Nitori Otaru Art Base
小樽芸術村
A group of four historic buildings turned into museums. The stained glass museum displays English church windows, and the former bank houses modern Japanese masterpieces.
Otaru Art Base was opened in 2016 by the home furnishings brand Nitori. It uses four historic buildings near the canal. The Nitori Museum, in the former Otaru branch of the Hokkaido Takushoku Bank, displays Japanese-style and Western paintings. The Stained Glass Museum, converted from the former Takahashi Warehouse, displays church stained glass windows from England dating from the late 19th to early 20th century, and the play of light there is stunning. Other buildings house an Art Nouveau glass workshop and a Western art museum. Hours are about 09:30 to 17:00 (about 10:00 to 16:00 from November to April), with the museums closed on Wednesdays. A multi-museum pass is available. Check the official website for details. It is about a 3-minute walk from the canal.
Opening hours
9:30 am–5 pm (shorter in winter); closed Wednesdays
Nearby sights
- Otaru Beer Otaru Warehouse No.1
- Bank of Japan Otaru Museum
- Otaru Sushi Street
- Otaru Canal
- Former Temiya Line
- Sakaimachi Street
- Kitaichi Glass No.3
- Otaru Sankaku Market