Märchen Hill (Hokkaido) | Review by 楊雅雯

Former British Consulate of Hakodate

The Former British Consulate was established when Hakodate port opened as an international port in 1859. Following several fires and rebuildings, the current building completed in 1913 opens to the public as the Opening-Port Memorial Hall.

• Hakodate and Matsumae
• Museums

It's about a 1-minute walk from Motomachi Park, on the right side of Motoi-zaka Slope heading toward Hakodate Port. This consulate experienced two fires and was later rebuilt during the Showa era. It is now a Tangible Cultural Property of Hakodate City.
I originally expected the consulate to feel like a very formal government building, but up close, it actually looked more like a large European-style estate. There are double gates at the front, and a simple landscaped garden in the courtyard, giving the whole place a distinctive look. What caught my attention most was the roof. It uses traditional Japanese roof tiles paired with a blue-and-white color scheme, which unexpectedly gives it a Mediterranean feel and makes it very different from the typical image of an old Japanese building.
We stopped here briefly to take some photos, then continued walking toward the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse〜As you stroll through Hakodate's Motomachi area, every building has its own character, making it a nice place to explore and take photos along the way.

Goryokaku Park

Goryokaku, a Western-style fortress, was built in 1866 and served as the political capital of Hokkaido until the new Meiji government took over. It later became a popular tourist attraction after it was opened to the public as "Goryokaku Park" in 1914 and was designated as a national special historic site.

• Hakodate and Matsumae
• Parks & Gardens

Goryokaku was once an important political and military stronghold, but today it is a well-known cherry blossom viewing spot in Hakodate. The most distinctive feature is that, from above, you can see the entire five-pointed star-shaped fort, which is truly unique. Cherry trees are planted all around the fort. Just imagine the entire Goryokaku surrounded by a sea of pink blossoms when they are in full bloom—it must be incredibly beautiful!
There were no cherry blossoms during this visit, but the star-shaped fort alone was still very distinctive. If you're in Hakodate during cherry blossom season, this place is definitely worth adding to your itinerary.
There is an additional fee to visit the indoor observation facility, but from up high, you can get a clearer view of Goryokaku's complete star shape.

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

The night view from Mt. Hakodate really lives up to its reputation. It was so beautiful that I didn't want to leave! Looking down from the observatory, the lights of Hakodate stretch along both sides of the bay, with the water and city forming a beautiful curve. No wonder it's called the “million-dollar night view.”
We were very lucky to have such great weather that day, and the view was incredibly beautiful. If you visit Hokkaido, I really recommend making time to see the night view from Mt. Hakodate. It has a different charm during the day, at dusk, and at night, and the night view is definitely not to be missed!