Hakodate, which boasts one of Japan's three major night scenes, is also the best cherry blossom destination in Hokkaido. In addition to the signatures such as the night scenery and cherry blossoms, Hakodate also has the reputation of being the “City of Hot Springs”, “City of Churches” and “City of Ramen”. It is no wonder that it is the most attractive city in the southern part of Hokkaido. It takes about 3 hours to travel from Sapporo to Hakodate, to see the night view it is recommended to arrange a two-day trip or longer.

Hakodate, in the southern most area of Hokkaido, with one of the world's three most beautiful night scenery, is the first place in Hokkaido to see cherry blossoms. Touring Hakodate, you can climb Mount Hakodate to see the night scenery, go to the Goryōkaku to see the star fortress and cherry blossoms, or go to the Ōnuma National Park to see the volcano and the lake. Of course, you can't forget the seafood morning market that rivals the Tsukiji market in Tokyo!

It takes about 3 hours to travel from Sapporo to Hakodate. In addition to the attractions, hot springs in Hakodate could be found everywhere. It is worthy of the title of hot spring city. The seafood resources are very abundant. As the first international trading port in Japan, Hakodate is full of the exotic. You can also see religious buildings from many countries.

Hakodate: Japan's Must-visit Destination in Hokkaido

Hakodate Goryōkaku was built in 1857 and was the first western-style castle in Japan. It was built in a five-pointed star shape. It was built to resist Western aggression. Later it became the last battleground of the shogunate in the Meiji Restoration to resist the Emperor's army (Battle of Hakodate).

The park is full of cherry blossoms. In the spring, it is famous for its cherry blossoms. In winter, snow viewing can be enjoyed.

Known as one of the world's three most beautiful night scenes, the Mount Hakodate night view is a must-visit place in Hakodate. It is necessary to take the cable car up the mountain. There are good value-for-money restaurants on the mountain. You can take in the night view while eating.

Yukawa Onsen, the oldest hot spring in Hokkaido, is located in Yukawacho, the eastern suburb of Hakodate, only 2-3 km from Hakodate Airport. Said to have been founded 460 years ago (1653) in the Muromachi period for the treatment of disease, the colorless and transparent spring water, which has a great effect on the recovery of neuralgia, cold hands and feet, lower back pain, and fatigue.

In addition, in the tropical botanical garden of Yukawa Onsen, you can also see the funny sight of Japanese macaques soaking in the hot springs while snowing! It is said that over the past 40 years, the park has drawn hot spring water into the Monkey Mountain pond each winter,with the temperature of the water maintained at 40 to 42 degrees Celsius. With the rising heat vapors, the monkeys are eager to soak in the hot springs, yawning, stretching, and enjoying this "special treatment".

The Onuma National Park near Hakodate is composed of a big marsh and a small marsh lake formed by the eruption of the Koma-ga-take volcano. The Koma-ga-take volcano is still an active volcano. The volcanic majesty sets off the charm of Lake Onuma. It exhibits the natural wilderness of Hokkaido in its primitive form.

There are many islands in the lake, most of which are connected by bridges to the land. It takes about 20 km and 2-3 hours to ride in a circuit. There are scenic spots en route from time to time, and there is a small pasture. The scenery is beautiful and full of natural features.

The area near the sea at the foot of Mount Hakodate was a historical site for warehouses, as it is near the pier. Today, these red brick warehouses have been transformed into coffee houses, gift shops, dessert shops, and restaurants.

About a three minute walk from Hakodate JR station, the Hakodate morning market has over 200 stalls selling freshest seafood. It is one of Japan’s famous morning markets, with many stalls closing around 10 am, after which most of them only offer seafood to buy and don’t serve breakfast. So if you want to eat, get there early.

This morning market allows customers to fish the squid themselves, after which the stall owner turns the caught Ganso squid into sashimi with ginger and soy sauce. It has a crisp texture, and the squid might even suck your tongue, a very fresh taste. If you are buying seafood, make sure to shop around and haggle, as marked prices are quite high, and most stall owners will offer you a discount.