Hakodate (函館) is the third largest city in Hokkaido, and it is located on the southern tip of the island. Hakodate is best known for its spectacular views from Mount Hakodate and its delicious fresh seafood.

It was one of the first Japanese port cities to be opened to international trade after the country's era of isolation, Hakodate has undergone considerable foreign influence, and the former residential district of the foreign population and a Western-style fort are among its main tourist attractions.

How to get to Hakodate

JR Train (Shinkansen) + JR Hakodate Liner

From Tokyo, you take the Shinkansen on the Tohoku line to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto (4 hours and 20 minutes). From there, you take the JR Hakodate Liner train (15 minutes). The one-way ticket costs 23760 yen, and there are only reserved seats (on the Shinkansen). These trains are included in the Japan Rail Pass.

Ltd. Hokuto Express

If you are in Sapporo, take the Limited Express Hokuto or Super Hokuto train. This train trip is long 3 hours and 40 minutes, and costs 8910 yen (non-reserved seat).

This train ticket is included in the "Japan Rail Pass".

Air

The city is served by Hakodate Airport. There are daily connections to Haneda Airport (Tokyo) by ANA and JAL airlines from 13000 yen. The flight takes about 80 minutes. The airport is then connected by the Hakodate Teisan Bus (20 minutes - 450 Yen) or by the Hakodate Bus line bus (30 minutes - 300 Yen)

How to get around Hakodate

Streetcar

The most convenient way to get around Hakodate is by streetcar, which reaches the main tourist spots.

A single ticket costs 210 to 260 yen depending on the distance traveled.

There are 2 streetcar lines, 2 and 5, which share much of the route.

A day pass can be purchased at the cost of 600 yen.

You can use IC Cards such as Pasmo, Suica, and Icoca (and all other compatible ones) to pay for a single ride.

Buses

There are buses that cover the main areas of the city. The single ride costs 210 yen.

There are 1- and 2-day passes costing 1,000 and 1,700 yen and also include buses.

You can use IC Cards such as Pasmo, Suica, and Icoca (and all other compatible ones) to pay for a single ride.

What to see in Hakodate

Hakodate is situated between two bays. From the top part of the Hakodate mountain, you can have a spectacular view of the city, especially at night.

Mount Hakodate

Mount Hakodate (Hakodateyama) is a 334-meter-high forested mountain at the southern end of the peninsula where much of downtown Hakodate is located. On clear days and in the evening, the view from the mountain is spectacular and is among the top three night views in Japan.

Goryokaku Fort

Goryokaku Fort is a star-shaped Western-style citadel that was built in the last moment of the Edo period with the purpose of defending Hakodate city against the imperialist threat posed by Western countries' powers.

A few years later, the fort became the site of a civil war between the shogunate army and the superior troops of the newly established Meiji government.

Morning market

The Hakodate Morning Market (函館 朝 市, Hakodate Asaichi) is held daily from 5:00 a.m. (6:00 a.m. during winter) to noon, a short walk from Hakodate JR Station. The market area covers about four city blocks.

Products for sale are basically various types of fresh seafood, such as crabs (kani), salmon roe (ikura), and sea urchins (uni), as well as fresh products like melons. There are many restaurants in the market area, offering fresh seafood breakfasts such as uni-ikura domburi.

Motomachi

The port of Hakodate was one of the first in Japan, to be opened to foreign trade in 1854 after Japan's era of isolation ended. As a result, many traders from Russia, China, and Western countries moved to Hakodate. Motomachi, at the foot of Hakodate Mountain, became a favorite district for new foreign residents.

There are still many "foreign-looking" buildings in the area. Among the most famous are the Russian Orthodox Church, the old British Consulate, the Chinese Memorial Hall, the former prefectural government branch building, and the old Hakodate Public Hall.

Kanemori Red Brick Department Store

The port of Hakodate was among the first Japanese ports to be opened to international trade toward the end of the Edo period (1600-1867). Several red brick warehouses survive on the waterfront in Hakodate Bay and have recently been renovated into an attractive complex of stores, restaurants, and entertainment.

In addition to a typical range of souvenir, fashion, interior, and sweet stores, the complex also features a restaurant, a brewery, a wedding chapel, and sightseeing cruises of the bay.

Yunokawa Onsen

There are several hotels and spas that offer spa spaces, but if you want, you can dip your feet in Hakodate's thermal waters for free.

Onuma "Quasi" National Park (Onuma Koen)

Called "Quasi National Park" and located just 20 km at the north of Hakodate city, Onuma Park (大沼 公園, Ōnuma Kōen) is well known for its picturesque lakes dotted with islands and the majestic volcano, Mount Komagatake.

Onuma Park can easily be visited on a day trip from Hakodate or during a stop on a trip between Hakodate and Sapporo because most of the trains that connect the two cities stop at Onuma Koen Station, the central train station.

The most beautiful area of the park lies between the two lakes Onuma (in Japanese, it means large lake) and Konuma (in Japanese language, small lake) and can be explored entirely on foot. Walking trails allow you to explore the peninsulas and lake islands, many of which are connected by small bridges, in easy 15-60 minute walks.

It is also possible to rent bicycles (500 yen/hour, 1000 yen/day). A bicycle route leads around Lake Onuma (about 10 kilometers), but it follows the main road rather than the lakeshore for most of the way. It is still a nice way to explore the area.

Also, during warmer seasons, boat tours are offered every 40 minutes, lasting about 30 minutes (1120 yen per person). Other activities to enjoy include canoeing, tennis, golf, fishing, and camping.