The Kitaichi Glass Museum, also known in Japanese as 北一硝子館, sits on Sakaimachi in Otaru, a port city on the coast of Hokkaido. It is both a museum and a working glass workshop, and it is one of the places that gives Otaru its reputation for glass.
What you will see
The museum displays a range of glass art, and visitors can look closely at the pieces on show. Alongside the displays, the workshop demonstrates traditional glassblowing techniques, so you can watch how a piece takes shape rather than only seeing the finished work.
Why visit
- Glassmaking tradition: the museum showcases Otaru's long association with glass.
- Art and craft together: finished pieces are shown beside the techniques that produce them.
- A historic setting: the building is part of the old town's character.
The visit suits anyone interested in craft, design or the history of Otaru, and it fits comfortably into a walk around the city's canal and old warehouse district.
Getting there
The museum is at 7-26 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027, Japan. To check details before you go, you can call +81-134-33-1993.
