By train
By train
Otaru is a major station on the JR Hakodate Line from Sapporo, with very frequent train runs. At a cost of ¥620, there are at least five trains per hour; the fastest service, the Airport Rapid, reaches Otaru in 30 minutes. The complete journey on the Airport Rapid from New Chitose Airport to Otaru takes 70 minutes.
By car
By car
Otaru is 25 minutes away from Sapporo by car.
By ship
By ship
Otaru is one of Hokkaido's key ferry ports, and the closest to Sapporo. Shin-Nihonkai Ferry (http://www.snf.jp/06-6348-1120) operates a daily service between Otaru and Niigata 18 hours, ¥6,200+ and between Otaru and Maizuru near Kyoto 20 hours, ¥9,600+. Both services are overnight, and private cabins are available for a higher fare the base fare buys sleeping space on the floor.