| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Closed | - |
| Notes | Historical landmark, sightseeing spot, small park and walkway, no parking |
| Location / Getting There | Located in the central city of Hakodate. The closest tram station is Horai-Cho Station. It is only a 2 minute walk from here. The park is at the bottom of the hill that leads up to Gokoku Shrine. 〒040-0034 Hokkaido, Hakodate, Omoricho, 22, Unnamed Road |
In Hakodate, at the base of the slope that leads up to Mt. Hakodate there is a narrow green space that runs for about five blocks. This green space is a really pleasant area to take a stroll along. On both sides the park is flanked by some nice old buildings. The green space is home to various statues and there is a historical site here as well. The park is particularly nice during the cherry blossom season. The main statue that overlooks the space is of Takadaya Kahei. Takadaya Kahei was born in 1769 and came to Hakodate when he was 28. He was famous for developing the area and creating trade routes and fisheries. The statue was erected in 1958 to commemorate the centenary of the port of Hakodate opening.
The historical site that can be observed halfway along the park, is the place where Takadaya Kahei’s house once existed. He owned extensive property in Hakodate and there is a small plaque displaying this. Also in this park, you can find the poem monument of Takahashi Kikutaro. The monument here was built in 1961 by his fans, and inscribed on the monument is the lyrics to one of his most famous songs. Takahashi Kikutaro was a prominent song writer and had written lyrics to over 3,000 songs by the time of his death in 1970. This green space has a pleasant small path running through it and it is a great spot to stroll through.
| Admission | ¥800 Adults ¥300 Children |
| Opening Hours | 8:00 - 18:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-3824-1115 http://www.ryoma1115.com/ ryoma1115@amail.plala.or.jp |
| Notes | Historical museum, wheelchair access |
| Location / Getting There | Central Hakodate. Take the tram from 'Hakodate Eki Mae' to 'Jujigai' station (3 stops and costs ¥200). The museum is right next to the Jujigai tram stop. Alternatively, it's a 17 minute walk from Hakodate station. 8-6 Suehirocho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0053 |
Sakamoto Ryoma was born on 3 January 1836, and grew up to be a master swordsman and lower class samurai who opposed the Tokugawa Shogunate. He was against the modernization and westernization of Japan, though he was a visionary who dreamt of an independent Japan without feudalism, inspired by the example of the United States where “all men are created equal”. He is also regarded as the “father of the Imperial Japanese Navy”. He was a prominent figure before his assassination on 10 December 1867 at a local tavern near Kyoto.
The museum in Hakodate was constructed in 2009 to honor his life. The island of Hokkaido, then known as ‘Ezo’ was a new land for the samurai to relocate to and become farmers. Across from the museum you can find a large statue of Sakamoto Ryoma. There is information about his life plus other prominent samurai of the era. These include Okamoto Kensuke who explored the islands of Sakhalin alone, and Santo Ichiro who was interested in cultivating Ezo. For a look at a piece of Japanese history, Sakamoto Ryoma museum is a good place to visit.
| Opening Hours | 7:00 - 17:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0138-22-5482 |
| Notes | Confectionary store, Japanese sweets, small parking area next door |
| Location / Getting There | Located in Hakodate and is a 5 minute walk from the closest tram station, Uoichibadori Station. Once alighting the street car, head east. 5-13 Sakaecho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0041 |
Sakae Mochi is an old style Japanese confectionary store. This old style sweets store excels in dumplings and daifuku made with elegant sweet bean paste. Daifuku is a sweet consisting of small round mochi (rice cake) stuffed with sweet filling. The filling is most commonly anko, sweetened red bean paste made from azuki beans. These soft cakes are usually enjoyed with Japanese green tea. This store is popular with the locals where you can pick up some home made goodies.
Especially now in the big cities, most people do their shopping at the large supermarkets where they may pick up some mochi or sweets. Convenience stores, likewise are also places to pick up some confectionary. To support the local stores, this place is a much better option to buy traditional Japanese sweets. Not only are they home made, you are supporting the local economy , and most importantly, they taste better and are fresh onto the shelves. Sakae Mochi is a great place to go and have a look, and why not buy a sweet or two!
| Opening Hours | 8:30 - 17:00 |
| Closed | Weekends and public holidays |
| Contact | 011-3822-2721 http://kikkokawa1.com/ |
| Notes | Brewery, parking for 5 |
| Location / Getting There | Located in Hakodate and is a 7 minute walk from Uoichibadori tram station. Exit the streetcar and head east. It's across from Kengyusanzenko Temple. 2-7 Sakaecho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0041 |
Kikkokawa Ichi Brewery was founded back in 1942 in Hakodate. They primarily make soy sauce. In Hakodate, there used to be more than ten soy sauce brewers but now Kikkokawa Ichi Brewery is the only one. Surviving the test of time, this small store is quite unique. Their product uses kelp from the Minamikayabe district in the northwestern part of Hakodate. This kelp is considered a high class food and was even given as a gift to the shogunate since the Edo period.
What makes this soy sauce special is that ordinary kelp soy sauces use a kelp extract, whereas Kikkokawa’s product uses real strips of Shiraguchihama kelp which brings out the strong flavor. In addition to the soy sauces on the shelves this company also produces miso sauce, a grilled meat sauce, and ‘mentsuyu’ (a noodle soup based sauce). This company takes orders or you can simply drop in tot heir store and have a look around.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0138-22-2637 |
| Notes | Buddhist temple, no parking |
| Location / Getting There | Located at the central Hakodate. It is a 7 minute walk east from Matsukaze Cho tram station. Head east and the temple is on the corner of Isaribidori. It is by Omori Beach 22-6 Omoricho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0034 |
By the shores of Ōmori Beach there is a Shinto Shrine called Daimoriinari Shrine. The year of its founding is unknown due to the great fires in Hakodate. However, there is a map from the Kanbun Era dated back to the 1600’s with the name of the temple on it so the temple is estimated to be around 350 years old. The guardian stone lion dogs guarding the temple are incredibly old and are worth a look. After a large fire in 1890, it moved to its present location in 1943. The entrance used to face the ocean, but now it faces towards the city.
Inside the grounds there are various monuments and shrines honoring certain individuals. Prayers can be performed by the priest here can be booked in advance. The priest will bless everything from wife safety to business prosperity and anniversaries. Gifts and amulets can be bought inside. These bring good luck and protection. Throughout the year there are various events and festivals that are held at the temple. For more information on the dates read below.
| 1st of every month | New moon festival |
| 10th of every month | Monthly festival |
| January 1st | Year end festival |
| February 3rd | Setsubun festival |
| 1st day of the lunar month of February | Hatsuuma festival |
| June 30th | Oharae ceremony |
| September 9th - 11th | Evening palace festival |
| October 15th | Shichigosan |
| November 23rd | Niiname festival |
| December 31st | Nightfall festival |
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Closed | - |
| Notes | Beach, jogging spot, BBQ spot, swimming spot |
| Location / Getting There | Located in Hakodate. The closest tram station is Matsukaze-cho Station. It is a 7 minute walk east from this station. 〒040-0034 Hokkaido, Hakodate, Omoricho, 22, Unnamed Road |
Ōmori Beach is a beach located on the eastern side of the main headland that makes up the city of Hakodate. The beach runs or about three kilometers with a majority of the rural housing running alongside it. The beach is your typical beach in Hokkaido. The sands are not pristine but it is a popular spot during the short summer months on the northern island. There is no official parking spot but there are plenty of places to park on the side streets that run adjacent to the beach.
This beach is good for taking a stroll with views along the coast to Mt. Hakodate in the south. For those wanting for more of a fitness kick, it’s also a good beach to run along. In the summer, there are places to have a picnic or a small BBQ with friends. Unfortunately, there are very little restaurants or cafes along this beach. There are a couple of hotels close by. The beach is a short walk from the streetcar station, Matsukaze-cho Station. The beach also offers up some nice sunset views to enjoy at dusk.