| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0138-23-5440 |
| Notes | Sightseeing spot, historical landmark, walking spot, no parking (paid parking nearby) |
| Location / Getting There | The monument is located on the old pier of Hakodate. It's only a 2 minute walk from Suehirocho station. It's also an 18 minute walk from Hakodate station. It's right by the old red brick warehouses shopping district. 24 Suehirocho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0053 |
Since the Meiji era, the Higashihama Pier (the former pier) was the gateway to Hokkaido. This pier was the original landing site. In 1968 a monument was erected to commemorate the 100th anniversary of this landing. The monument also celebrates the achievements of the ancestors who came and cultivated Hokkaido. It is fascinating to go to that very spot and gaze over waters that brought in settlers from the mainland of Honshu. For those who like historical spots, take a quick walk down and enjoy the view.
The design of the monument depicts a brown bear standing over an anchor. The bear and the anchor are common motifs seen around Hokkaido. The monument was designed by Nobumichi Akashi, who was a professor at Waseda University. The pier itself is a nice place to take a walk by the water. The landing spot is right past the Red Brick Warehouse shopping area (which is a great spot to visit), so it is easy to have a wander around and take in a bit of history. 
| Admission | ¥500 Adults ¥250 Children |
| Opening Hours | 8:30 - 18:00 (admission until 17:00) April-October 9:00 - 17:00 (admission until 16:00) November-March: 10:00 - 15: 00 December 31st-January 3rd |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 013-827-2500 info@mashumaru.com http://mashumaru.com |
| Notes | Museum, guided tours available, no parking (though Hakodate Station Square Parking can be used), restrooms |
| Location / Getting There | Located on the western harbor in Hakodate on the old pier. It's only a 4 minute walk from Hakodate station. It's also a 10 minute walk from the Red Brick Warehouses 29-15 Goryokakucho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0001 |
The Mashu Maru is a ship that once served as a ferry and was the link between Hokkaido and the main island of Honshu. This ferry was in service until its last day on March 13, 1988. It is now moored at the old Hakodate number 2 quay. This platform was the actual platform from which the Mashu Maru operated from. In what is an already historical city, it now serves as a museum adding to the history, and sees its days welcoming sightseers. Close by to the ferry you can find Ika Square and Seaport Park, which is not a bad spot to have some take away lunch!
Once on board the Mashu Maru (kind of pronounced like marshmallow) you can access various parts of the ship. Take a turn at the wheel at the wheelhouse, or have a look at the wireless communication room as it was back in the day. One of the front cabins was remodeled into an exhibition room and has models and parts from the ferry. There is also a history of the ferry with panels and images. Unfortunately, there is no access to the main engine room or overall control room though you can see these rooms via a monitor camera that you can control. Access to the deck is available, though in the event of strong winds or snow parts of the deck will closed to the public. On board you can find a small shop selling souvenirs. Enjoy!
| 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 |
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥1000 - ¥2000 |
| Opening Hours | 11:30 - 14:30 , 17:00 - 20:00 Hakodate 10:00 - 19:00 Hakodate sweets 11:00 - 23:00 Sapporo |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0138-23-1106 Hakodate restaurant 0138-23-3560 Hakodate sweets 050-5287-4712 Sapporo |
| Notes | Western style restaurant, sweets store, party plan, |
| Location / Getting There | 2 locations in Hakodate Central Sapporo. Located on the 8th floor of Ikeuchi Zone building. Ikeuchi Zone is a 2 minute walk from Odori. 〒060-0061 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Minami 1 Jonishi, 2 Chome-9-1 IKEUCHIZONE 8F |
Gotoken is a small chain of restaurants located in Hakodate and Sapporo (for Sapporo location see below). Gotoken was founded by Sotaro Wakayama way back in 1879. These restaurants are certainly immersed in history. The first chef and co founder, Hidekichi Goshima fought in the battle of Hakodate with the shogunate army in 1897. The next generation, Tokujiro Wakayama, learned French cooking techniques at the Imperial Hotel. He introduced these extra techniques and ingredients to make Gotoken a successful restaurant that has survived over a hundred years.
With this in mind, Gotoken has a built up a broad menu of western style dishes. Besides the single dishes available, they have a dozen course plans which are delicious. There is a ‘Meiji Western Food and Curry’ set which incorporates dishes back from this era, a mix of British and Japanese flavors. Gotoken has a mix of French cuisine, Russian cuisine, and Italian just to name a few. Gotoken is also known for its curry sets. They have a Gotoken Curry restaurant at the Goryokaku Tower in Hakodate. Plus if you like something sweeter, there is a sweets shop as part of the restaurant chain.
