Star's Reviews Page 4/6

Goryokaku Tower

Goryokaku Tower, built adjacent to Goryokaku Park, offers a bird's-eye view of the Goryokaku Ruins, a special national historic site, from 90 meters above ground, and is loved by locals and tourists alike as a landmark of Hakodate.

Hakodate and Matsumae
Observatories

27 Jul 2026 See More

Goryokaku Tower offers a panoramic view of Goryokaku Park. Inside, you can also see a model of Goryokaku and learn about its history and changing fortunes. There’s also a cool statue of Toshizo Hijikata. Both the top floor and the first floor have souvenir shops. On the first floor, you can buy Hokkaido-exclusive Monchhichi items and plenty of Hakodate specialties.

Funadama Shrine

The Funadama Shrine, which stands guard over "Tomoe Port" from the foot of Mount Hakodate, is said to be the oldest shrine in Hokkaido. The shrine enshrines the god of tidal currents and the god of the sea, and is said to be beneficial to maritime navigation and road traffic. Because of the shrine's significance as a place of safety on sea routes, it is also visited by students preparing for entrance examinations and job hunting who are deciding their life paths.

Hakodate and Matsumae
Shrines & Temples

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Funadama Shrine is the oldest shrine in Hokkaido and is known for enshrining the guardian deity of seafarers. The rudder-shaped omamori is a must-buy here. It is said to offer protection not only for safe voyages and travel but also along one’s path through life. If you’re feeling uncertain about your career or where life is headed, this is a meaningful place to visit and pray.

Hachimanzaka Slope

Hachimanzaka, named after the Hakodate Hachiman Shrine that once stood at the top of the hill. The beautiful cobblestone street stretches straight out to sea, lined on both sides by neatly maintained roadside trees, and offers a view of Hakodate Bay and the Mashu Maru, the memorial to the Seikan-Hakodate Liaison Ship, both of which are moored and on display.

Hakodate and Matsumae
Tourist Attractions

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One of the filming locations featured in Detective Conan: The Million-dollar Pentagram. You can visit the iconic spot where Conan and Heiji were nearly hit by a streetcar, then stroll among historic buildings with an international flair.

From the top of Hachimanzaka Slope, the sweeping view of the harbor and cityscape is absolutely captivating. Nearby is Funadama Shrine, the oldest shrine in Hokkaido, which is also well worth a visit.

Sapporo Stellar Place

Inside JR Tower is one of Japan’s largest shopping malls, the “Sapporo Stellar Place”. With more than 200 shops, various genres are lined up including fashion, sundries, restaurants, and cafes. The mall is connected to the station, making it easy to access for tourists, and locals who stop by daily. It is Sapporo’s hottest spot.

Sapporo Station, Odori, Susukino
Commercial Buildings

27 Jul 2026 See More

You can enter Sapporo Stellar Place from the first floor of Sapporo Station. It has Center and East sections, and it’s huge, so you could easily spend a long time browsing. I’d recommend setting aside two to three hours. The Disney Store is super cute and a must-visit! You can also find Okinawa’s Shuri Soap here, and AINZ & TULPE carries lots of unique makeup products.

Sapporo Clock Tower

The Sapporo Agricultural College Demonstration Hall was once built to train leaders for the development of Hokkaido. The Sapporo Clock Tower, now a beloved landmark of Sapporo, was completed under the Chief Hokkaido Development Commissioner Kiyotaka Kuroda, who visited the city during its completion ceremony.

Sapporo Station, Odori, Susukino
Tourist Attractions

27 Jul 2026 See More

One of Sapporo’s classic landmarks. The clock chimes on the hour, matching the number of chimes to the time. You can buy a ticket to tour the inside. I didn’t have enough time to go in on this visit, but it seems well worth the admission fee.

Lucky Pierrot Bay Area Main Store

Founded in 1987, this is the very first location of a popular hamburger chain that now operates 17 stores mainly in Hakodate. In addition to classic items like hamburg steaks, they offer more than ten unique original burgers, including one filled with jingisukan (grilled mutton), showcasing a truly creative lineup.

Hakodate and Matsumae
Light Meals

22 Jul 2026 See More

The Chinese Chicken Burger is a must-try when visiting Hakodate. The unique sauce was amazing, even for someone like me who usually isn’t into Western-style sauces. One bite and I was hooked.

I also highly recommend the Hakodate-exclusive coffee milk. The fries were crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, with a great crunchy texture.

They also have special stamps inside the store. I heard each branch has a different stamp design, so it’s perfect for anyone who enjoys collecting souvenir stamps.

Mt. Hakodate Observatory

The Mt. Hakodate Observatory is the final stop of Mt. Hakodate Ropeway. The first floor features an inside lounge, the Ryoubi Park popular among locals as a less-crowded area to enjoy the night sceneries. The second floor features a summit shop, and restaurant selling Mt. Hakodate original goods. The third floor features a tea lounge, and the fourth floor features an observatory lounge.

Hakodate and Matsumae
Observatories

22 Jul 2026 See More

This is one of the locations featured in Detective Conan: The Million-dollar Pentagram, and also the spot where Heiji confesses to Kazuha.

It’s also known as one of the world’s top three night views. After dark, you can enjoy Hakodate’s unique city lights and bay scenery. The weather wasn’t ideal when I visited, so visibility was slightly affected, but it still couldn’t hide the charm of the beautiful view.

Hakodate Bugyosho

Hakodate Magistrate’s Office faithfully recreates the Edo Shognate’s security base around Japan’s northern territory. It is built at the original location in the former Goryokaku (the star-shaped fort), using as much similar skills and provisions as those in the Edo Period, such as pine beams, Bingo tatami mats or sliding doors with hand-made paper.

Hakodate and Matsumae
Tourist Attractions

22 Jul 2026 See More

This is also a must-visit spot for Conan fans. That roof is the one Kaito Kid stood on. You can buy a ticket to tour Hakodate Magistrate’s Office. There’s a shop across the way where you can buy a castle visit certificate, as well as Hijikata Toshizo merchandise and goshuin-style castle stamp books.

Rokkatei Flagship Store

Rokkatei is loved as a staple brand for Hokkaido souvenirs. They offer a wide variety of sweets, such as Marusei Butter Sandwiches, Strawberry Chocolates.

Tokachi and Obihiro
Sweets Shop & Desserts Shop

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The Rokkatei store in front of Goryokaku has seating for afternoon tea. I recommend trying their signature black tea and strawberry pie. However, seating is limited and the wait can be long, so it’s best to go early and line up.

While waiting, you can browse the store and pick out all kinds of souvenirs. The cappuccino mille-feuille is crispy and delicious—definitely worth buying. The liquor-filled candies are also a popular must-buy souvenir. Overall, it’s a cozy little place to relax, enjoy sweets, and shop.

Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse - Kanemori Yobutsukan

This shopping mall is located within Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, a popular spot in Hakodate’s Bay Area. The facility’s name traces back to the origins of the red brick warehouses and comes from Kanemori Yobutsukan, a shop opened about 160 years ago by Kumashiro Watanabe, the founder of the Kanemori warehouses, as “a place that sells dreams of foreign lands.”

Hakodate and Matsumae
Commercial Buildings

22 Jul 2026 See More

This area has more general goods, like various anime IP items and everyday lifestyle products. That said, a lot of the merchandise feels a bit repetitive. There’s the must-try Pastry Snaffle’s cheesecake, along with souvenir shops that carry Hakodate-exclusive items.