru
Otaru lies 31 km (19 mi) north-west of Sapporo, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
At 31 km (19 mi) apart, Otaru is a realistic day trip from Sapporo: about 31 min each way by road.
| Sapporo | Otaru | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Japan | Japan |
| Population | 2 million | 115,333 |
| Elevation | 26 m (85 ft) | 30 m (98 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+9 (Asia/Tokyo) | UTC+9 (Asia/Tokyo) |
Where to book tours and tickets in Otaru
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Otaru
Live rooms and prices for Otaru are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Otaru
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Otaru from Sapporo?
31 km (19 mi) in a straight line, north-west of Sapporo; by road roughly 38 km (24 mi).
How long does it take to get from Sapporo to Otaru by road?
About 31 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Sapporo and Otaru?
No, both are on Asia/Tokyo at the moment.
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 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel 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.