Otaru Park is one of the parks in Otaru located in about 15-minute-walk distance from JR Otaru Station.
You can command a nice view of the city from the top. The locals enjoy walking in the park especially in spring for cherry blossoms, and in autumn, for colorful foliage.
I like to walk around surrounding area of the park, too.
Otaru Aquarium and Herring Mansion in Shukutsu will finish this season's operation on 23rd of November, and will be closed until next April.
It is the season for some facilities in Otaru
to hibernate.
Herring Mansion & Hiyoriyama Lighthouse
Mochitsuki, or rice cake making is an old Japanese custom that takes place on happy occasions.
When I went to Tanaka Sake Brewery for shopping this morning, some of the staff were rehearsing Mochituki for the Brewery's festival at the end of this month.
To make Mochi, hot steamed glutinous rice is put in a wooden rice mortar called 'Usu', and pounded with a wooden pounder, called 'Kine'.