| Population | 239,813 |
| Size | 677.9 km² |
| Founded | 1454 |
| Contact | https://www.city.hakodate.hokkaido.jp/ |
| Location / Getting There | Hakodate is located in southern Hokkaido. From Sapporo ~ By train it takes 3 hours 51 minutes and runs every 2 hours (¥8000 - ¥12000). By bus it takes 5 hours 30 minutes and runs hourly. (¥5000 - ¥9000). By car it takes 3 hours 40 minutes via highway (¥5000). Or it can take 5 to 8 hours using the back roads for free. By plane from New Chitose Airport it is a 30 minute flight. (¥11,000 to ¥49,000) More detailed information at bottom of article. |
Hakodate (like other parts of around Hokkaido) was originally populated by the Ainu and is the third largest city in Hakodate behind Sapporo and Asahikawa. The name “Hakodate” may have originated from an Ainu word, “hak-casi” (“shallow fort”). Hakodate was founded in 1454, when Kono Kaganokami Masamichi constructed a large manor house in the fishing village of Usukeshi, the word for bay in Ainu. The city has a lot of history and is probably most famous for the arrival of U.S ships under Matthew C. Perry, and also the Battle of Hakodate in the Boshin War. This battle was fought between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Imperial Government. Hakodate is a coastal city and sub prefecture. The city is most famous for Mt. Hakodate which offers beautiful night views. The city is also famous for seafood, sushi and salt ramen.
Sightseeing
Cape Tachimachi First Landing in Hakodate Gagyusanmyoshin Temple Girl in Red Shoes Goryokaku Park Grave of Ishikawa Takuboku Hakodate Gokoku Shrine Hakodate Green Plaza Hakodate Park Hekketsu-hi Monument Ika Square & Seaport Park Kankanji Mt. Hakodate Museum Ship Mashu Maru Ochinpo Shrine Saijioji Sakamoto Ryoma Museum Sumiyoshi Shrine Takadaya Kahei & Historical Monument
Food
Gotoken Gram Bay Area Hakodate Yumin Menya Lucky Pierrot Sakae Mochi
Nightlife
Shopping
Hakodate Nishi Hatobe Factory Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse
Accommodation
Hakodate Kokusai Hotel Hotel Promote Hakodate Unizo Inn
Temples
Daikanji Sumiyoshi Shrine Gagyusanmyoshin Temple Kankanji Ochinpo Shrine Saijioji
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥200 - ¥500 per item ¥400 - ¥800 per drink |
| Opening Hours | 09:00 - 21:00 generally |
| Closed | |
| Contact | https://www.misterdonut.jp/ |
| Notes | Donut store, coffee, pizza and hot dogs |
| Location | Multiple locations in all major cities and towns in Hokkaido. |
The history of Mister Donut goes back to 1955 and was originally under the name ‘Dunkin Donuts’. It is the brain child of Harry Winokur and William Rosenburg. When the partnership split, Mister Donut was created with stores mainly in Asia and Dunkin Donuts staying in North America. The first Mister Donut opened in Osaka in 1971. Since then there are close to a thousand Mister Donut stores throughout Japan. In Hokkaido you can find a Mister Donut in every major city and most towns. Obviously the main product here is donuts and the prices range is from about ¥180 to ¥300. These donuts are delicious. Coffee is also served as well and this makes Mister Donut a very popular place in Japan. Since then, they also serve savory items which makes up for a better lunch or meal for customers. You can get hot dogs, pies and pizzas here now. Other drinks include fruit drinks, teas, and soda drinks. There is always seating available and so Mister Donut is a good store to visit.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥300 - ¥900 |
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 21:00 generally |
| Closed | |
| Contact | https://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/ |
| Notes | Fast food store, multiple locations throughout Hokkaido, take out, drive through, delivery available, credit card accepted |
| Location | Multiple locations in most major cities and towns in Hokkaido. |
McDonald’s history in Japan goes all the way back to 1971. The first McDonald’s restaurant opened its doors to the public in July 1971, in Ginza at the ground floor of the Ginza Mitsukoshi department store. On the menu at that time was the Hamburger, Cheeseburger, Flit-O-Fish, Big Mac, French Fries, Apple Pie, and the McShake. Since then, there are thousands of restaurants all over Japan. It is one of the main fast food restaurants in Japan, along with KFC, Lotteria, Mos Burger, and Burger King. In Hokkaido, you can find a McDonalds in every major city, with the exception of Nemuro, …. and ….. . There are only two that are open 24 hours with one being in Shin Sapporo and the other in Kitami (see google maps below). McDonalds offers a small taste of home for some travelers, who are maybe looking for respite from Japanese cuisine and want something cheap and familiar. Most of the McDonald restaurants have power sockets for charging, and a clean and quiet place to sit and relax, which is helpful to those traveling. Most of the meals are around the ¥700 mark and they do have drive thru and card is accepted. You will also find that some of the cashiers have some level of English which is a bonus.
| Population | 1,148 |
| Size | 230 hectares |
| Contact | https://jozankei.jp/ |
| Location / Getting There | Jozankei is located along the banks of the Toyohira River and approximately 26 km south of (or a one hour by drive) from downtown Sapporo. Driving, take route 230 south toJozankei. There are buses direct from Sapporo Station. Take the rapid bus 7J, 7H or 8J. (Buses without a J or H will NOT go to Jozankei). Bus costs ¥1400 to Jozankei. Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 061-2301 |
Jozankei is located an hour south from Sapporo. It is an onsen (hot spring) town. The first hot spring bath opened here in 1866, and since then has become a picturesque town amid a ravine and is part of the Shikotsu-Toya National Park. This national park is characterized by volcanic activity and it is from this activity that feeds the hot springs of Jozankei. The park includes two of Japan’s most famous caldera lakes, Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya; as well as the Mt. Tarumae, Mt. Yotei and Mt. Usu volcanoes. Jozankei has many hot spring hotels plus other sightseeing spots. Every season brings a different feel to Jozankei, each equally beautiful. The cherry blossoms in spring, the lush greenery in summer, the beautiful autumn foliage, and the winter wonderland all make Jozankei a place worth visiting.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | Free entry |
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-706-2658 |
| Notes | No parking, walking distance from Sapporo station, exhibits mostly in Japanese |
| Location | This museum is easy to access. It is a 15 minute walk from Sapporo station. Start by taking the north exit from the station and take a nice walk through the University grounds. 8 Chome Kita 10 Jonishi, Kita Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810 |
Walking around the grounds of Hokkaido University is a nice day out unto itself, and finding the museum here is a nice little bonus. The museum is free to enter and has some great exhibits. What makes this museum good is the old corridors that the visitors get to wander around. This gives the whole place an antiquated feel which adds to the experience. The show rooms are a little more modern and have an array of scientific exhibitions ranging from biological to technological fields. Unfortunately, practically all the information is in Japanese so for tourists, you aren’t learning too much. Even if you can’t read Japanese you can still enjoy the dioramas and pictures. They have local flora and fauna, animal skeletons, a dinosaur area with fossils, chemistry, geology, plus many more. The whole museum is two floors with elevator access. At the end, there is a gift store with souvenirs. This museum is great to wander around and good for kids too. A good day out as the grounds are nice to walk around as well!
| Population | 157,288 |
| Size | 1,362.90 km2 |
| Contact | https://www.city.kushiro.lg.jp/ Kushiro City Hall - 0154-23-5151 |
| Location / Getting There | Kushiro is located in the south eastern part of Hokkaido. By car, from Sapporo the fastest route is a 4 hour 21 minute drive (tolls included). Head east via route 38. For a long drive you can take the scenic coastal drive down south to Erimo and then across east Kushiro. This coastal drive will take about 8 hours. There is an airport in Kushiro also. |
Kushiro is a small city in the eastern part of Hokkaido and is located on the coast and is the most populated city in eastern Hokkaido. Its history dates back to 1869. Being a port city, it has strong ties to the fishing industry. It is also most famous for the two national parks surrounding the city. These national parks are Kushiro Marsh and Akan Marsh. Kushiro has a main train station, airport and a main road that runs through the center of town, with many temples, museums and restaurants. Food wise, Kushiro is the birthplace of ‘Zangi’ (deep fried chicken) and also ‘SupaKatsu’ (a local dish of spaghetti and fried pork cutlet). So what to do in Kushiro? Read on!
Sightseeing
Friendship Square Kobunka Kushiro City Museum Kushiro Fisherman’s Wharf MOO Kushiro Marsh Observatory
Kushiro Shitsugen National Park Nusamai Bridge Nusumai Park Onnenai Visitor Centre Sakaemachiheiwa Park
Food
Nightlife
Accommodation
Hotel Crown Hills Kushiro Kushiro Century Castle Hotel