Otaru Music Box Museum - Hokkaido

The Otaru Music Box Museum (小樽オルゴール堂 本館), located at 4-1 Sumiyoshicho, Otaru City, Hokkaido Prefecture, is the main building of seven similar music box establishments in the city. It is also the biggest and most well-known of the seven.

Otaru Music Box Museum

Otaru Music Box Museum details

(WINTER)

Locally referred to as the Otaru Orgel Doh, the Otaru Music Box Museum is the largest music box museum in Japan. It houses more or less 25,000 different music boxes.

Otaru Music Box Museum - Otaru City, Hokkaido Prefecture

Otaru Music Box Museum facade and its famed steam clock

Otaru Music Box Museum at night

Aside from being a museum, the whole ground floor is actually a store that sells a plethora of music boxes. These come in different sizes, colors, designs, and even sounds. You can actually buy luxurious music boxes with jaw-dropping price tags or purchase an affordable customizable music box as a souvenir. 

Learn more about the former Kyosei Co. Ltd.

Otaru Orgel

What I like about Otaru Music Box Museum is that it was used, repurposed, and gave a new life to a historical building. The building was originally an office for a local rice merchant and was constructed sometime in 1912. Throughout history, it changed hands and it was in 1989 that the building was bought and occupied by the Otaru Music Box Museum. 

Otaru Orgel Doh steam clock

Aside from the historic building, another thing that you should never miss out on is the steam clock outside the building, Some would even argue that this steam clock is as popular and important as the museum. Well, in a way they are correct as the steam clock was assembled by Raymond Sanders, a Canadian clock master who also made the world's first steam clock. 

The Otaru Orgel Doh steam clock is currently the largest in the world. It stands 5.5 meters tall, has a width of 1 meter, and weighs a whopping 1,5 tonnes. It is made of bronze and is powered by the steam generated by the boiler. Aside from that, the steam whistles of the clock produce a melody every 15 minutes so it's not uncommon to see tourists waiting outside the Otaru Music Box Museum staring intently at the steam clock. 

Inside Otaru Music Box Museum Store:

Inside Otaru Music Box Museum

Heads up, there is a stamp for your collection here.

I got to visit Otaru Music Box Museum with my Filipino friends last January 5, 2022, during my 10th week here in Hokkaido as an ALT under the JET Programme. It was actually our last destination for the day. During our visit, I was overwhelmed by the large number of music boxes in the museum. Regardless, the place is magical for both your visual and auditory senses.

The Backpack Adventures visits Otaru Music Box Museum

What actually made my visit to Otaru Music Box Museum memorable was the fact that it was one of the shooting locations of 2017 hit romantic comedy Filipino film Kita Kita which happens to be one of my all-time favorite films. I will surely revisit this place someday soon. This time with my wife and daughter. 

Otaru Music Box Museum Entrance Fee

It's FREE to enter and explore the Otaru Music Box Museum but make sure to bring cash just in case you fall in love with one of the music boxes on sale. 

Otaru Music Box Museum Operating Hours

Monday - Thursday: 9AM - 5PM

Friday - Sunday: 9AM - 6PM

Why visit Otaru Music Box Museum?

If you are looking for the best souvenir when in Otaru City, then this place is for you. You have a plethora of music boxes to choose from. You can even customize your own music box in the third-floor area.

Getting to Otaru Music Box Museum

 

From Sapporo Station, board the Rapid Airport 105 Rapid Otaru train to Minami-Otaru Station. From there, the Otaru Music Box Museum is about 500 meters away on foot. 

Travel time: 34 minutes

Fare: 1280 yen

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