5 Spots You Shouldn't Miss in Hakodate
Hakodate Morning Market, within walking distance from Hakodate Station, it boasts approximately 250 shops selling or serving fresh seafood, agricultural products, and processed goods from the nearby Hakodate Fishing Port.
HAKODATE MORNING MARKET -The Hakodate Morning Market is located just a minute on foot away from the Hakodate cruise port. The market area spans about four city blocks.
The market opens early in the morning, so you should first try a unique market experience called “squid fishing” at the Live Squid Fishing Pond in Ekini Market. You’ll get to fish for squid using a special fishing rod. Afterward, your catch will be sliced into sashimi for you to devour fresh. Other products on sale include various types of fresh seafood, such as crabs (kani), salmon eggs (ikura) and sea urchin (uni), as well as fresh produce such as melons. Many restaurants can be found in the market area, offering fresh seafood breakfasts, such as uni-ikura domburi.
If you would like to enjoy more of Hakodate’s cuisine, visit the Donburi Yokocho Alley near the Ekini Market. There are about 20 shops along this alley, from eateries that offer seafood rice and ramen dishes to souvenir shops. After munching your way through Hakodate’s famous morning market, you’ll leave with a deeper knowledge of the Japanese cuisine!
For a bird's view of the huge fortress, access the observation deck of the nearby Goryokaku Tower. The 107 meter tall tower replaced its 60 meter tall predecessor in 2006.
GORYOKAKU TOWER - The observation deck commands a splendid view of the beautiful star-shaped Goryokaku Castle.
The first Goryokaku Tower (60 meters in height) was built in December 1964 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Goryokaku. Although the former tower was a popular attraction among the citizens and tourists for 41 years, it was demolished in June 2006 after entrusting its mission to the new tower.
The new tower (second generation) opened on April 1, 2006, stands 107 meters tall (including the height of lightning rod). From the observation deck, you can see Mount Hakodate, the Tsugaru Straits, and the Yokotsu Mountain Range, as well as a superb view of the star-shaped moat shining on the grounds of the national historic site Goryokaku. The observation deck has the Goryokaku Historic Corridor with exhibitions for learning about the history of Goryokaku, the See-Through Floor, which is made of clear hardened glass to look down through the glass floor, gift shop, cafe stand, and more.
The new tower itself is designed to express the special features of Goryokaku. The observation deck has a pentagon shape, and even the tower body is star-shaped in section to thoroughly feature the shape of the star fort.
The Origin of the Star-Shaped Castle -Star-shaped castles were invented around the 16th century in Europe. Many fortified cities, where the entire city is surrounded by castle walls, were built. When guns and cannons were developed, the structure of castles also improved. In this way, star-shaped castles were born. European countries built such castles around the world when expanding into other countries. Goryokaku of Hakodate was built by the Japanese who studied techniques from Europe.
Admission prices General Admission Group (30 or more) People with Disabilities
Adults 1,000 yen 900 yen 500 yen
Business Hours (Open seven days a week)
9:00 - 18:00 (Observation ticket sales end at 5:50 pm)
Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse is a group of old warehouses near Hakodate Port. There are several warehouses along the harbour that look nice.
RED BRICK WAREHOUSES - Atmospheric shopping complex in the bay area.
Alight at Jujigai Station on the tram to arrive in the Bay Area, home to signature sightseeing spots lined with warehouses along Hakodate Port. The Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse on the quay is a representative symbol of the town that makes you feel its retro ambiance.
The building was used as an actual warehouse long ago. Now, it has been converted into a commercial complex with restaurants, souvenir shops, and more. SNAFFLE’S is a Western confectionery shop that is especially popular here. Besides a typical range of trendy souvenir, fashion, interior and sweets shops, the complex also features a restaurant, a beer hall, a chapel for weddings and sightseeing cruises of the bay.
The Hakodate Christmas Fantasy is a large winter event held in front of the warehouse. The area is always lively, with hundreds of visitors year-round.
Getting there and around
The red brick warehouses are a 15-20 minute walk from Hakodate Station or a five minute walk from the Jujigai tram stop (5 minutes, 210 yen from Hakodate Station).
Hakodate Russian Orthodox Church.
MOTOMACHI AREA -The Motomachi area is located at the foot of Mt. Hakodate in front of the Bay Area. It is an alluring spot with hilly streets and cobblestone roads. It is a sightseeing destination where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery overlooking the ocean and city from the hilltops.
The harbor of Hakodate was one of the first to be opened to foreign trade in 1854 when Japan's era of isolation was coming to an end. As a result, many traders from Russia, China and Western countries moved to Hakodate. Motomachi, at the foot of Mount Hakodate, became a district favored among the new foreign residents.
Many foreign-looking buildings remain in the area today. Among the most famous are the Russian Orthodox Church, the Old British Consulate, the Chinese Memorial Hall, the prefectural government's former branch office building and the old Hakodate Public Hall.
How To Get There And Around
The Motomachi district is situated at the foot of Mount Hakodate and is easily accessed from Hakodate Station in a 5 minute tram ride or 20-30 minute walk.
Motomachi is a historic district in Hakodate, Japan, known for its cobblestone streets, Western-influenced architecture, and views of Hakodate Bay.
THE CITY VIEW FROM HAKODATE - Mt. Hakodate is a 334-meter-tall peak overlooking Hakodate that is famous for its spectacular views of the city and the bay. It offers one of Japan’s three best night views, along with Mt. Rokko in Kobe and Mt. Inasa in Nagasaki City. When the weather is clear, seeing the city lights of Hakodate with the ocean on either side can be an unforgettable experience.
It’s very straightforward to get to Mt. Hakodate from Hakodate Station. While it’s possible to walk or take a bus or taxi all the way to the top of the mountain, most visitors use the Mt. Hakodate Ropeway, a gondola that whisks passengers up to the Mt. Hakodate Observation Deck in 3 minutes.
The main way to go sightseeing on Mount Hakodate is by using the ropeway. It takes only 3 minutes from the Sanroku Station to the summit station.
How to get from Hakodate Station to Mt. Hakodate. Please feel free to use these as guidelines.
Bus
Take the Mt. Hakodate Climbing Bus Route 1 directly to the summit. (*Bus does not operate during the winter).
Leaving from No. 4 bus stop at Hakodate Station, the No. 1 bus goes to the Mt. Hakodate Observation Deck in about 30 minutes. There is a Mt. Hakodate Ropeway Shuttle linking Hakodate Station with the gondola base station. It operates daily from April 1 to October 31 beginning at 17.55.
Hakodate Bus and Hokuto Kotsu operate coach services from Yunokawa Onsen and Hakodate Station to the summit of Mt. Hakodate. Depending on the operator, the coaches run in late afternoons and evenings from April to September or October. Reservations are required. For details, consult the Hakodate Tourist Information Center.
Take the Hakodate Ropeway Shuttle Bus (Line 2), alight at the base station, and take the ropeway to the summit.
Hakodate City Tram
From Hakodate-Ekimae tram stop near Hakodate Station, get on either a Route 2 or Route 5 tram going toward Yachigashira or Hakodate-Dokkumae. After about 5 minutes, get off at Jujigai (D/Y 20) and walk uphill, about 7 minutes, to the Mt. Hakodate Ropeway terminal.
Take the tram and alight at the Jujigai stop. Walk to the base station on foot for ten minutes. From there, take the ropeway to the summit. (*The route from Jujigai tram stop to the base station is steep, so please be careful.)
One fun feature about riding the ropeway is admiring the far-off cityscape and viewing Mt. Hakodate through the glass windows.
Walking
Walking from Hakodate Station to the Mt. Hakodate Ropeway will take about 25 minutes. It’s an easy, 2-kilometer walk along the main street running between Hakodate Station Crossing to Jujigai Crossing followed by a short climb to the ropeway base station.
If you are fit and up for a moderate climb, it takes about 1 hour, 20 minutes to walk from Hakodate Station to the Mt. Hakodate Observation Deck along Route 675, which goes up the mountain. Note that Route 675 is closed to foot and vehicular traffic from early November to the middle of April.
It’s also possible to climb the mountain via the Tsutsujiyama hiking course. It takes about an hour from the Hakodate Information Center near the Mt. Hakodate Ropeway base station to the Mt. Hakodate Observation Deck. Proper footwear and a jacket to protect against cold weather or insects are recommended. Be sure to get detailed information about the hike from the Hakodate Tourist Information Center.
Taxi
If you have a group of three or four people, taxi can be relatively inexpensive. It takes about 20 minutes to get from Hakodate Station to the Mt. Hakodate Observation Deck by taxi. However, unless you arrange to have the taxi wait for you while you take in the view, you won’t be able to find another taxi at the top for your return trip. Return fares with a 30-minute wait at the top of the mountain vary from 8,000 yen to 16,000 yen. The road up the mountain is closed from early November to the middle of April.