Arriving last night in Otaru, I was greeted by a friendly Masa San and a gorgeous, homely, lived in hostel, with lots of nooks and crannies to explore! Otaru will be my home for the next few weeks, so is lovely to be somewhere I can relax (after a hard morning's elbow grease of course...). An hour later I was listening to jazz with the sun setting over the noted romantic spot of the canal. The evening was filled with the sultry singer's voice carried by the summer breeze, the beer was flowing and I felt excited to be in Hokkaido during the summer (come winter...well I  might have to escape to Honshu...but let's not think about that now!)

Today was my first day of work, and it felt good to be earning my keep! A sweaty four hours later, and the day was young. With a friendly new arrival in the hostel, we went exploring in the glass making area, where we watched in awe as a beautiful vase was sculpted for the delight of a budding crowd, with lots of oohs and aahs filling the air, and a polite clap when all was done. Back to the canal, and lots of people jostling to get in the perfect position for that all important perfect shot of the lights shining and the sun setting. Yes, I think I am going to enjoy a peaceful time in Otaru, except perhaps when I am trying to capture my own perfect shot of the canal by night...   

 Today I met Sachiko San who uses the hostel to open up her own cafe, twice a month or so. What a fab idea, a roving mobile cafe; tea, coffee, cake, meeting people in a comfy house, what's not to like? Maybe I can do the same back home, (ok, no doubt this is another idea I will add to the many accumulating steadily, which I will forget once I hit the grey skies of London...). So after cooking us up a delicious spaghetti alle vongole dish, Sachiko went to tend to her first customer while I went for my obligatory walk around town. Walking past the old stone warehouses, the grand banks built long ago (erm, am not quite one for dates...) and the first railway track built in Hokkaido (which is what a heard the rickshaw guy telling his customers, so a bit of history for you there) I felt the old town vibe of the place. Reaching canal park, at the quiet end of the canal, I sat watching teenagers skateboarding before heading back along the throng of sushi streets to my home at Morinoki.

 Ok, before I begin to tell you who I think are the craziest people here and very maybe in the world at large, a word about the weather...it is hot. Very hot. I came to Hokkaido with images of walking with a refined air along the streets with an ice-cream in hand and general sense of coolness, but I have been thwarted in my attempts by the heat, which makes my face red and hair frizz and brow sweat. Not very cool. At all.

Rickshaw drivers/haulers/pullers of cart and people. Yes, you. You are crazy. And also very fit...and I have to say quite good looking too..erhem...Out in the midday sun they stand, turning ever more mahogany brown, flattering all who walk past, and then, when finally they get a customer or two, they are off. I've walked past them down main streets, side streets, alleyways; they know Otaru like the back of their hand. As they walk and pull and haul they talk and chat and laugh with their passengers. I am in awe. I salute you crazy rickshaw people. Kampai to you.

 Now even though I previously lived in Japan for two years, and came back and studied intensely for two months, I still falter and splatter and mumble my way through conversations...BUT, when it comes to talking about the weather, I am in my element...I am at peace with the old nihongo. I feel there is an inherent sisterhood between Japan and Britain, because the weather is that all important safe topic which both Brits and Japanese can harp on about for hours, days, months, without risk of offending anyone. I think every other sentence I have uttered and heard, since arriving in Otaru, has been about the weather. Today gave us a lot to talk about because whilst sunny in the morning...clouds descended in the afternoon, yes, CLOUDS. And so ensued the rain, light, then heavy, it wickedly kept us guessing as to what it would do next, soak us or just slightly drizzle over our heads like olive oil over fresh mozzerella balls...with pepper and basil...and maybe some fresh off the vine tomatoes...talking of which, tomatoes in Japan are delicious. Just so you know.

Staying at Morinoki is lovely because I get to meet friendly people everyday. It attracts families as well as backpackers, from close to home to far away. It's a great environment to be in.

Now time for some tomatoes...buon appetit!


 I want to eat Hokkaido, bite its head off and slowly chew it whilst savouring every ounce of flavour, but then I fear, I will not be able to stop here, I will have to move down to Honshu, and bite on and on and on until I reach the far south of Okinawa. Everywhere I walk here there are amazing smells rising through the air..and then there's the beer...oh liquid gold of joy, you are so delicious... (I went off the rails a bit today and had a WHOLE can of beer...I know, crazy). 

So in short, food here is good.


 Am really settling into my life in Otaru...arghhh!!! How quickly our habits form! I've been here only a week and already I'm settled into a routine, and I came to escape that very word! But I am really growing to like this town, so I shall enjoy it while it lasts, routine and all.

I think cleaning could be the answer. The answer you have all been looking for. My cleaning ritual here completely clears my mind. I am focused on one task, and all questions cease in my mind. An empty head is refreshing. Now go on, go scrub that bathroom and see for yourself the therapeutic benefits it brings...(you can pay me later).

小樽・朝里川温泉にある「ウィンケル」さんでは、ワーキングホリデーで日本に来ている外国人をスタッフとして受け入れているようです。
詳しくは直接お問い合わせください。
 北海道小樽市朝里川温泉2丁目686番地 
 TEL:0134-52-1185 FAX:0134-52-1114

【whoopのためのアルバイト】

(時給は700円〜)
英語と日本語ができること。(中国語もできるとウレシイ!)

杜の樹で午前中ヘルパーをして、午後からアルバイトもOK!
※宿泊費がタダになりますよ!

現在、アルバイト(有給)を募集中

小樽運河クルーズ

(旧)岡川薬局では、ゲストハウス+カフェを軸に建物の運営を行っていますが、基本的にはゲストハウスがカフェを助ける構図を作っています。
 特にヘルパー制は、カフェスタッフとしても働いてもらうようにすることで、カフェ自体の人件費を浮かすことも出来ています。ゲストハウス+アルファの連動の一つのメリットがこのヘルパー制による人件費の節約・スタッフの増強です。小樽なので、宿泊業が経営の核になっていることが重要だと思っています。 
歴史的建造物ということで、一般的なゲストハウスやホステルよりも割高の宿泊費を設定しているので、「掃除・洗濯・ベッドメイキング等」が終わったらお仕事終了っていう形ではなく、カフェのウエイター・ウエイトレスとしてしっかり働いてもらっています。

ヘルパー制度について
  • 18歳〜35歳。
  • 日本人、もしくは日本語で意志疎通が図れることが採用条件。
  • 一日4時間程度の労働をしていただきます。時間帯は要相談。
  • 主な仕事は建物内外の掃除や洗濯、Cafe Whiteのお手伝い等です。
  • 3日〜1か月の場合のみ受け入れます。1日限定2名まで。
  • 1週間以上滞在の場合は、週1日休日がとれます。(2週間以上は週2日)
  • ヘルパーの希望は1週間前までに申請してください。
  • ルール厳守です。
  • 詳しくはお問い合わせください。
    電話:0134-64-1086
    Mail:mail@n-llc.info
  住所:小樽市若松1-7-7(駐車場アリ)
 電話:0134-64-1086 
 FAX:0134-64-1087

 The other day I narrowly avoided a collision with a beautifully dressed older lady. Clad in a navy kimono, hair and make-up perfectly applied, I couldn't help but stare at this 70 year old vision in blue. Maybe unnerved by a frazzled looking foreigner heading in her direction, she stared back at me, our eyes met and very nearly our heads. With a bow to rectify the situation, she was off down the street, and I was left to marvel at how being a 'lady' in Japan can look so effortless. 

One of my favourite tasks at Morinoki is sweeping the stairs which lead down from the hostel to the street below. It's usually my first job of the day if the rain. Sweeping away I am greeted by a succession of ladies walking down the road to place their rubbish in the communal bin. For all of two seconds, with a friendly 'ohayou gozaimasu' I am part of the street community. The simplest things bring a smile to my face, and this small gesture of friendliness does exactly that. Small gestures and simple pleasures, taking it slow and taking notice of your neighbours. All too easy to forget when rushing around from A to B. So thank you Otaru for reminding me to open my eyes and ears to whats around me, and thank you ladies for your early morning wake up call to living. 


 WHOOP it up!

Working Holiday
on Otaru Project

小樽でちょっとお手伝いをしながら、長期滞在しよう!

エクスチェンジヘルパーです。
数時間の宿の仕事と宿泊代の等価交換(?)。
仕事の合間に小樽を十分に堪能できます!
外国人もOK!ワーキングホリデーの方にもオススメ
WHOOP is “Working Holiday on Otaru Project”.
The meaning is “Let’s long term stay while working as a exchange helper in Hokkaido Otaru. “
The MorinoKi helper is to exchange your hostel charge for work several hours at the hotel.
Good for long stay traveler, and Working Holiday Maker.
more information >>>

 もりのき本館

The Otarunai Backpackers' Hostel MorinoKi
The Otarunai
Backpackers' Hostel
MorinoKi
おたるない
バックパッカーズホステル
杜の樹

〒047-0028
北海道小樽市相生町4-15
お問い合せ

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