| 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.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0138-40-3601 |
| Notes | Cemetery, sports park, playground, no parking, bathrooms |
| Location / Getting There | Located in Hakodate, by Omori beach. The closest tram station is Matsukaze-cho Station. It is a 7 minute walk east from this station. The park is also next to Kameda River. 33 Omoricho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0034 |
Ōmori Park is a large green space in Hakodate. It is used for sporting events (namely baseball), and as a play area for children. At the northern end of the park, you can find an impressive memorial hall and burial site. The park is popular for those looking to keep fit, as it has outdoor exercise equipment, plus it being a good spot to jog around. The spacious playground area also makes it a popular spot for families. The park is just across the road from Ōmori Beach as well, so there are a few things to see in the area.
The memorial hall was constructed in 1937 with the five tier pagoda being built later. Takenosuke Miyamoto (a local businessman), was behind the construction of the pagoda using his own funds and property. The area has some historical significance and there is a large plaque (in Japanese), talking about the dark event that took place here many years ago. On the evening of March 21, 1954 a fire spread through the city and was fanned by strong winds from the ocean. The fire affected 102,000 with almost 3,000 reported missing. The Omori Bridge was terribly burned and many people were killed in and along the Kameda River. This river flows right by the memorial hall and pagoda.
| Admission | Free |
| Contact | 011-3823-5067 |
| Notes | Buddhist temple, no parking |
| Location / Getting There | Located in central Hakodate. It is a 6 minute walk south east from from Matsukaze-cho tram station. It's also a 3 minute walk from Omori beach. 20-5 Omoricho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0034 |
Daikanji is one of the many Buddhist temples that can be found throughout Hokkaido, Japan. This unassuming temple is also the residence of the monks here. The temple is easy to miss as it is on a residential street, and has the appearance of a large house. Once through the main gate, there is a small courtyard off of the main entrance. The small Jizo Statues are here draped in red cloth. Japanese people believe that red is the color to defend against evil and this has not changed since ancient times.
Due to babies also being vulnerable at a young age, parents dress them in red to keep them protected from danger and illness. This small temple is most easily accessed by car. There is no real parking here, though there is parking near the ocean which is only two blocks away, and not a far walk away. There are a couple of other temples in the area, so for those who have an interest in the Buddhist shrines, take a wander around plus enjoying the beachside.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | 5:00 - 18:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0138-31-5505 |
| Notes | Cherry blossom viewing, historical landmark, photography spot, walking paths, no parking (but paid parking nearby), wheelchair access |
| Location / Getting There | Central Hakodate. It's a 15 minute walk from Goryokaku Koen-mae station. From Hakodate Station take the 19, 25, or 33 bus and get off Goryokaku Park entrance. It's a 10 minute walk. There is a also a 'Goryokaku Tower Trappistine Shuttle Bus'. 44-2 Goryokakucho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0001 |
Goryōkaku Fort & Park was designed in 1855 by the scholar and the architect, Takeda Ayasaburō. His design was based on the work by the French architect, Vauban. The design is in the shape of a five-pointed star. Unlike other Japanese forts, this allowed for a greater number of gun emplacements, and reduced the number of blind spots. It was built to protect the Hakodate Magistrates office at the end of the Edo period when Hakodate opened its harbor to international trade. It played an important role as a political center in Ezo until it was taken over by the new Meiji government. The fort nowadays has seen the last of battles and sees quieter days as a national historic site. It is also a part of the Hakodate city museum and is a hugely popular spot for cherry blossom viewing.
In 1952, it was designated as a national historic site under the name of “Goryokaku Ruins”. The site is a fantastic place to wander around in any season. The green trees in summer, the autumn leaves in the fall, snow in winter. and the sprawling cherry blossoms in the spring. There are about 1,600 cherry blossoms here and they start to bloom in late April and the park is one of the best places to view the blossoms in the whole of Hokkaido. To appreciate the park there is an observation platform overlooking the park. The tower is called Goryokaku Tower and is accessible on the south eastern side.
| Cost per night | ¥7,800 single rooms ¥11,000 double rooms ¥12,000 - ¥18,000 twin rooms |
| Check-in | 15:00 |
| Check-out | 10:00 |
| Contact | 0138-22-1155 https://www.promote-hakodate.com/ |
| Restaurant | Buffet restaurant 6:30 - 21:00 |
| Wi-fi | Yes |
| Parking | 55 parking spaces ¥500 cars / ¥1000 trucks / ¥0 bikes |
| Notes | Amenities in room, coin laundry, vending machines (soft drinks and alcohol), AED, smoking and non smoking rooms, dryer free, free welcome coffee in lobby, free amenity corner, taxi arrangement, free computer corner, massage service 2 minutes walk to convenience store 2 minutes walk from drugstore |
| Location | Located in central Hakodate it's a 10 minute walk east from Hakodate station, or a 1 minute walk from Matsuzake-cho tram station. Opposite Kankanji 16-18 Matsukazecho Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0035 |
Hotel Promote Hakodate is one of the many hotels found in central Hakodate. It is along one of the main roads that has the tram lines along it. It is just a one minute walk from Matsukaze-cho tram stop and is directly across from Kankanji. It is also a seven minute walk from Hakodate train station. The rooms here are clean and comfortable. The hotel has 98 guest rooms. This includes 81 single rooms, 11 double rooms, and 6 twin rooms. The twin rooms have nice views over the city. All the rooms have free internet, TV’s, paid video, full bathroom and kitchen amenities, and air conditioning. On arrival, guests receive a free welcome coffee.
In the lobby you can also find the computer corner that is available 24 hours. There are vending machines in the hotel that serve soft drinks and alcohol. If you want to buy anything, the hotel is just a 2 minute walk from a convenience store and a drug store. The floors also have a coin laundry and free dryer. There is one restaurant in the hotel. This is buffet style and serves both Japanese and Western food.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-3822-0862 |
| Notes | Buddhist temple, no parking |
| Location / Getting There | Located at the central Hokkaido. It is a 2 minute walk from Matsukaze Cho street car station. It is directly across from Hakodate Promote Hotel. 15-17 Matsukazechō, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0035 |
Kankanji is a large Buddhist temple in the central city of Hakodate. The temple is a short walk from many of the central hotels in the area and can be easily found off the main road. Throughout the year, (as with other temples of the same religious beliefs) special events and festivals are held. This temple is part of the Omotoyama Naritasan Shinshoji. There are eight other temples of the same sect and these can be found in Fukugawa (Tokyo), Kawagoe (Saitama), Sapporo (Hokkaido), Yokohama (Kanagawa), Osaka (Osaka), Nagoya (Aichi) and Fukui (Fukui prefecture).
The Founding Memorial Festival is on the 27th and 28th of July every year. Besides this festival, there are numerous events throughout the year. The main events can be seen on January 1, February 3 brings the Setsubun festival, March 20 (Vernal Equinox Day) Spring equinox memorial service, April 8 is the Flower Festival, June 15 is the Aoba Festival, September 18 (Autumn equinox day) Autumn equinox memorial service. The longest event is from October 1 to November 30 and sees the Shichigosan special prayer meeting. Trinkets, amulets, and beads can be bought at this temple.
