| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | Sightseeing spot, walking spot |
| Location / Getting There | The park and square are located on the eastern harbor, on the pier of Hakodate. It's only a 4 minute walk from Hakodate station. It's also a 10 minute walk from the Red Brick Warehouses 22-22 Otemachi, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0064 |
Hakodate is a coastal city. There are many piers and waterside promenades to casually stroll along and enjoy the views. On the western harbor you can find a nice small park appropriately named Seaport Park, plus Ika Square. The park is accessed via a circular walkway that surrounds the park and leads on to the well known Tomoe Big Bridge. The park has some small seating areas, has a view of the water, and views down onto Ika Square and the plaza there. This plaza is where tourists can access the decommissioned ship turned museum, the Mashu Maru.
Hakodate has a long and thriving squid fishing industry. It is one of the most popular seafood in Hakodate for the locals. In 1989 the city of Hakodate designated the squid as the city’s official fish. Squid is called ‘Ika’ in Japanese. Ika Square was created in honor of this event. The large monument located at the centre of the square represents a swarming school of squid. There are other statues in the plaza including an old anchor plus a young girl waving off departing ships from the port.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | 8:00 - 18:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-3856-0572 http://www2.saijoji/homepage |
| Notes | Buddhist shrine, sightseeing spot, no parking (though can park across the street) |
| Location / Getting There | Located in central Hakodate. It's across from Goryokaku Park on the west side. From Suginami-cho station it is a 13 minute walk north. 29-15 Goryokakucho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0001 |
Saijioji is a small Buddhist Temple in central Hakodate. It is directly across from Goryokaku Park, and is particularly beautiful in the spring as there are a couple of cherry blossoms in the courtyard area. There is also a small cafe next door making this a nice area to walk around. Being a Buddhist temple, you can find the various statues and motifs symbolizing the faith of this religion. There is a lovely little central shrine in the courtyard. It makes for a great photo opportunity.
Inside the temple itself they have the statues of the four widely revered Bodhisattva (Bosatsu in Japanese). Bodhisattva refers to anyone who has made a resolution to become a Buddha and has also received a confirmation or prediction from a living Buddha that this will be so. The four Bodhisattva include boundless compassion, wisdom, practice, and lastly patience and salvation from suffering. This is a nice spot to drop into and visit on your way to or from the Goryokaku Park nearby. And why not take a break at the cafe next door.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥600 - ¥1000 |
| Opening Hours | Depends on store though generally most stores open at 10:00 until 00:30 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | http://luckypierrot.jp/shop/hokutoinari/ |
| Notes | 17 stores around Hakodate, burger and souvenir restaurant, English menu available, no smoking |
| Location / Getting There | For store locations please see the end of article |
If you ask anyone what the most famous restaurant in Hakodate is, you more than likely to hear “Lucky Pierrot” as the answer. You can find Lucky Pierrot restaurants only in Hakodate and nowhere else in Japan. The Lucky Pierrot company was founded in 1987, and there are seventeen restaurants in the Hakodate municipality. Serving 1.8 million customers per year, its Chinese Chicken Burger was named as Japan’s “best local hamburger” by the Nikkei. Lucky Pierrot serves not only as a burger restaurant, but it’s also a place to pick up some local souvenirs!
Besides their famous Chinese Chicken Burger, their next best seller is the Lucky Egg Burger, plus a Pork Cutlet Burger, and a good old fashioned Lucky Cheeseburger. With so many burgers to choose from, it may take a while to go through the whole menu! Apart from burgers, they have curries, rice bowl meals, rice and omelette dishes, plus a dozen side dishes! There is definitely something for everyone. Each Lucky Pierrot restaurant has a facade. They are each decked out in an eclectic array of objects and furniture, creating a fantastic wonderland in which to dine in. While in Hakodate, be sure to make at least one visit to a Lucky Pierrot and check it off your list.
| Marina Suehiro | 0138-27-5000 10:00 - 0:00 Access: Near Kanemori red brick warehouse group. From JR Hakodate Station, 5 minutes by car, or a 20 minute -walk 14-17 Suehiro-chou, Hakodate-shi, Hokkaido |
| Nanae Tōgeshita General Head Shop | 0138-66-6566 10:00 - 0:00 From JR Shin Hakodate-Hokuto Station, 7 minutes by car, or a 30 minute walk 337-11 Tōgeshita, Nanae, Kameda District, Hokkaido 041-1102 |
| Bay Area Head Shop | 0138-26-2099 10:00 - 23:00 Near the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses From JR Hakodate Station, 5 minutes by car, or a 20 minute walk 23-18 Suehiro-cho, Hakodate 040-0053 |
| Front of Goryokaku Park | 0138-55-4424 10:00 - 0:00 From Goryokaku Park & Tower, a 1 minute walk 30-14 Goryoukaku-chou, Hakodate, Hokkaido |
| Front of Hakodate Station | 0138-26-8801 8:00 - 23:00 From JR Hakodate Station, a 5 minute walk. From Hakodate Asa-ichi, a 1 minute walk Hotel New Ote 2F, 8-8 Wakamatu-chou, Hakodate, Hokkaido |
| Tokura Shop | 0138-59-5888 10:00 - 0:30 Eastern side of town. From Hakodate University, an 8 minute walk. 30-1 Tokuracho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 042-0953 |
| Shōwa Shop | 0138-44-6600 10:00 - 0:30 Along Route 5 (runs through Hakodate). From Goryōkaku Station, an 11 minute walk 2 Chome-12-17 Showa, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-0812 |
| Akaigawa Shop | 01374-5-3323 10:00 - 0:30 From Akaigawa station, an 8 minute walk west 125 Aza-Akaigawa, Mori-chou, Kayabe-gun |
| Esashi Shop | 0139-52-5553 10:00 - 23:00 Western coast of Hakodate. From Shigejiro Hot Springs, a 6 minute drive 1252-1 Miwa, Assabu, Hiyama District, Hokkaido 043-1117 |
| Hondori Shop | 0138-53-8080 10:00 - 0:30 South eastern area of Hakodate city. From Goryōkaku park, a 7 minute drive 4 Chome-17-32 Hondori, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-0851 |
| Hokuto-inari | 0138-73-1515 10:00 - 0:30 On the western bay across from Hakodate city. From Kamiiso station, a 5 minute walk 1 Chome-6-4 Inari, Hokuto, Hokkaido 049-0161 |
| Mihara Shop | 0138-46-8988 10:00 - 0:30 North area of Hakodate. From Goryokakucho Park, a 10 minute drive 2 Chome-14-3 Mihara, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-0806 |
| Minato Front of Hokkaido University | 0138-42-6550 10:00 - 0:30 Across from Hokkaido University of Marine Studies. From Nanaehama station, a 17 minute walk 3 Chome-18-28 Minatocho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-0821 |
| Matsukage Shop | 0138-32-1777 10:00 - 23:00 Central Hakodate city. From Goryōkaku Park, a 5 minute drive, or a 13 minute walk 22-6 Matsukagecho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0003 |
| Hitomi Shop | 0138-53-7477 10:00 - 0:30 Central Hakodate city. From Hakodate Racecourse, a 19 minute walk. From Chiyogadai station, a 15 minute walk 24-15 Hitomicho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0005 |
| Honchō Shop | 0138-56-4469 10:00 - 23:00 From Goryokaku Koen Mae station, a 3 minute walk. Near Goryokaku park. 4-18 Honcho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0011 |
| Jyujigai Ginza Shop | 0138-23-2300 10:00 - 21:00 From Jyugigai station, a 1 minute walk. From the Mt. Hakodate ropeway, an 8 minute walk 8-11 Suehiro-chou, Hakodate |
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-3633-2246 |
| Notes | Shinto shrine, sightseeing spot, no parking (though can park across the street), photography spot |
| Location / Getting There | Located at the southern end of the town of Kimobetsu. The temple is just past Kimobetsu River on the left (coming from Sapporo), and just past Aspeila Shopping Market. 323 Kimobetsu, Abuta District, Hokkaido 044-0201 |
In 1891, there was a drought in the late spring. On July 3rd Ōtsuki Mamoru and Hitoshi Otokichi travelled to Mt. Shiribetsu and attended a fasting prayer rain ritual for three days. On the evening of the 5th of July it started to rain. The plants and trees revived and the landscape flourished again. To give thanks, a small shrine was constructed as a thank you. This shrine was at the present location. In February 1945, the current shrine was established. In August 1952 the shrine burned down but was reconstructed. In September 2000, renovations were done to the large roof and work was done on the main gold foil metal fittings.
The land area of Kimobetsu Shrine is large with the shrine itself sitting at the top. What makes this shrine such a great place to visit is its views of Mt. Yotei and especially Mt. Shiribetsu (the mountain that was the scene of the fasting prayer over a hundred years ago). Mt. Shiribetsu is right across from the shrine and is definitely impressive. Kimobetsu Shrine is great to visit during late autumn. At this time the trees are changing colors and there is snow on the mountains. Alternatively, April is also a good month to visit after the snow has melted and the trees are blooming again. The shrine and surrounding buildings is a pleasant spot to walk around in the peace and quiet of the countryside. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥750 - ¥1000 |
| Opening Hours | 8:30 - 17:30 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0136-33-2671 |
| Notes | Seating 96, no smoking |
| Location / Getting There | Nakayama Pass is located on route 230 and is directly between Sapporo & Niseko. It is about a one hour drive from both. 345 Kawakami, Kimobetsu-cho, Abuta District, Kimobetsu, 044-0223 Hokkaido |
On the drive from Sapporo to Hirafu, Rusutsu and Toya, there is a rest stop at the top of Nakayama Pass. The rest stop is a good stop to take a break, buy a souvenir, grab a quick local snack, or enjoy the magnificent view looking out at Mt. Yotei. On the ground floor in the main building here you can pick up some small take away food. This includes ageimo (potato deep fried in batter), fried chicken, imomochi (sticky potato cake) and ice-creams. If you are looking for something more substantial, there is a great restaurant on the next floor up. Cheap and delicious, this restaurant has large glass windows with fantastic views.
The restaurant is affordable and the food here is really really good! If you want something more filling it is worth it. There is a huge range of lunches available. You can find ramen, soba noodles, tempura, a butadon (pork on rice), and some good black curries. The menu is displayed with large photos on the wall, too easy. With plenty of seating, you can find a seat anytime. Apart from the restaurant, there is a small photo gallery on the next floor up, with panoramic views of the mountain. Local photographers have some beautiful work of the surrounding landscape. Take a seat, have a coffee and take it all in.
| Opening Hours | 8:30 - 17:30 Restaurant & stores |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0136-33-2671 https://ageimo.com/ |
| Notes | Rest stop, sightseeing spot, restaurant, take out food, souvenirs, restrooms |
| Location / Getting There | Nakayama Pass is located on route 230 and is directly between Sapporo & Niseko. It is about a one hour drive from both. 345 Kawakami, Kimobetsu-cho, Abuta District, Kimobetsu, 044-0223 Hokkaido |
Nakayama Pass is also known as Nakayama Toge (toge meaning ‘mountain pass’ in Japanese). This mountain pass acts as a rest stop, shopping spot, restaurant, and sightseeing spot. The pass offers striking views of Mt. Yotei. Mt. Yotei being an active stratovolcano located in Shikotsu-Toya National Park. The pass is on the national highway route 230. The pass sees a lot of traffic coming and going as the highway is the link between Sapporo and all the southern districts, mainly Hirafu (Niseko), Lake Toya, Makkari, and Rusutsu. It is also the entrance to the Nakayama Toge ski field.
There is a huge parking area with entrances on both sides. There are a couple of buildings at the pass. It is here you can find a large souvenir store to pick up something on your way through. There are a couple of small take away stores as well. Nakayama Pass is probably best known for its ‘Ageimo’. Ageimo is a potato deep fried in batter (a little dry but popular). These come on a stick and cost ¥350. They also have fried chicken, imomochi (sticky potato cake) and ice-creams. There is also coffee. On the top floor is a small gallery and restaurant with panoramic views over the valley of Kimobetsu.
