Hakodate, Japan

Hakodate Travel Guide

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City

Facts and practical information

Local name: 函館市 Population: 256.2 thous. (2019)Area: 261.78 mi²Elevation: 7 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 41°46'19"N, 140°43'26"E
Location

HokkaidoJapan

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Hakodate Top Attractions

Hakodate Attractions - What to See and Explore

Hakodate offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Hakodate Museum of Art, Hakodate Park, Former British Consulate, Mount Hakodate. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

  • hakodate museum of art
    Museum • Art museum

    Hakodate Museum of Art

    Nestled in the charming city of Hakodate, Japan, the Hakodate Museum of Art stands as a cultural beacon, inviting visitors to explore its rich collection of artwork. This museum, though perhaps not as towering as the famous monuments of larger cities, offers a window...

  • hakodate park
    Park

    Hakodate Park

    Nestled in the charming city of Hakodate at the southern tip of Hokkaido, Japan, Hakodate Park offers a tranquil escape for tourists and locals alike. Established in 1879, this historic park is one of the oldest public parks in the country and has become an integral...

  • former british consulate hakodate
    Museum • Specialty museum

    Former British Consulate

    Nestled within the charming port city of Hakodate on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, the Former British Consulate offers visitors a unique glimpse into the city's international history. This elegant building, now repurposed as a museum, stands as a testament...

  • mount hakodate
    Natural attraction • Mountain • Park

    Mount Hakodate

    Mount Hakodate is a mountain in Hakodate, Hokkaidō, Japan. The mountain is renowned for its view of the surrounding bay and city.

  • chiyogadai park athletic studium hakodate
    Arenas and stadiums • Sport venue • Sport

    Chiyogadai Park Athletic Studium

    Chiyogadai Park Athletic Studium is a multi-use stadium in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan. It holds 15,000 people. It is mostly used for track and field competitions as well as football games.

  • hakodate city museum of literature
    Museum

    Hakodate City Museum of Literature

    The Hakodate City Museum of Literature opened in Hakodate, Hokkaidō, Japan in 1993. It exhibits materials relating to Ishikawa Takuboku and other contributors to the Hakodate literary scene.

  • shinoridate hakodate
    Archaeological site

    Shinoridate

    The site of Shinoridate in Hakodate, Hokkaidō, Japan, is that once occupied by the Shinori Fort or Fortified Residence. This was the easternmost of the so-called "Twelve Garrisons of Southern Hokkaido", built on the Oshima Peninsula by the Wajin from the fourteenth century.

  • goryokaku hakodate
    Park in a star-shaped 1860s fort

    Goryōkaku

    Goryōkaku is a star fort in the Japanese city of Hakodate on the island of Hokkaido. The fortress was completed in 1866. It was the main fortress of the short-lived Republic of Ezo.

  • hakodate city museum
    Museum

    Hakodate City Museum

    Hakodate City Museum is a museum of history and natural history in Hakodate Park, Hakodate, Hokkaidō, Japan. The forerunner of the current museum, the Hakodate Provisional Museum, building one, opened in May 1879, the second building in 1884, and the third building in 1891.

  • hakodate city central library
    Library

    Hakodate City Central Library

    Hakodate City Central Library is a public library in Hakodate, Hokkaidō, Japan. The library is known in particular for its important collection of northern materials and for its Takuboku Library.

  • yunokawa onsen hakodate
    Hot springs

    Yunokawa Onsen

    The Yunokawa Onsen is a well known onsen in Japan on the northern island of Hokkaidō. It is located on the outskirts of Hakodate city close to Hakodate Airport.

  • hakodate museum of northern peoples
    Museum • History museum • Art gallery

    Hakodate Museum of Northern Peoples

    Hakodate City Museum of Northern Peoples first opened as the Hakodate City Museum of Northern Peoples and Ishikawa Takuboku in Hakodate, Hokkaidō, Japan in 1989.

  • mount hakodate ropeway
    Aerial tramway

    Mount Hakodate Ropeway

    The Mt. Hakodate Ropeway is the name of an aerial lift, as well as its operator. The line climbs Mount Hakodate in Hakodate, Japan. As of 2004, this is the most heavily used aerial lift line in Japan, transporting 1,559,000 riders yearly. The aerial tramway was prominently featured in Noein, a 2005 anime.

  • museum ship mashu maru of hakodate
    41°46'23"N • 140°43'19"E

    Museum Ship Mashu Maru of Hakodate

    Museum

  • shiryokaku hakodate
    Forts and castles

    Shiryōkaku

    Shiryōkaku is a fort in the city of Hakodate in southern Hokkaidō, Japan. It was constructed in April 1869, during the Battle of Hakodate, three kilometres to the northeast of Goryōkaku by two hundred soldiers of the former Tokugawa shogunate and a hundred local villagers, likely under the direction of Ōtori Keisuke.

  • benten daiba hakodate
    Historical place • Forts and castles • Monuments and statues

    Benten Daiba

    Benten Daiba was a key fortress of the Republic of Ezo in 1868–1869. It was located at the entrance of the bay of Hakodate, in the northern island of Hokkaidō, Japan.

  • hakodate hachiman shrine
    Sacred and religious sites • Temple

    Hakodate Hachiman Shrine

    Hakodate Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Hakodate, Hokkaido. It is a Hachiman shrine, dedicated to the kami Hachiman. It was established in 1445. Its main festival is held annually on August 15. Kami enshrined here include Emperor Ōjin as Hondawake no mikoto, Sumiyoshi no Okami, and Kotohira no Okami.

  • goryokaku tower hakodate
    41°47'41"N • 140°45'14"E

    Goryōkaku Tower

    Goryokaku Tower is an observation tower adjacent to Goryokaku, a special historic site in Hakodate, Hokkaido. It is a private tourist facility operated by Goryokaku Tower Co.

  • otani hongan ji hakodate betsu in
    Temple

    Ōtani Hongan-ji Hakodate Betsu-in

    Ōtani Hongan-ji Hakodate Betsu-in is a branch temple of Higashi Hongan-ji in Hakodate, Hokkaidō, Japan. Rebuilt after a fire in 1907, it is the first temple in Japan built with reinforced concrete. The Hondō, Shōrō, and Shōmon have all been designated Important Cultural Properties.

Things to See and Do in Hakodate by Category

Sights, interesting and unusual places and attractions valued by most tourists. See the list of places to visit in Hakodate.

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Other categories

Museum
Day trips

Hakodate – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Hakodate, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Hokkaido Koma-ga-take (Onuma Quasi-National Park), Shiriyazaki Lighthouse (Shimokita Hantō Quasi-National Park), Matsumae Castle (Matsumae).

  • hokkaido koma ga take onuma quasi national park20 milesN
    Natural attraction, Volcano

    Hokkaido Koma-ga-take, Onuma Quasi-National Park

    Hokkaidō Koma-ga-take, also Oshima Koma-ga-take, Oshima Fuji, or just Koma-ga-take is a 1,131 metres andesitic stratovolcano on the border between Mori, Shikabe, and Nanae, all within the Oshima Subprefecture of Hokkaidō, Japan.

  • shiriyazaki lighthouse shimokita hanto quasi national park45 milesSE
    Lighthouse, Vernacular architecture

    Shiriyazaki Lighthouse, Shimokita Hantō Quasi-National Park

    Shiriyazaki Lighthouse is a lighthouse located on the outermost extremity of Cape Shiriyazaki, the northeasternmost point of Honshu, in Higashidōri, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It received protection as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2017.

  • matsumae castle40 milesSW
    Historical place, Forts and castles

    Matsumae Castle, Matsumae

    Matsumae Castle is a castle located in Matsumae in Hokkaidō, Japan, and is the northernmost castle in Japan. The only traditional style Edo period castle in Hokkaidō, it was the chief residence of the han of the Matsumae clan.

  • mount e23 milesE
    Nature, Natural attraction, Volcano

    Mount E

    Mount E is an active stratovolcano of the Kameda peninsula, which is itself part of the larger Oshima Peninsula. It is located in the rural, eastern region of Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan. Mount E is part of Esan Prefectural Natural Park.

  • esashi town historical museum31 milesW
    Museum

    Esashi Town Historical Museum, Esashi

    Esashi Town Historical Museum opened in Esashi, Hokkaidō, Japan in 2007. Dedicated to the nature, history, and way of life of Esashi, exhibits include Jōmon and Zoku-Jōmon artefacts, objects from the Satsumon culture, goods brought by the kitamaebune, and materials relating to the Battle of Hakodate.

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Best Time To Visit Hakodate

Learn when is the best time to travel to Hakodate weather-wise and what to expect in each season.

Popularity among visitors

JFMAMJJASOND

May is the most popular and therefore the most crowded month to visit this location. Many people also choose to visit in July and August.

Average temperatures in °F

JFMAMJJASOND

The highest air temperature is in July and August. While the coldest is in January and February.

Monthly rainfall in inches

JFMAMJJASOND

The lowest rainfall is recorded in February and March. Most of it rains in August and September.

Length of day in hours

JFMAMJJASOND

We can expect the longest days in June, while the shortest in December.

Sunrise

Best Ways to Experience the City

cuisine

Food & drink

Cuisine

A guide to some of the best local dishes and drinks that you will meet in the region.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the top attractions to visit in Hakodate?

The top attractions to visit in Hakodate are:

What is the best time to visit Hakodate?

May is the most popular and therefore the most crowded month to visit this location. Many people also choose to visit in July and August. The highest air temperature is in July and August. While the coldest is in January and February.

Where to next? Visit hokkaido Hokkaido region page or discover the top tourist attractions in Japan.

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