Hokkaido Official Tourism Site HOKKAIDO LOVE!

In the heart of Hokkaido’s picturesque port town of Otaru, Otaru Art Base offers visitors the rare chance to experience art inside four beautifully preserved historic buildings from the early 20th century. Each structure, once a proud symbol of Otaru’s prosperity, has been carefully renovated to showcase works that reflect the elegance and creativity of the era.

One highlight is the Stained Glass Museum (formerly Arata Trading Company and the Takahashi Warehouse), where light streams through 19th and early 20th century stained glass windows originally crafted in England to grace church interiors. The result is a luminous, colorful space that feels almost sacred.

The Nitori Museum of Art (formerly the Hokkaido Takushoku Bank Otaru Branch) features an extensive collection ranging from Japanese paintings and Western art to wood carvings. Its basement houses an Art Nouveau and Art Deco Glass Gallery, while the former banking hall impresses with a soaring atrium supported by six classic columns.

Another gem is the Former Mitsui Bank Otaru Branch, a Renaissance-style masterpiece that reflects Otaru’s status in the late Meiji to early Showa period as “the leading economic city of northern Japan.” Its exterior, open atrium with gallery walkways, and ornate plaster ceilings embody refined elegance.

Otaru Art Base is more than just a museum—it is a journey into the city’s golden age, where art, culture, and architecture merge into a single unforgettable experience. Step inside and let the charm of historic Otaru inspire your imagination.