Otaru is a major station on the JR Hakodate Line from [wiki=e9d6eb12ff84740501a444198e2675c2]Sapporo[/wiki], 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.
Otaru is 25 minutes away from Sapporo by car.
Otaru is one of Hokkaido's key ferry ports, and the closest to Sapporo. Shin-Nihonkai Ferry [url=http://www.snf.jp/](06-6348-1120)]operates a daily service between Otaru and [[Niigata[/url]] (18 hours, ¥6,200+) and between Otaru and [wiki=38e204a8aba16310734205aa779c494e]Maizuru[/wiki] near [wiki=492379b2b8f7ac3f7cc8e0ca6254f4b1]Kyoto[/wiki] (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).
Many of its historical buildings, restaurants and shops are within easy walking distance so walking is a very easy (and cheap) means of getting around. A suggested walking itinerary begins from the Otaru Music Box Museum at one end of Sakaimachihondori Street, follow the street until it crosses a small canal, walk up the street until the Museum of the Money, and then follow the canal down and then keep following the canal when it turns left and widens up.