Otaru Station

Otaru Station 小樽駅
The station frontage in August 2012
Location	Otaru, Hokkaido Japan
Operated by	JR Hokkaido
Line(s)	■ Hakodate Main Line
Distance	252.5 km from Hakodate
Platforms	2 island platforms
Tracks	4
Other information
Status	Staffed
Station code	S15
History
Opened	June 28, 1903 (1903-06-28)
Previous names	Otaru Chūō; Takashima Station Chūō Otaru (until 1920)
Traffic
Passengers (FY2015)	8,973 daily
Location
Otaru Station Location within Japan

Otaru Station (小樽駅, Otaru-eki^?) is a railway station in Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan, operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). It is numbered "S15".

Otaru Station is served by the Hakodate Main Line.

The station consists of two island platforms serving four tracks. The station has automated ticket machines, automated turnstiles which accept Kitaca, and a "Midori no Madoguchi" staffed ticket office.

Otaru Station opened on 28 June 1903. The station name was originally Otaru Chūō Station (小樽中央駅, Otaru Chūō eki^?). The name was changed on 15 October 1904 to Takashima Station (高島駅, Takashima eki^?), on 15 December 1905 to Chūō Otaru Station (中央小樽駅, Chūō Otaru eki^?) and on 15 July 1920 to the present one. From 11 June 1900 to 14 July 1920, present-day Minami-Otaru Station was called Otaru Station.