Otaru Historical Plaza

"This retro-style area is located facing Sakaimachi Street. It conveys the glory of Otaru's historic past to the present era and embodies the concept of ""Cityscape is industry. Cityscape is culture."" In the time of the early Showa, business leaders, conglomerates and the great merchants known as Japanese shipping kings established a gorgeous mansion atop the hill behind the plaza. So that, it is said that the road leading to the hill was named ""Success-slope"", and the bottom of the slope was named ""Pre-success"" with the meaning of being one step short of success.I The area surrounding the plaza is wrapped in a retro atmosphere, almost as if it had slipped into the past, and first-time visitors are said to experience the nostalgia. Some of the buildings that have deteriorated with the passing of time and household items have been collected and restored to display the lifestyles of the people of the time."