Recommended for such people
・ I want to know what the night view of Hakodate looks like
・ I want to enjoy local gourmet food
What is Hakodate?
Hakodate is a port city in southern Hokkaido and is the third most populous city in Hokkaido. (Next to Sapporo and Asahikawa)
For those who are going to Hakodate for the first time, we will introduce the attractions of Hakodate such as night views, tourist attractions, and gourmet food.
Night view from Mount Hakodate
Let's start with the night view.
It is one of the three major night views of Japan and is synonymous with Hakodate.
(The other two night views are Kobe and Nagasaki)
The altitude of Mt. Hakodate is 334m, and you can climb to the top by ropeway or bus.
While it is still bright, it looks like this.
Here is one important piece of advice.
If you think, "Because it's a big deal, let's climb early and enjoy the scenery until it gets dark ♪", let's throw away that idea.
The reason is that it's cold in about 30 minutes and I want to go home. (Actual experience)
When it gets dark, the temperature drops and the patience competition for lightly dressed tourists begins.
Since I went there in July, the temperature was around 7 degrees Celsius even at night, but the wind was strong and the sensible temperature was extremely low.
I heard that it was cold in advance, so I brought a lot of long-sleeved clothes, but it was not effective against the wind.
I should have brought clothes such as nylon material that does not allow air to pass through.
From the middle, I spent my time hoping that it would be dark!
It takes less than 90 minutes at the top of the mountain.
Over time, tourists began to drop out, leaving about one-fifth of the first number until it was pitch black.
It goes without saying that there was a strange sense of solidarity among those who endured to the end.
So, personally, I recommend going about an hour after sunset and coming back quickly.
If you don't, the sense of accomplishment of "I've endured the cold until it gets dark!" Will win over the impression of "I was beautiful."
Don't make the same mistakes as I do.
If you really want to see how it gets dark, the restaurant on the top of the mountain (Restaurant Genova), I think it's comfortable in a warm space.
Goryokaku Tower
Next is Goryokaku Tower, which is 107m high.
It will be a tower built as a 100th anniversary project of a star-shaped castle called "Goryokaku".
If you look at it from the observation deck of the tower, you can see that Goryokaku is a beautiful five-star castle.
At first glance, it looks like a design-oriented design, but in fact, the star shape is also excellent in military terms, and crossfire can be done in any direction, making it easier to fight in defense.
It was also used in actual battles, and was the setting for the final battle of the Boshin War, in which the new government army and the old Shogunate army clashed.
It is also famous as the place where Shinsengumi Hijikata Toshizo died in the war.
A bronze statue of Toshizo Hijikata is installed in one corner of the observatory.
The photo is so dark that it looks like an "important character whose identity hasn't been revealed yet", but it's definitely Hijikata Toshizo.
This work was created by Machiko Kodera, a sculptor from Hakodate.
Inside Goryokaku, there is the Hakodate Magistrate's Office, which is a restored government office at that time.
The building was also used for negotiations with other countries, and although there is a charge, you can tour inside.
Goryokaku can only be seen as an ordinary park from the ground, so be sure to climb the tower.
Trappistine Monastery
Hakodate is the first port in Japan to be isolated, so Western culture was the first to enter. (Opened at the same time as Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture)
This Trappistine Monastery is also the first convent built in Japan.
By the way, the Men's Trappist Monastery, famous for cookies, is located in the neighboring city of Hokuto.
This monastery is a Catholic sect called the Trappists and is famous for its extremely strict discipline.
Even now, about 60 nuns are praying and working from 3:30 to 19:05 in the early morning.
The reason why you can freely walk around such a strict facility may be because there is the following chapter in the commandments.
All visitors to the monastery must be welcomed as Christ.
It's a phrase like "Customers are gods."
There is a building where nuns live in the back of the site, but you can't really see the inside.
The twisted person may charge inside by saying, "Will the visitor be welcomed as Christ?", But maybe he will be sentenced to crucifixion, so let's quit.
Rosario and Madeleine (Madeleine) made by nuns are sold at the shop.
Admission to Trappistine Monastery is free, so buy something to commemorate and go home.
Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse
Speaking of a port town (?), It's a red brick warehouse.
There are various shops and events are held on holidays, so be sure to stop by.
Otaru is famous for canals in Hokkaido, but Hakodate also has canals.
If I take a picture here and say "I went to Otaru", I feel like I would believe it except for the people of Hokkaido.
There's no point in deceiving it.
Other tourist destinations
There are many other famous places, so I will briefly introduce them.
Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward
It was built in 1910 as a town rally and government office.
It is called "colonial style", and it is a style that was popular in the Western colonies at that time, with a structure that emphasizes functionality while maintaining a European-style appearance.
It's the same style as the old Glover House in Nagasaki.
Foreign graveyard
Many foreigners lived in Hakodate, so there are many graveyards.
Even though it is a graveyard, it is amazing because it has become a tourist destination even with a bill.
Hakodate tram
There is a tram running in Hakodate, which is quite convenient.
All the tourist destinations introduced in this article can be reached by tram, except for the Trappistine Monastery.
Hakodate gourmet
Lucky clown
A must-see for Hakodate gourmet is the hanger bar shop "Lucky Pierrot".
Speaking of hamburgers in Hakodate, it's called Lucky Pierrot (short for Lucky Pierrot), and there are 17 stores in Hakodate.
Even the absolute champion McDonald's will be loved, considering that there are only 5 stores in Hakodate.
Although it may be treated as an illusion because of its appearance, the contents are super solid.
・ Use local ingredients
・ Do not use frozen foods
・ Do not make
The ability to enhance the brand image and succeed in community-based activities has been featured in the Cambria Palace (a serious economic program sponsored by Nikkei).
The interior of the store has a harmonious design in a sense, with soft serve ice cream and angels hanging from it.
As I learned later, it seems that each store has a theme and the interior is completely different.
I wish I had visited more stores ...
The most popular is the "Chinese chicken burger set". (Although the essential burger is not shown in the photo!)
For the time being, if you ask for this at first, I think there is no doubt.
The price is reasonable at 650 yen and the taste is delicious.
If you make a phone reservation more than an hour in advance, you can take out without lining up, so it is recommended.
By the way, the mainstream of carbonated drinks in Hokkaido is a drink called "guarana," which is very similar to cola.
When Coca-Cola landed in Japan, "Guarana" was a drink developed by a Japanese drinking water maker.
In Honshu, it was defeated by Coke, but only in Hokkaido, Coca-Cola landed late, so guarana permeated during that time and continues to the present day.
Hasegawa Store's "Yakitori Bento"
This is also a famous "yakitori bento" as Hakodate's soul food.
The members of the rock band GLAY loved it, so it became popular nationwide. (I just learned that GLAY is from Hakodate)
By the way, although it says "yakitori", it uses pork as shown in the illustration.
In Hakodate, yakitori = pork is common, and if you want to eat chicken, you order "yakitori with chicken".
What do you mean, Hakodate citizens.
Hakodate seafood
Hokkaido still has a high level of seafood.
No matter which store you enter, you will find products of a certain quality or higher.
However, the tourist shop I ate (which often appears in magazines) was a bit disappointing, so choose a shop that is crowded with locals as much as possible.
(Not Hakodate) Godzilla's egg
Godzilla eggs were placed at the shop of Goryokaku Tower.
I want to try it once, but it's too difficult for travelers.
Even if you take it home as a souvenir, it seems that only Godzilla eggs will be in the bag.
Time required and length of stay
I want to see the night view anyway, so 1 night and 2 days is ideal.
Tourist attractions are concentrated in the city, so you can go sightseeing in one day.
If there is fog on Mt. Hakodate, you will not be able to see the night view at all, so be prepared.
Especially from May to June, it seems that there is a high probability of fog, so it may be better to avoid it.
Access
From Sapporo to Hakodate, it takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes by limited express train.
However, it is not the distance to fly by plane, so it will be a good time to make a round trip from Sapporo.
I took the route "Sapporo sightseeing-> Take a train to Hakodate-> Return to Kansai from Hakodate Airport" so that I could go from Sapporo to Hakodate one way.
Finally
Hakodate is a town with many attractions such as night views, gourmet food, and Western culture, but it is not easy to access.
It's hard to go casually, so we recommend that you make a purpose such as "I definitely want to see this!" Before visiting.
(For example, visiting the land related to Hijikata Toshizo, or visiting 3 or more Lucky Pierrot stores)
If the Hakodate-Sapporo Shinkansen, which is scheduled to open in 2030, opens, it will be easier to travel together with Sapporo, so I can't wait for it now.