Hakodate Hakodate

Destination Info

View from Mt. Hakodate

View from Mt. Hakodate

Hakodate’s iconic scenic spot. Michelin Green Guide Japan, which introduces the attractions of various regions of Japan, has awarded it a three-star rating, meaning “worth the bother of a trip.” Beauty is not limited to the night view; the early morning hours when dawn breaks or a sunny afternoon view of the vast and spectacular panorama is also beautiful. Such beauty that can only be encountered at that moment will move your heart.

Streets Filled with a Foreign Atmosphere

Streets Filled with a Foreign Atmosphere

Hakodate opened its port at the end of the Edo period (1603–1868), when cultures and customs from other countries were introduced to create a cityscape different in nature from other cities in Japan. The western district at the foot of Mt. Hakodate is dotted with historic buildings, such as the Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward and Catholic Motomachi Church, creating an atmosphere of a foreign culture with its many remaining Japanese-Western style houses.

Fresh Seafood

Fresh Seafood

Hakodate is surrounded by the sea on three sides and is blessed with excellent fishing grounds where warm currents from the Sea of Japan and cold currents from the Pacific Ocean meet. Freshly caught squid, fatty tuna, Atka mackerel, and other tasty inshore seafood are all on the menu. The Hakodate Morning Market in front of the JR station is lined with stores and restaurants where you can enjoy fresh seafood. The Bay Area and Motomachi are home to many atmospheric restaurants housed in red brick warehouses and retro private dwellings.

Destination Event Information

Hakodate

Matsumae Cherry Blossom Festival, Late April to Early May

【Spring】
Matsumae Cherry Blossom Festival, Late April to Early May

Matsumae Park in Matsumae Town, an approximate two-hour drive from Hakodate, has roughly 10,000 cherry trees of 250 varieties. The contrast between the white walls of Matsumae Castle and the cherry blossoms is not only spectacular, but also popular among history buffs, and has been selected as one of the 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan.

Hakodate Goryokaku Festival, Mid-May

【Spring】
Hakodate Goryokaku Festival, Mid-May

This event commemorates the history of Goryokaku, the site of the final battle of the Boshin War before and after the Meiji Restoration. On the first day, a ceremony is held in front of the monument and the Hijikata Toshizo Contest takes place. On the second day, the Restoration Procession and Castle Opening Ceremony can be observed.

Hakodate Port Festival, Early August

【Summer】
Hakodate Port Festival, Early August

Hakodate’s major summer event. It includes a powerful fireworks display above the harbor and the Wasshoi Hakodate parade.

Ubagami Daijingu Togyo Festival, Early August

【Summer】
Ubagami Daijingu Togyo Festival, Early August

This festival in Esashi Town, about an hour and a half drive from Hakodate, has a history of longer than 370 years. The sight of gorgeous floats parading through the town late into the night is spectacular.

Hakodate MOMI-G Festa, Late October to Early November

【Fall】
Hakodate MOMI-G Festa, Late October to Early November

The MOMI-G Festa is held at Kosetsuen (in Miharashi Park), Hokkaido’s only nationally designated cultural garden and one of the best places in Hakodate to view the autumn leaves, just in time for the peak of the autumn foliage season. At night, the maple and other trees are illuminated to create a wondrous view.

Hakodate Illumination, December to March

【Winter】
Hakodate Illumination, December to March

This is the main event of the Hakodate Winter Festival. Hachimanzaka Slope and Nijukkenzaka Slope at the foot of Mt. Hakodate and Kaiko-dori Street in front of Hakodate Meijikan are beautifully decorated with illumination. The city becomes a corridor of light.