The moment you step off the train, the air carries the scent of the sea. Hakodate is a fan-shaped port city embraced by the Tsugaru Strait and Hakodate Bay. Churches and Western-style buildings appear beyond its slopes, while the streetcar makes it easy to wander at an unhurried pace. At dusk, the view from Mt. Hakodate becomes a map of lights framed by the sea. The illuminated Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses and memories of the port’s opening turn an evening walk into a story.
In the morning, try squid sashimi or a seafood bowl at Hakodate Morning Market. By day, visit Goryokaku for its star-shaped fort and seasonal cherry blossoms or autumn colors. Later, let the hot springs of Yunokawa warm you before setting out again.
A little farther lies Onuma Quasi-National Park, with lakes, small islands, and Mt. Komagatake beyond. The scenery can keep you there until sunset. On the way back, you may already be imagining your next visit to Hakodate. Somehow, a place you have only just met can already feel familiar.
