22 Must-Visit Sightseeing Spots in Hakodate, a City Where an Exotic Port Town Atmosphere and Nature Live in Harmony

Hakodate can be enjoyed year-round, but winter is especially recommended for its snow-covered streetscape.
Be sure to take in the city’s scenery as retro spots like the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse and the Churches are gently blanketed in snow.

Hakodate has Hakodate Airport, so you can get there in Approx. 1.5 hours from Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, which also have airports.
With international flights as well, it is also easy to access from overseas.

Goryokaku is a Western-style fortress built in 1866.
Until it was taken over by the new Meiji government, it served as the political center of Ezochi.
Later, in 1914, it was opened to the public as Goryokaku Park, and it came to attract visitors as both a tourist destination and a Special Historic Site of Japan.

Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse is a landmark in Hakodate’s bay area made up of seven warehouses.
With rows of red brick buildings and a romantic atmosphere, it’s easy to see why this charming spot is so popular not only with locals and tourists, but also with couples.

Hachimanzaka Slope was named after the former Hakodate Hachimangu Shrine that once stood at the top of the hill. This beautiful stone-paved road stretches straight toward the sea, lined with neatly maintained trees on both sides, and offers a view of Hakodate Bay and the moored and preserved Seikan Ferry Memorial Ship Mashu-maru at the same time.

Built next to Goryokaku Park, Goryokaku Tower offers a bird’s-eye view of the Goryokaku Ruins, a nationally designated Special Historic Site, from a height of 295 feet above the ground, and is loved by both locals and tourists as one of Hakodate’s landmarks.
Its 360° panorama is a special draw, looking out over the seasonal scenery of Goryokaku Park, including cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, fresh greenery, and snowy landscapes, as well as famous sights such as Mount Hakodate, the Tsugaru Strait, and Hakodate Bay.

Mount Hakodate Ropeway features a large gondola, built using both Japanese and international technology, with a capacity of 125 passengers.
Connecting the foot and summit of Mount Hakodate, it reaches the top in Approx. 3 minutes at a speed of 23 feet per second.
The current gondola is the fifth generation. While the first one could carry only 30 passengers, improvements over time have made it possible to accommodate much larger groups.

At the foot of Mount Hakodate, this park offers stunning views right out over Hakodate Port.
Its history dates back to 1982, and the grounds are dotted with cultural properties such as the Former Hokkaido Government Hakodate Branch Office, the Former Kaitakushi Hakodate Branch Office Book Repository, and the Former Hakodate Ward Public Hall, which is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
This is also a historic site said to be the origin of the name Hakodate, which came from the box-shaped mansion built near the park by Tsugaru clan leader Masamichi Kono and known as “Hakodate.”

The Former Hakodate Ward Public Hall is a Western-style building constructed in 1910.
Its colonial-style design is defined by a symmetrical front facade, decorative gables on both sides, and supporting round columns.
The striking contrast between vivid yellow and calm light blue gives the exterior an elegant and refined appearance.

The former British Consulate was first built in 1859, when Hakodate opened as an international trading port.
After being damaged by fire and rebuilt several times, the current building, completed in 1913, is now open to the public as the Port Opening Memorial Hall.
In 2009, marking the 150th anniversary of the port’s opening, the exhibits were completely renewed, and it has since become a symbol of Hakodate as a port city.

Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden is home to Approx. 300 species and 3,000 tropical trees and flowers. Tropical plants are grown in the greenhouse, where you can admire tropical fruits such as bananas, flowering trees, and cacti, and see aquatic creatures such as piranhas and tropical fish.
It stays warm year-round regardless of Hokkaido’s climate, so it’s also recommended for those who don’t do well in the cold.

Onuma Quasi-National Park was designated in July 1958 as the 13th quasi-national park in Japan and the only one in southern Hokkaido.
Located in the central part of the Oshima Peninsula, Approx. 20 minutes by car from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station on the Hokkaido Shinkansen, the park covers a wide area of lush greenery surrounding the active volcano Mt. Komagatake and many lakes and marshes formed by eruptions, including Onuma, Konuma, and Junsainuma.

Yunokawa Onsen, visited by 1.35 million people each year, is one of Hokkaido’s three major hot spring areas.
It is said to have originated in 1653, when hot spring therapy completely cured a serious illness suffered by Takahiro, the ninth lord of the Matsumae Domain.
It is also said that during the Battle of Hakodate, Takeaki Enomoto of the former shogunate forces bathed here for hot spring therapy, and many people still visit in search of its reputed healing effects.

Motomachi Catholic Church was rebuilt in 1910 on the site of a building originally constructed when French missionary Mermet de Cachon arrived in Hakodate in 1859. Built in the 12th-century Gothic architectural style, it is known for its pointed roof and large bell tower rising 33 m high. Along with the Catholic churches built in Yokohama and Nagasaki, it has one of the longest histories in Japan.

Mt. Hakodate Observatory is located at the final stop of the Mt. Hakodate Ropeway. On the 1st floor are an indoor lounge and Isaribi Park, a hidden night view spot also popular with locals. The 2nd floor has the summit shop selling original Mt. Hakodate goods, along with a restaurant. The 3rd floor features a tea lounge, and the 4th floor opens onto an observation lounge.

The bay area is one of Hakodate’s most popular sightseeing districts. Located in one corner of it, Hakodate Meijikan is a shopping complex filled with stores offering perfect Hakodate souvenirs.
The striking building, with its stately red-brick exterior and ivy stretching across the walls, is a reuse of the former Hakodate Post Office building, originally built in 1911.

Yukura Shrine is located in Yunokawa, a hot spring area in Hakodate, Hokkaido. It is said to have many legends of people recovering from serious illnesses through hot spring therapy, and is especially known for blessings related to hot springs and medicine. The shrine is believed to grant blessings for health and longevity, marital harmony, and safe childbirth, and is also worshipped as a deity of abundant harvests, business prosperity, matchmaking, and child-rearing.

Standing out with striking beauty in the middle of a residential neighborhood, Hakodate Orthodox Church belongs to the Japanese Orthodox Church, which traces its roots to the Russian Orthodox tradition.
The crosses lined up on the roof and upper part of the building are not standard crosses, but Russian crosses with a total of three crossbars, two horizontal and one diagonal. Beneath them are cupolas (domes), a distinctive decorative feature seen in Orthodox church architecture. With its arched windows and hemispherical roofs, the church is full of the charm of Eastern Orthodox architecture. Some areas allow photography, so be sure to capture its beautiful appearance.

Funadama Shrine, said to be the oldest shrine in Hokkaido, stands at the foot of Mount Hakodate as if watching over Tomoe Port. It enshrines deities of the tides and the sea, and is believed to bring blessings for sea routes and road safety. Because of its association with safe journeys by sea, students preparing for entrance exams or job hunting also come here to pray for guidance in life.

Takuboku Park is located on Omorihama Beach in Hakodate City, where you can enjoy views of the sea and Mount Hakodate. Though small, it is a scenic spot for watching the sunset and fishing lights, and a beautiful park where rugosa roses bloom in abundance.
The park is named after Ishikawa Takuboku, a poet who represents modern Japanese literature. When he left his hometown and lived in Hakodate, Omorihama was one of his favorite places to walk, and he also wrote poems about its sandy beach and rugosa roses.

Tachimachi Cape juts out to the southeast of Mount Hakodate and faces the Tsugaru Strait. Surrounded by the sea, its dramatic cliffs rise Approx. 30 meters above sea level, creating a powerful landscape well worth seeing. On clear days, you may even be able to see the Shimokita Peninsula across the strait, and the site also offers a sweeping view of Hakodate’s cityscape.

Located in one corner of spacious Hakodate Park Children's Land is a small amusement park with a long history dating back to 1956. It features classic rides such as airplanes, a Ferris wheel, a merry-go-round, and a haunted house, all available for 300 yen per ride. It’s a great place to enjoy a retro atmosphere or spend a relaxing time with small children and family.

Hakodate Station renovated its commercial zone in 2016 alongside the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen.
On the first floor, Hokkaido Shikisaikan JR Hakodate Store offers local specialties and famous products. The second floor has restaurants and an observation deck called Rotonda Deck, where you can take photos of trains arriving at and departing from the platforms.

Since opening as a port in 1859, Hakodate Port has been at the center of Hakodate’s development. It was one of the first ports in Japan to open to international trade, and it has also greatly contributed to Hakodate’s growth as a tourist city.
With its deep bay, the dramatic scenery of Mount Hakodate, and a streetscape filled with 19th-century charm and an exotic atmosphere, it’s photogenic from every angle!

Lucky Pierrot’s hamburgers are popular menu items that have even won first place among local specialty burgers across Japan.
The most popular item is the Chinese Chicken Burger.
At 14 cm tall and 11 cm wide, it is generously sized. This exquisite burger combines fried chicken and a hamburger, inspired by a chicken dish that the founder’s mother once served to guests as hospitality.
The best way to enjoy it is to take a big, hearty bite.

Sabo Kyuchayatei preserves and restores a late Meiji-era seafood merchant’s shop and residence, designated as a traditional building. It also recreates a Taisho Roman-style salon said to have been a relaxing stop for foreign visitors of the time.

At Kikuyo Shokudo, the biggest point of pride is its rice, cooked in a charcoal-fired steaming kamado stove.
The menu centers on seafood rice bowls, with set meals, sashimi, grilled dishes, and more.
The most popular seafood bowl is the "Original Hakodate Tomoe-don."
Topped generously with fresh local sea urchin, salmon roe, and scallops, this signature dish is as beautiful to look at as it is delicious to eat.

Hakodate Morning Market is a huge market covering Approx. 10,000 tsubo.
About 250 shops, including Approx. 150 stores belonging to the association and another 100 stores, sell Hokkaido ingredients and serve food.

This shopping center is appealing for its compact collection of modern and stylish stores.
The basement floor is MUJI’s “food specialty floor,” offering not only frozen foods and retort-pouch meals from the MUJI brand, but also independent sections featuring distinctive products from the Hakodate area and across Hokkaido, making it a perfect place to shop for souvenirs from your Hokkaido trip.

HAKOVIVA is a multi-use commercial complex that opened in front of JR Hakodate Station in 2019.
In addition to the signature Hakodate Ekimae Yokocho, it brings together a gym, convenience store, restaurants, and more.
At the entrance are a large gate and lanterns bearing the character “Makoto,” associated with Toshizo Hijikata, a historical figure connected to Hakodate, and the site is also expected to become a new meeting spot.

La Vista Hakodate Bay is a hotel in the cosmopolitan city of Hakodate, designed with the romantic spirit of the Taisho era in mind.
From the interior spaces to the guest rooms, the hotel features classical decor, creating an elegant and tranquil atmosphere that suits Hakodate perfectly.
The open-air bath on the top floor offers a panoramic view of Hakodate’s famous nightscape! You can soak at your leisure while gazing out over the beautiful lights of the city.

This hot spring resort is located in Yunokawa Onsen, one of Hokkaido’s three major hot spring areas. On the rooftop floor, an infinity open-air bath looks out over the Tsugaru Strait and the sky as one, creating a refreshing sense of openness as the water seems to blend into the sea. At night, the moon over the Tsugaru Strait and the lights of fishing boats, which inspired the hotel’s name, Umi to Akari, spread out before you. Enjoying moon viewing with local Hakodate sake is another special pleasure found only here.

This city hotel has 435 guest rooms and features one of the largest banquet halls in the Hakodate area, along with three restaurants and a modern tea lounge. It offers a wide variety of room types, including the Standard Queen, where one or two guests can relax with a 160 cm-wide queen-size bed; the Deluxe Family Room, which can accommodate up to four guests; and the Imperial Suite, featuring elegant interiors and beds in a spacious 120-square-meter setting.