Tours led by 35-year-old New Zealander Brad McIvor along the Otaru Canal are one of the Hokkaido port city's most popular tourist attractions.

Of the seven skippers working for Otaru Canal Cruise, McIvor is the only foreign national. The tours take about 80,000 visitors each year on a 40-minute boat ride through the city's historic area, with its retro warehouses and gas lights.

"Some passengers are apparently surprised, swinging their heads back to look at me" when he introduces trivia of the city in fluent Japanese while navigating the boat from the stern, he said.