Otaru is a city and port located in Shiribeshi, Hokkaidō, Japan, northwest of Sapporo. The city faces the Ishikari Bay, and it has long served as the main port of the bay. With its many historical buildings, Otaru is one of Japan's leading tourist destinations. Also, because it is located within a 25 minute-drive from Sapporo, the city recently has seen growth as a bedroom community. As of 2004, the city has an estimated population of 141,041 and the density of 580.11 persons per km². The total area is 243.13 km². Although it is the largest city in Shiribeshi, it is not the capital of the subprefecture (that title goes to the more centrally-located Kutchan).