Otaru is famous for sushi. Sea urchin, abalone, mantis shrimp, and other fresh seafood can be caught in the waters near Otaru. So there are over 100 sushi restaurants in the city, making Otaru Japan's foremost sushi city. There is a famous street called “Sushiya-dori” (Sushi Restaurant Street) where you can enjoy sushi made with the freshest of fish. Try some hand-formed sushi as well.

Otaru is rich in palatable water, therefore, sake brewing, which requires very fine water, has been very prosperous since early times. In the city, there are sake breweries, as well as beer and wine breweries. In addition, there is a whiskey distillery in Yoichi town next to Otaru. Enjoy various local alcohols! You can make a factory tour, too.

Otaru started making glass as a daily necessity for oil lamps. Today Otaru is one of Japan's main producers of glass, with over 20 glass ateliers to be found. You can find charming vases, glassware, lamps, accessories, and other items whose color and design will vary by glassmaker. You can also try your hand at glass blowing and glass bead making, allowing you to create something all your own to remind you of your trip.

This confectionery has thrived in Otaru since olden times, and there are many Japanese-style confectionery stores in the city. High quality fresh sweets such as "panju," "mochi" sticky rice and "kushi-dango" skewered dumplings made in traditional way, please the appetite of residents and tourists alike. The Western style sweets of Otaru such as cakes and cookies are also becoming popular nationwide and are a perennial souvenir favorite.

The seafood processing industry has been active for a long time. “Kamaboko (fish cake)” is a specialty product. High-quality Kamabko, which is made from selected local ingredients only, is very suitable as a souvenir. “Agekama,” minced and fried fish meat, is very popular. Buy freshly-made agekama at shops along the street or in the market, and eat right away just like fast food.

There are quite a few fresh markets in Otaru that bustle even today as a “ kitchen " for residents.Fresh fish caught from the waters around Otaru, or processed dried fish and other delicacies, are extremely popular as souvenirs. “Agekama" , or deep fried minced fish cake, can be bought at the market or from fish cake shops and are popular as an enjoyable easy and fast snack.

Yoichi,next to Otaru, was a groundbreaker in Japanese apple cultivation. Along with Niki, it is Hokkaido's foremost fruit producer. There are many tourist farms where people can enjoy picking seasonal fruits such as cherries, apples, and grapes. Juices and jams made from fresh fruit are sold at farmers' stores.