From the late Meiji period through the early Showa period, Otaru flourished as a major center of trade, logistics, and finance. With so many banks and commercial institutions concentrated in the city, Otaru became known as the “Wall Street of the North” and played an important role in the economic development of Hokkaido.
Otaru Art Base brings this history back to life inside historic buildings that were originally constructed as banks and warehouses during the city’s prosperous era. The buildings now house outstanding collections of Japanese and international art and crafts.
Located in the historic heart of Otaru, the complex is an art village where historic architecture, modern artistic presentation, and Otaru’s famous glass culture meet. It is also an excellent destination on rainy or otherwise unsettled days, when visitors can enjoy Otaru’s cultural heritage indoors.
The Stained Glass Museum displays stained-glass windows created in Britain from the late 19th to the early 20th century. Many of these works originally decorated churches and offer a glimpse into the craftsmanship and religious art of the period.
The museum is housed in the former Takahashi Warehouse, a building constructed in 1923. Originally used to store soybeans, the historic warehouse has been transformed into an atmospheric exhibition space where colorful stained glass can be appreciated against the character of Otaru’s historic architecture.
The Former Mitsui Bank Otaru Branch was built in 1927 and is designated as a National Important Cultural Property. It is one of the buildings that preserve the history of Otaru during the period when the city was known as the “Wall Street of the North.”
The exterior features elegant Renaissance-style architecture, with walls constructed from granite and decorative motifs inspired by plants beneath the eaves. Inside, the plasterwork ceiling is one of the building’s most distinctive features.
The entire ceiling is used as a surface for projection mapping depicting the four seasons of Japan. The combination of a historic financial building and contemporary digital art creates a fascinating contrast between Otaru’s past and present.
The Nitori Museum of Art occupies the former Otaru Branch of the Hokkaido Takushoku Bank, constructed in 1923.
The first floor features a stained-glass gallery with works including church stained glass by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The upper floors present a diverse collection of Japanese and Western art. The fourth floor features Japanese paintings by artists such as Yokoyama Taikan and Kawai Gyokudo, while the third floor displays Japanese and international Western-style paintings, including works by Kishida Ryusei.
On the second floor, visitors can admire wooden sculptures by Takamura Koun and his students, offering a look at the extraordinary craftsmanship of traditional Japanese wood sculpture.
The Western Art Museum occupies the former Naniwa Warehouse, completed in 1925 and located beside the Otaru Canal.
The elegant interior showcases glassworks by leading artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including Émile Gallé, the Daum brothers, and René Lalique. Alongside the glass are period furnishings and interior decorations, creating a refined atmosphere inspired by the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements.
The museum provides an opportunity to appreciate beautiful European decorative arts while experiencing the atmosphere of a historic Otaru warehouse. Its location near the canal also makes it a natural part of a walking tour through the city’s historic waterfront district.
Otaru Art Base is more than a collection of museums. Its historic buildings themselves are part of the experience, telling the story of a city that grew through international trade, finance, and maritime commerce.
As you move between the former banks and warehouses, you can see how Otaru’s prosperous past has been preserved and given new life through art. Stained glass, Japanese paintings, Western art, sculpture, historic architecture, and contemporary visual presentations come together to create a cultural experience unique to Otaru.
Business hours
[May-October] 9:30-17:00
[November-April] 10:00-16:00
[May-Oct] No holidays
[November-April] Wednesdays (or the following day if the Wednesday is a national holiday)
*Please note that the museum may be temporarily closed or the closing date may be changed due to the holding of special exhibitions or changing of exhibits, etc.
Admission Common ticket for all four museums
General admission 2,900 yen
University students 2,000 yen
High school students 1,500 yen
Junior high school student 1,000 yen
Elementary school students 500 yen
Admission to the museum store is free.
From JR Sapporo Station, take the Hakodate Line bound for Otaru and get off at JR Otaru Station.
From JR Otaru Station, take a cab (approx. 3 min.), walk (approx. 10 min.) or bus (approx. 3 min.) from Chuo Bus Stop A (in front of Taruseki Building) to (9) Otaru Unga Terminal, and get off at Otaru Geijutsu-mura.