The Otarunai Backpackers' Hostel MorinoKi

Single Simple Travel..For Free and Independent Travellers - Budget Accommodations in Otaru Hokkaido JAPAN -

Cozy Atmospheres

Using the old Japanese house. Comfortable Japanese-style hostel.

Reasonable Price

Good for Free and Independent Travellers.

Dorm rooms: 3,200 Yen (per night with No meal)

Good Location

Good for Otaru sightseeing. "Otaru Canal" & "Sakai-machi" nearby.

Day Trip from Otaru to Niseko, Yoichi, Shakotan Peninsula,and Sapporo

Carefree Hostel

Kitchen Self-Catering / Shower / Laundry / Internet / WiFi/ No TV / English speaking staff / Japanese Lesson / no-smoking / Host dogs

The Otarunai Backpackers' Hostel MorinoKi

• Address: Aioi 4-15 Otaru Hokkaido Japan
• Phone/Fax: 0134-23-2175
• web: http://morinoki.infotaru.net/
  This site is under repairs. Please wait for a while.
• Charges: 1 night with No meal 3,200yen
• 2009.09.24-2009.12.25 :
  1 night with No meal 3,000yen
• Meal: Breakfast 300yen / Dinner none
• Rooms: Dorm rooms (Separated Males and Females) / 2 rooms, 16 Bunk Beds with bedding.
1. EX. 2 parson: 3,200 yen x 2 parson + 2,400 yen = 8,800 yen (@4,400yen)
2. EX. 3 people: 3,200 yen x 3 parson + 2,400 yen = 12,000 yen (@4,000yen)
3. EX. 4 people: 3,200 yen x 3 parson + 2,400 yen = 15,200 yen (@3,800yen)
   
   
   
• Open: Throughout the year
• Other: 2 free parking lots / Kitchen Self-Catering / Laundry / Internet / English speaking staff / Japanese Lesson / no-smoking / Host dogs
  
  
• Booking: Hostelworld, Online Bookin Form or jalan net (Japanese).

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The Otarunai Backpackers' Hostel MorinoKi
Our hostel's name "Otarunai" comes from Ainu Language. Ainu said Otaru district "Ota-ur-nai". It means "The River in the beach".
"Mori-no-Ki" means "The Tree in the forest of a shrine"

2009 Otaru Tetsuro Photograph Exhibition

http://blog.livedoor.jp/tetsuroten/

Otaru Canal Cruise

Start on July 11, 2009.



Otaru Canal Cruise

Departure time

(1)8:00- (2)10:30- (3)13:30- (4)16:00- (5)18:30-

Departure place

3-6-18 Ironai Otaru (Otaru Canal in front of Unga Park)

Course & Charge

(1)taru Canal Cruise (40nins): 15,000yen
(2)Otaru Canal + Otaru Port & Takashima Harbor Cruise (2h): 30,000yen
One boat charter charge (max 12 people).
Please pay in cash before departure.
The price includes charter cruise fee, guide fee, and tax.

N.B.

• Please take measures a hot day like the hat, sunglasses, and the sunscreen, etc.
• You can bringing the drink and food.
• It is not possible to go to the rest room while the cruise.
• The cruise is basically a cancellation in case of rain.(Because the boat is roofless. )
• Please take measures a seasick.
• Please inquire directly in detail.

Inquiry and Reservation

Telephone: 0134-25-3227
e-mail: canalboat@caratsys.biz

URL: http://www.caratsys.biz/

Otaru Ushio Festival vol.43

The biggest summer festival in Otaru!

Otaru Ushio Festival vol.43

2009 July 24 (Fri) to 26 (Sun)


Main venue of the event: Pier No.3



This festival is prosperity of Otaru and the one for the sea. "Ushio Nerikomi" is dancing parade by about 5,000 people. "Ushio Daiko" is peculiar drum performance to Otaru. "Mikoshi (portable shrine) parade" and fireworks show in the Otaru port.

"Ushio" is a meaning of "sea water" and "tide".

• Otaru Ushio Festival official website.

Friday, July 24

• "Ushio Furekomi": Dancing parade that announces holding the festival. (18:00-19:15)


• Fireworks show "Yama-bi": 20:00-20:30


• Open: from 15:00. to 22:00

Saturday, July 25

• "Ushio Nerikomi": Dancing parade by about 5,000 people. (13:00-21:00)
  
  This Dance parade is open to all. (Group start: 14:30 and 18:00)


• Zappy Soul Live: 21:00-22:00


• Open: from 10:00. to 22:45

Sunday, July 26

• Usio Regatta Race: 09:00-12:00


• Mikoshi (portable shrine) parade: 13:30-17:55


• Ushio Watari （Sea parade by fishing fleet.）:16:00-16:50


• Tomomi Sugimura Live: 18:30-18:55-



• Hiroaki Igarashi Live: 19:05-19:50


• Fireworks show "Umi-bi": 20:00-20:40


• Open: from 10:00. to 22:00

Reference

0134-32-4111 (ex.267)

Otaru Ushio Festival official website

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Otaru Glass Market

About 30 of glass ateliers in Japan including Otaru do the exhibition and sales of the glassware of daily necessaries.

• Friday, July 24 14:00-20:00
  
  Saturday, July 25 11:00-20:00.
  
  Sunday, July 26 11:00-20:00.


• Former Temiya Line


• 0134-32-4111 (ex.263)

"Pre Ushio" in Sakaimachi-dori street

Gospel concert, Ushio-Daiko (drums), Ushio Nerikomi (Ushio Dance), classic concert, and yukata contest, etc.

• Sunday, July 19 18:00-


• Sakaimachi-dori street (Mrchen Square)


• 090-1307-0743

View Otaru Ushio Festival in a larger map

J-Camp Otaru

Japanese lesson in Otaru
For those who are thinking of learning Japanese language to communicate with the locals.

Sightseeing and Japanese study "J-Camp"

One Week Lesson program
This is the most convenient for those staying for a period of 1 week. After choosing the most convenient time schedule for your stay.

* Monday - Saturday | Total of 12 hours with 7 nights
* Classes consist of 4 levels. (Basic - Adovanced)
* Brush-up on your Japanese
* For Japanese Proficiency Test (Level 4 - 1)
* Classes are from 1 to 4 students.
* After a week, the program you are following can be extended.

Accommodation
The Otarunai Backpackers' Hostel MorinoKi. Room Type : Dormitory Room
This guesthouse is an old Japanese house in the home atmosphere. You can use kitchen. There are a lot of Japanese textbooks, comics and DVDs. You can question the staff at any time.
Lesson fee
Lesson & accommodation : 35,000 YEN | Total of 12 hours with 7 nights (Dormitory Room)
Extra lesson fee:1,200 yen (per hour) | Extra accommodation charge: 3,200 yen (per night)

* The reservation must be made 2 weeks before the date of arrival.

Lesson Course
We can arrange various courses: All Days Course, Morning Course and Nighttime Courses.
The lesson is not accepted from 7/25 to 8/15. Otaru Canal
After The Class
Otaru Museum and Aquarium, Sake Museum, Glass Art Museum is recommended. Looking around souvenir stores such as glass or Music box ... Shopping in markets and malls as well. At night enjoy a variety of restaurants and bars, such as jazz clubs with live music. Bowling and karaoke, movie theaters are also in Otaru. You can go to the mountains and the sea. In summer you can swim in the sea. Day-walking is refreshing. In winter skiing and snowboarding is also fun. For Sapporo or Yoichi, it takes about 30 minutes by train. For Niseko or Shakotan Peninsula, it takes about 120 minutes by bus. So anytime during or after J-Camp you can go there.
Japanese Teacher
Masaki Harada: I obtained my teaching license in 1998 and have taught at a Japanese school in Sapporo for 4 years. I currently teach one to one lessons but also offer group lessons for those who are interested.

Contact / Application
J-Class MorinoKi (c/o The Otarunai Backpackers' Hostel MorinoKi)
Address : Aioi 4-15 Otaru Hokkaido Japan 047-0028 / Phone : 0134-23-2175 (10:00-21:00)
E-mail: morinoki@infotaru.net / URL: http://nihongo.infotaru.net/

J-Camp Otaru is not a Japanese school. J-Camp is a Japanese private school for studying in a relaxed environment. J-Camp is performed within The Otarunai Backpackers' Hostel Morinoki. We organize Japanese classes in the hostel.

Cherry blossoms and MorinoKi Party

Diversion from MorinoKi News

It is expected the flowering of cherry blossoms in Hokkaido is May 1 (Sapporo) according to Sapporo District Meteorological Observatories.
It seems that cherry blossoms bloom in those days also in Otaru.

In GW (Spring Holidays), how about enjoying seeing cherry blossom in Otaru?

The Otaru park, the Temiya park, and the Nagahashi-Naebo park, etc. are famous in cherry blossoms in Otaru. <
I like cherry blossoms (photo in the Suitengu Shinto shrine.


MorinoKi Spring Party

• Date: 5th May( Tuesday) 15:00 start
• Place: MorinoKi
• Fee: 0 yen (potluck party)
• In case of bad weather: 9th May (Saturday)

2009 Hostel Rates

The Rates are changed on January 1, 2009.

3,200 Yen(per person per night and included tax)

The long stay discount is discontinued.

Group Arrangement Charge

The extra charge: 2400 yen (per room)
The basis rate is 3,200 yen (per person).

e.g. [Group arrangement of 5 people]
3,200 yen × 5 people + 2,400 yen = Total 18,400 yen (3,680 yen / a person)

Children's price

6 years old - 12 years old: 2,700 yen (per person per night)
3 years old - 5 years old: 2,200 yen (per person per night)
- two years old: 0 yen (The same bed as parents is used.)