Hakodate, Esashi, Matsumae

Become immersed in history and nature

Hakodate has an exotic retro townscape that exude a refined harmony of Japan and the West where you can feel the historic romance of the end of the Edo Period. The popular night view and Yunokawa Onsen hot spring resort are also recommended.
The suburbs of Hakodate such as Mount Esan, Matsumae and Esashi offer beautiful scenery and historical sites.

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NATURE
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Hakodate Airport

Five popular spots among tourists

Fort Goryokaku
Onuma Quasi National Park
Mount Hakodate
Mount Esan
Matsumae Castle

Mount Hakodate

Despite being a small mountain 344 meters high, Mount Hakodate is renowned for its stunning panoramic view of Hakodate City, which ranks as one of the world’s top three. The summit can be accessed by a ropeway that takes about three minutes. It gets crowded with tourists in the late afternoon before the sun sets.

<Getting There>
About a 30-minute drive from Hakodate Airport
About a 7-minute drive from JR Hakodate Station
About 15 minutes by bus from JR Hakodate Station

Fort Goryokaku

The star-shaped Western-style fort was built by the Edo shogunate in the last years of the Edo Period (1603-1868) as a government office. The adjacent Goryokaku Tower offers a panoramic view of the fort from a height of about 90 meters. In spring, visitors can appreciate the beautiful scene of over 1,600 cherry trees in full bloom that turn the fort pink.

<Getting There>
About a 15-minute drive from Hakodate Airport
About a 15-minute drive from JR Hakodate Station
Take the Hakodate City Tram from JR Hakodate Station for about 17 minutes and get off at Goryokaku-Koen-mae, then walk from about 18 minutes.
Take a bus from JR Hakodate Station for about 15 minutes and get off at Goryokaku Tower bus stop, then walk for about 2 minutes.

Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse

The commercial complex consists of seven red brick warehouses built during the Meiji Period, which were originally founded as the Kanemori Youbutsuten (Western style clothes store) by Kumashiro Watanabe, a businessman from Oita Prefecture. Currently, the complex features a shopping mall with around 50 shops and restaurants.

<Getting There>
About a 25-minute drive from Hakodate Airport
About a 5-minute drive from JR Hakodate Station
Take the Hakodate City Tram from JR Hakodate Station for about 5 minutes and get off at Jujigai, then walk for about 5 minutes.
About a 15-minute walk from JR Hakodate Station

Yunokawa Onsen

Yunokawa is a hot spring resort known to be one of the top three hot spring areas in Hokkaido. Conveniently located only a 5 minutes’ drive from Hakodate Airport, the hot spring resort is often used as a base for sightseeing in Hakodate. Enjoy a soak in the relaxing bath while gazing over the Tsugaru Strait.

<Getting There>
About 5 minutes by car or shuttle bus from Hakodate Airport
About 31 minutes by the Hakodate City Tram from JR Hakodate Station
About 25 minutes by bus from JR Hakodate Station

Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward

Designated a national important cultural property as an excellent example of architecture from the Meiji Period, the Western-style colonial building is beautifully adorned in blue-gray and yellow. There is a hall where you can dress in classic costumes and tuxedos and take commemorative photos at the beautiful, historical building (for a fee).

<Getting There>
About a 40-minute drive from Hakodate Airport
About a 10-minute drive from JR Hakodate Station
Take the Hakodate City Tram from JR Hakodate Station for about 8 minutes and get off at Suehiro-cho, then walk for about 7 minutes.
About a 25-minute walk from JR Hakodate Station

Lucky Pierrot

Lucky Pierrot is a hamburger shop originated in Hakodate that has won first prize for the best local burger store in Japan. They are best known for their menu items made using fresh local ingredients, with the most popular being the Chinese Chicken Burger that contains chicken and lettuce grown in Hokkaido.

<Getting There>
Front Of Hakodate Station Shop: About 2-minute walk from JR Hakodate Station
Tokura Shop: About a 5-minute drive from Hakodate Airport
There are a total of 17 shops in southern Hokkaido.

Mount Esan

Rising to 618 meters above sea level, Mount Esan is an active volcano that still emits steam and gases. You can enjoy a 1-hour hike to the peak from the parking lot near the crater on the mountainside with an amazing sight of azaleas in bloom in early summer and the changing colors of the leaves in autumn. The view from the top of the mountain is so spectacular that you will feel completely refreshed.

<Getting There>
About a 40-minute drive from Hakodate Airport
About a 60-minute drive from JR Hakodate Station
About 110 minutes by bus from JR Hakodate Station

Onuma Quasi National Park

The national park is dotted with Mount Komagatake, which is an active volcano, as well as Onuma (big lake), Konuma (small lake) and Junsai Swamp formed by an eruption. Visitors can explore the beautiful nature, plants and animals in all four seasons while cycling or riding on a boat/sightseeing boat.

<Getting There>
About a 50-minute drive from Hakodate Airport
Take a shuttle bus for about 70 minutes from Hakodate Airport and get off at Onuma Koen-ekimae bus stop, then walk for about 13 minutes.
About a 40-minute drive from JR Hakodate Station About 70 minutes by bus from JR Hakodate Station
About a 5-minute walk from JR Onuma Koen Station

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Matsumae Castle

Constructed by Matsumae Yoshihiro, the first lord of the Matsumae Domain, Matsumae Castle is known to be the last Japanese style castle built in Japan. The current keep was rebuilt after it was burned down by a fire. The reference library inside the castle that provides a wealth of information is open to public from April through December every year.

<Getting There>
Take a bus for about 90 minutes from JR Kikonai Station and get off at Matsushiro bus stop, then walk for about 10 minutes.

Inishie Kaido Street in Esashi-cho

Esashi is a town with a historic flair which prospered from herring fishery and cypress wood through the Kitamae-bune merchant ship trade until the early Meiji Period. At the time, many commercial ships visited Esashi and the town was so busy that it coined the phrase, “Even Edo isn’t as busy as Esashi in May.” There are a number of historical and cultural heritages that still remain, giving the town a distinctive atmosphere reminiscent of an ancient town. Strolling through the 1.1 kilometer-long Inishie Kaido Street dressed in a kimono evokes a nostalgic feeling and is a popular experience among visitors.

<Getting There>
About a 2-hour drive from JR Hakodate Station
About a 55-minute drive from JR Kikonai Station
Take a bus for about 110 minutes from JR Kikonai Station and get off at Nakauta-cho bus stop, then walk for about 5 minutes.