Visiting for the first time in July 2022, we found a craft beer and hostel shop housed in a renovated old folk house. The hostel offers a range of accommodations, from affordable bunk beds for four people to female-only and traditional Japanese or Western-style rooms, all at reasonable prices. The CRAFT BEER BAR facing the road offers a standing bar style where you can enjoy alcohol starting at 3 pm on weekdays and 1 pm on weekends. On this day, before meeting up with our usual group, we decided to stop by for a quick drink. I ordered the "Once Upon a Time Wood" craft beer collaboration with a local brewery in Otaru for 600 yen. I asked for a half pint and sipped on it slowly like an Englishman. The beer had a subtle wood aroma and a delicious bitterness. These old folk houses really suit Otaru well, don't they? After a light drink, let's head to the best "dining hall" in Otaru for some tasty food and drinks.

Otaru in April 2022 ε=ε=(ﾉ*´ω`)ﾉ Within walking distance of JR, open at 1 pm on weekends and 3 pm on weekdays! A beer bar where you can drink from noon, blending the old and the new in a 120-year-old renovated traditional house. The interior is mainly standing room only, with a few chairs available on a first-come, first-served basis. Of course, you can sit at the counter to order, and payment is cash on delivery. On this day, there were 4 types of draft beers available, but I couldn't read the foreign names and my eyesight is not good, so I didn't know what they were. I ordered a "tasting set" for 1500 yen, which included 120ml of 4 different types. They were all easy to drink without any strong flavors. As for snacks, I ordered "fried potatoes" for 300 yen, which were just regular fried potatoes with a good amount of salt. The food took a bit of time to come out, but it was a rare find in Otaru where you can drink during the day. Overall, it was a quick and enjoyable experience with no cover charge. Thank you for the meal! (^ω^)

Tapp Room, a beer bar where you can stay overnight. I had never visited before because I don't drink alcohol, but now they are offering craft beer for takeout along with food menu items. I decided to go since I could do takeout! I ordered the BBQ pulled pork burger (1100 yen) and got the single burger with fries for half price at 150 yen. I took it home and tried it. The burger was surprisingly authentic and delicious! It was filling and the vegetables were crunchy. The meat was also good and had a nice aroma. It might be my favorite burger in Otaru. However, the fries were a bit soft and lacked seasoning, so I didn't enjoy them as much. I would like to go back for the burgers again. Thank you for the meal!

Visit date: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, around 4:30 pm. Left Asahikawa Station at 1:00 pm. Made a stop at Sapporo Station and immediately headed to Otaru. The Sankaku Market had hardly any customers. Arrived at my accommodation, Otaru Taproom, around 4:30 pm! I was looking forward to enjoying craft beer and hoping for some nice encounters since daytime. However, the café was closed. So, it ended up being just accommodation for me. I was greeted with a glass of Otaru Lager as a welcome beer, which was a nice touch. Since I was alone, I booked a dormitory room online for ¥2800 (including Otaru Lager). The cost-performance ratio was really good. And guess what! I was the only guest, so I had the whole place to myself. The shared kitchen, living room, and atmosphere were amazing. There was even a second floor and barrier-free access. As a grown adult, I had fun exploring all the different types of rooms. Next time, I definitely want to use the café as well. Highly recommended for beer lovers!

I love beer and stumbled upon a craft beer bar while walking around. Most of the dining places in Otaru allow smoking, but TAP ROOM is non-smoking, which is great. Due to the COVID-19 situation, they offered a beer tasting set of 3 for ¥1200, and I also had chili beans as a snack. You order and pay at the counter, and then the staff calls you when it's ready for you to pick up yourself. I think the staff may have experience traveling abroad, so maybe this bar targets foreigners? The prices are a bit high, but I think it's a style of bar that Westerners would enjoy. The beer tasting was interesting as you could really taste the differences between each one. Beer enthusiasts should definitely check it out.

"After having lunch at 'Don Atsushi Sake Edakan,' which is located in a building renovated from a 120-year-old traditional house, we headed to a standing craft beer bar that offers six types of craft beers on tap from both domestic and international breweries. The bar had a lovely ambiance with stained glass lighting. According to their website, they also have five types of guest rooms including dormitory-style accommodations. Orders are taken at the counter, and we ordered two pints of Otaru Lager for 900 yen each, one half-pint of Otaru Lager for 550 yen, and a craft gin for four people. Cheers! The beer was poured generously into the glass without much foam. As we chatted, we found ourselves drinking quickly, but we reminded ourselves to take it slow since the day was still long ahead of us. For snacks, we ordered the Trail Mix for 350 yen, which was a mix of nuts, dried fruits, and chocolate chips. It was a bit salty. We spent about 45 minutes there and the total bill for four people came to just under 4,000 yen. Feeling a bit self-conscious standing around, we decided to move on to the next spot!"

Shall we drink in Otaru during the day? The second stop is "Otaru Taproom". The building has a historical feel to it. Inside, it has a stylish atmosphere and is a standing bar. I ordered a beer, choosing Otaru Lager. It was poured generously without much foam. I also ordered a mix of nuts for snacks. Maybe it's not everyone's cup of tea to drink during the day (laughs). They also serve coffee and burgers, so it's a versatile place. Oh, are we the only ones drinking in broad daylight? (laughs) Thank you for the delicious meal! Next time, I'll come for the burger!

Second stop on the Otaru tour. I'm not familiar with the streets of Otaru, so I can't provide detailed directions. It's within walking distance from Otaru Station. Please check the map for the exact location. I heard about this place on the radio the day before and thought I had to go there. It's a new place, with a beer bar on the first floor and accommodation on the second floor. It opens at 3 pm. I planned to go right after it opened, but the first stop took longer than expected, so I ended up visiting at 4 pm. There were about 5 groups of customers ahead of me. You order at the counter first, then pick up your drinks and choose your preferred seat to enjoy. The seating is mostly standing. There were a few chairs available too. Not being very knowledgeable about craft beer, I didn't want to make a mistake, so I decided to share a flight of 4 beers for 1400 yen. I chose Otaru Lager, Märzen, Love Hazy, and IPE. Personally, my favorite was Love Hazy, with a slightly fruity and easy-to-drink taste. I found IPE to be too dry for my liking. Even for beer enthusiasts, this one might be a bit challenging to drink. I enjoyed sipping my flight with some pickles as a snack. I was curious about the other beers on the menu, but decided to end my visit with this flight. The customers I met at the next place I visited also mentioned that they had been to this place for a drink! It seems like it's becoming a popular spot. As I was writing this, I realized that the crucial photos of the beers had disappeared (TT). My camera has been acting up lately. Please understand from the photo of the pickles and the image of the beer being poured!笑

Because of the rain, there were almost no customers. They had several types of draft beer and a wide selection of bottled beers, which was interesting. The food options were all heavy dishes, which was disappointing, but the drink selection was decent.

Limited time breakfast. Found out that natto goes well with rice. Espresso and hot sandwich for ¥550. Cash only.