小樽運河 / Otaru Canal

小樽運河是最受到矚目的小樽觀光景點。沿著運河佇立著許多石造的建築物(昔日是作為倉庫所建造的)，這些建築物便成為港口都市小樽的象徵。小樽運河是於1923年時建造完成，當初建造的目的是要使大型船舶能停泊在更靠近倉庫的地方。從現今的風貌雖然很難想像，但過去有段時間小樽運河受到汙泥的汙染而變得很髒。在1986年時規劃成今日這般美麗的風貌，沿著運河設有步道，不管是夏季或是冬季都可以享受在運河旁散步的樂趣。

Otaru Canal is the signature of Otaru City, and is famous for sight-seeing. There are original stone warehouses on one side of the canal (which now house restaurants and such), and the other side has a stone-paved path for pedestrians. Its scenery makes visitors feel that Otaru is a harbor city. The canal was constructed in 1923, and its purpose was for big ships to dock outside warehouses for loading. After years, this canal got to be very dirty and clogged with sludge, as hard as that may be to believe looking at it now. In 1986, the was restored to its present condition. You can enjoy walking along it both in summer and winter.