Otaru Population 2026

Otaru has a population of 115,333, making it the #236 biggest city in 🇯🇵 Japan, located in Hokkaido. Roughly 0.1% of Japan's population lives here. It is about 84× smaller than Tokyo, the country's biggest city.

Location of Otaru (capital Tokyo shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

115,333

Rank in Japan

#236

Coordinates

43.19°N, 141.00°E

~30 m elevation · Asia/Tokyo

Distance to capital (Tokyo)

841 km

522 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Hokkaido

City	Population	Rank in Japan
Sapporo	1,973,832	#5
Asahikawa	333,530	#68
Hakodate	275,730	#84
Tomakomai	174,806	#139
Kushiro	167,875	#151
Obihiro	166,536	#154
Ebetsu	133,953	#195
Kitami	119,135	#225

Cities near Otaru

Yoichi18,993 people · ~19 km away
Ishikari58,755 people · ~29 km away
Sapporo1,973,832 people · ~31 km away
Kutchan15,816 people · ~38 km away
Tōbetsu16,694 people · ~42 km away
Ebetsu133,953 people · ~45 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Otaru?

Otaru has a population of 115,333 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #236 biggest city in Japan.

What region is Otaru in?

Otaru is located in Hokkaido, Japan.

Is Otaru the capital of Japan?

No, the capital of Japan is Tokyo, about 841 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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