Last updated: August 20, 2024 at 1:35 PM
The ``Sakura-shaped glass base music box'' that I purchased from the Otaru Music Box Shop mail order site has arrived.
Last month, I was curious about the music box at Otaru Music Box Hall, which I visited on the following Shinjuku 2-chome Popcorn comfort trip (Sapporo & Otaru), so I decided to try it out. Mail order site I decided to buy one.
This music box is of the type that allows you to specify the song title when purchasing. The wrapping fee is free, and the price is 2,800 yen (tax included), which is a very reasonable price, but since it is shipped directly from Hokkaido, the shipping cost to Kanagawa Prefecture, where I live, was 1,400 yen.
What is Otaru Music Box Hall?
Otaru Music Box Hall is one of the largest music box specialty stores in Japan, located in Otaru City, Hokkaido. The main building of Otaru Music Box Hall was built in 1915 (Taisho 4).
This historic building was originally constructed as the headquarters of the former Kyosei Co., Ltd., a rice merchant, and was opened in 1989 as the Otaru Music Box Museum Main Building.
This stone building was registered as an Otaru City Historical Building in the same year, and the store has a nostalgic and dignified appearance.
[Main building]
The main building exhibits and sells over 80,000 music boxes of approximately 5,000 types. In front of the building is the world's largest steam clock, which is 5.5m high, 1m wide, and weighs 1.5t, and plays a melody every 15 minutes.
[Photo spot]
The corridor on the second floor of the main building overlooks the first floor, offering a beautiful view filled with light.
[Easy order corner]
On the 3rd floor of the main building, you can "Easy Order" by selecting and combining a song and music box base.
[Steam clock]
The steam clock in front of Otaru Music Box Hall is known as the world's largest steam clock. This clock was created by Canadian watchmaker Raymond Saunders and was installed in 1993.
This 5.5 meter tall, 1.5 ton bronze steam clock has five whistles playing a melody every 15 minutes. The clock itself is electrically operated, but it uses a computer-controlled boiler to generate steam and tells the time with a warm tone.
This clock is located at Otaru's Fairy Tale Crossing and is also a popular photo spot for tourists. Visitors are soothed by the sound of this clock, and often stop to take photos.
【access】
Otaru Music Box Museum is located about 20 minutes walk from Otaru Station and about 5 minutes walk from Minami-Otaru Station.
Otaru Music Box Hall is an attractive spot for tourists and locals alike. When you visit, be sure to enjoy the melodies of the steam clock and the sounds of the antique music box.
Music box gallery
This is a gallery of Otaru Music Box Hall's "Sakura-shaped Glass Base Music Box." The wrapping fee was free. I bought it for myself, so there's no point in wrapping it lol
music box video
This is a video of Otaru Music Box Hall's "Sakura-shaped Glass Base Music Box." It can't be helped that the playing time is short since it's commensurate with the price, but the sound of ``Sea View Town - From Kiki's Delivery Service'' is very nice as the beautiful glass bass rotates.
