Must-do’s

Hakodate is located in the southernmost part of Hokkaido and has one of the world’s top 3 best night skyline. Hakodate’s Asaichi (morning market) will have you having some of the freshest seafood on a bed of rice - so fresh you’ll be in tears - you can then visit the Star Fort in Goryokaku, summit Hakodate’s mountain top for night views, or an onsen guest house to relax. If you still have time left, head to nearby Ōnuma Quasi-National Park to see volcanoes and lakes. At the end of the 19th century, Hakodate started to develop as a port city to trade with foreign countries. Many older buildings have been preserved in the old town area. There is the old Hakodate City Hall which is a national level heritage building, the original British Embassy which comes with a European tea room, an Orthodox church and the branch of the East Hongan-ji. These are have unique combination of Japanese and Western culture, and are very uniquely foreign.

Goryukaku is a pentagon, star-shaped fortress built in the Edo era. It is Japan’s first castle to be constructed with Western architectural methods. It then became a battlefield for the last battle, Battle of Hakodate, a fight between those who support the shogunate in the Meiji Restoration area against those who fight for the Emperor. The only thing that remains of this Fort which has once witnessed history is now only its outer walls. It has now been turned into a municipal park and a very famous spot to see cherry blossoms in Hokkaido. Head up to the Goryukaku tower on the southwestern side of the park and you can have a bird’s eye view over all of Goryukaku from above. The Goryukaku tower is not only a great place to see the Goryukaku park, you can see various sights in all four seasons throughout the year. Cherry blossom in the spring time, rows of trees in the summer; leaves turning a brilliant red in the fall and the deepest of white in the winter. It’s a sight to behold.

Mount Hakodate is the only mountain in Hakodate city where you can look down from the peak on the night view of Hakodate below. It is also the best spot to look under on the Tsugaru Straits. It’s a very popular place. Mount Hakodate, Hong Kong’s Victoria Peak, and Italy’s Napoli are together known as the world’s “top 3 night skylines”. This is a place you must visit in Hakodate. You can take a cable car up the hill. There are decently priced restaurants up on the hill. Enjoy a meal while looking out to the night sky - what a treat it is.

The Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse is also known as the red brick warehouse and is located in the old port of Hakodate. It was built back in 1909, which is the 42nd year in the Meiji era. From 1801 to 1804, this used to be a shipyard and a place for foreigners to settle, so the buildings here have a certain Western influence. These warehouses have now become an icon of Hakodate’s port and has witnessed changes in time. These few warehouses have now been turned into coffee houses, gift shops, dessert houses and restaurants, as well as a beer pubs with pretty good ambience. Locals and tourists like coming here, buying souvenirs, finding a place by the window near a restaurant, enjoying food and views at port here.

Yunokawaonsen is located in the east of the city of Hakodate city and has a long history. It offers clear sources of hot spring which are really good for neurological pains, cold hands and feet, waist pain and fatigue. Onsen guest houses here have a gorgeous outdoor pool with seaside view. You can soak in hot springs while enjoying seaside view. If you stay here, you enjoy fresh local catch of seafood as well.

Hakodate isn’t big, and you’re able to reach most sights with a street car. It’s also the main form of transport for locals. You can buy a one day ticket of JPY 600 and get unlimited rides. The trams in Hakodate hail back from 100 years ago. These trams are painted with various prints. Other than commercials there are many iconic sights from the local area. The trams are usually really retro. When going on the tracks it has a clear sound of “ding, ding”. The interior of the trams are usually constructed with wood. Sitting inside and looking out to the views outside is really something else.

Right next to the Hakodate JR station, walk about 3 minutes and you’ll reach the market. There are over hundreds of big and small shops selling the freshest of seafood products. It is highly popular among tourists. Most stores close at about 10:00 AM and afterwards it’s all about marine product sales rather than breakfasts. So get there early if you want to eat! The most fun thing in the market is fishing for squids. The stall owners will then prepare the squid into sashimi; eat it with ginger and soy sauce and it’s simply incredible.

Motomachi is an old area of streets and shops at the foot of Mount Hakodate. The earliest forms of Western government units, Orthodox Church, Catholic Church and other Western style architecture can be found here. Walk around Motomachi and you’ll see churches, small houses, as well as the street cars strolling by. You can really experience the charisma of the streets of Hakodate here. Motomachi is where Japan opened up for port trade to the West. Orthodox and Catholic evangelism used to occur here, which is why you’ll find many western houses and churches. The more famous structures is the old British Embassy and St John’s Church.

The Hakodate Western District is located in the Motomachi district in Hakodate. Because of its hilly terrain there is a slope which faces the sea, forming a unique visual perspective. When it’s nice out, you can see the port from the slope and you can clearly see the blue ocean and the boats. Next to the two sides of the avenue you’ll find various European structures, which is a typical sight of the street view in Hakodate. On the slope leading to Hakodate, there are several slopes which are like the Hakodate Western District pathway; from Mount Hakodate they lead all the way to the sea, as well as many places where movies and series are filmed.

In the Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden, there are tropical plants not seen up here in the north, but what attracts visitors the most are the monkeys who come here to soak in the hot springs, which is a hilarious sight to behold.