- Hakodate was one of the first Japanese ports opened to international trade in 1859, leading to the rapid adoption of Western-style architecture in the Motomachi district.
- The city was the site of the final battle of the Boshin War in 1869, which effectively ended the Tokugawa Shogunate and solidified the Meiji Restoration.
- The Seikan Tunnel, which connects Hokkaido to Honshu, was partially made possible by technology and logistics derived from the city's historical ferry operations.
- Hakodate is famously home to snow-loving macaques at the Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden, which are known to soak in the facility's outdoor hot spring pools during the winter.
- The city's star-shaped Goryokaku fort remains one of the few examples of Western-style star-fortress architecture in Japan.
About Hakodate
Hakodate is a historic port city located on the southern tip of Hokkaido, known for its strategic importance during the opening of Japan to international trade in the 19th century. The city features a unique architectural blend of Japanese and Western influences, visible at sites like the Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward and the Hakodate Orthodox Church. Situated on a narrow isthmus between the Tsugaru Strait and Hakodate Bay, the city offers expansive maritime views from 函館山. Visitors can explore the diverse coastal geography at Cape Tachimachi or delve into the maritime legacy at the Hakodate City Seikan Train Ferry Memorial Museum Mashū-maru. It serves as a major gateway to Hokkaido, blending northern maritime history with distinctive cultural landmarks.
Highlights of Hakodate
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Places of interest
Provides the city's most famous panoramic night view overlooking the narrow isthmus.
Historical places
An iconic blue-and-yellow colonial-style building that served as a meeting place for local elites.
Temples
A historic Russian Orthodox structure featuring an impressive onion-dome design and bronze bells.
Museums
Allows visitors to walk the decks of a retired ferry that once provided critical transit across the Tsugaru Strait.
Places of interest
Features dramatic cliffside paths overlooking the rugged coastline and the Tsugaru Strait.
Temples
A significant Gothic-style church that stands as a testament to the city's early religious international influence.
Parks
Features a unique outdoor hot spring pool where resident macaques bathe during colder months.
Historical places
A traditional Japanese garden known for its exceptional maple tree displays during the autumn season.
Top things to do in Hakodate
The 319 highest-rated places in Hakodate, ranked by travellers.
1
Places of interest
Mt. Hakodate Observatory provides a panoramic view of the Hakodate peninsula, famously capturing the narrow isthmus that...
2
Places of interest
Goryōkaku Tower is a 107-meter-tall observation structure overlooking the star-shaped Goryōkaku Fort, Japan’s first West...
3
Historical places
Goryōkaku is Japan's first Western-style fortress, constructed in the shape of a five-pointed star to maximize defensive...
4
Parks
Goryokaku Park is a massive star-shaped Western-style fortress constructed by the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1864. The park o...
5
Parks
Onuma Quasi-National Park is defined by the symmetrical profile of the active-turned-dormant volcano Mount Komagatake, w...
6
Places of interest
Omazaki is the northernmost point of mainland Honshu, situated on the tip of the Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori Prefectur...
7
Natural attractions
Mount Hakodate is a 334-meter volcanic peak at the southern tip of the Hakodate peninsula, famously positioned between t...
8
Places of interest
Hachiman-Zaka Slope is a prominent street in the Motomachi district of Hakodate, recognized for its unobstructed, straig...
9
Places of interest
Cape Tachimachi is a steep, 30-meter-high cliff located at the southern tip of the Hakodate Peninsula. It offers unobstr...
10
Historical places
Our Lady of the Angels Trappistine Abbey is the first Catholic convent established in Japan, founded by eight French nun...
11
Historical places
The Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward is a prominent Meiji-era wooden structure featuring distinctive colonial-style arch...
12
Parks
The Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden is primarily known for its hot spring-fed pool that houses a resident troop of Ja...
13
Museums
The Mashū-maru is a decommissioned train ferry permanently docked in Hakodate Harbor that serves as a museum dedicated t...
14
Parks
Hakodate Park is the city's oldest municipal park, established in 1879 by British consul Richard Eusden. It serves as a...
15
Parks
Motomachi Park is a terraced hillside green space situated directly above the Hakodate Port, serving as the historical g...
16
Historical places
Hakodate Kosetsuen is the only traditional Japanese-style garden in Hakodate, originally established as a private villa...
17
Temples
The Hakodate Orthodox Church is a Russian Revival style building recognized as a designated Important Cultural Property...
18
Parks
Morimachi Oniushi Park is a prominent regional park in Mori, Hokkaido, renowned for its extensive collection of over 1,0...
19
Amusement parks
Children's World (Kodomo no Kuni) is a compact, nostalgic amusement park situated within the historic Hakodate Park in H...
20
Museums
The Former British Consulate of Hakodate serves as a preserved historic site detailing the diplomatic relations between...
21
Temples
Our Lady of the Light House Abbey, known as the Tobetsu Trappist Monastery, is the first men's Trappist monastery establ...
22
Museums
The Hakodate City Museum of Northern Peoples is housed in a former branch of the Dai-ichi Bank, a historic stone buildin...
23
Parks
Hakodate City Forest, locally known as Shimin-no-Mori, is a wooded municipal park located on the eastern outskirts of Ha...
24
Temples
The Catholic Motomachi Church is a prominent Gothic-style edifice in Hakodate, originally established by the Paris Forei...
25
Places of interest
Mount Hakodate is a 334-meter peak located at the southern end of the Hakodate peninsula, famous for its night view whic...
26
Historical places
The Hijikata Toshizō Deathplace Monument marks the approximate location where the legendary Shinsengumi vice-commander f...
27
Places of interest
Shirotai Ranch Observation Deck provides a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the Nanae town area and the surrounding Hokka...
28
Places of interest
This site commemorates the installation of Japan's first concrete utility pole, erected in 1923 by the Hakodate Hydroele...
29
Parks
Showa Park is a community-focused green space located in the Showacho district of Hakodate, Hokkaido. The park is manage...
30
Museums
The Hakodate Jomon Culture Center is primarily known for housing Japan's first National Treasure, the 'Chuku-dogu' hollo...
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Hakodate on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Hakodate
Late spring to early summer (May–June) for mild temperatures and flower blooms, or winter (December–February) for the night illumination and hot spring experiences.
2-3 days to explore the central historic district, the waterfront, and the mountain viewpoints.
The city is best navigated using the comprehensive local tram network, supplemented by buses and walking in the compact Motomachi area.
Stay in the Motomachi district for easy access to historical architecture or near Hakodate Station for convenient transit access.
Mid-range; while luxury options exist, the city offers high value in local seafood and public transit.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 319 curated attractions in and around Hakodate, ranked by traveller ratings.
Mt. Hakodate Observatory is the highest-rated place to visit in Hakodate right now.
The largest category is temples, with 80 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Toshima, Osaka, Kyoto.
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Other cities ranked by number of curated places.
