{"id":12300,"date":"2016-11-18T09:00:25","date_gmt":"2016-11-18T09:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/?p=12300"},"modified":"2016-11-18T12:28:42","modified_gmt":"2016-11-18T12:28:42","slug":"10-reasons-to-visit-hakodate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/11\/18\/10-reasons-to-visit-hakodate\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Reasons to Visit Hakodate"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12300&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12300\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12300&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12300&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12300%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12300\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F12300\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Richard is a tour leader for Inside Japan &#8211; taking our customers from the steamy southern islands all the way up to wintry Hokkaido. He&#8217;s currently based in Kyoto, where he indulges his passion for Zen Buddhism and temples in between gorging himself on delicious food and drink.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>At the end of summer this year I had a wonderful time travelling around <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japanese-regions\/hokkaido\/\">Hokkaido<\/a>, Japan\u2019s northernmost main island, with my parents, on their third trip to Japan. We visited a number of great destinations in Japan\u2019s largest prefecture, starting with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japanese-destinations\/hakodate\/\">Hakodate<\/a>, and it may well have been my favourite, although keep your eyes peeled for future blog posts featuring some close contenders for the top spot!<\/p>\n<p>So why did I love Hakodate so much? Here are 10 reasons why!<\/p>\n<h1>1. The New <em>Shinkansen<\/em> bullet train<\/h1>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12261\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12261\" style=\"width: 1170px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12261\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-1.jpg\" alt=\"My parents pose with Shohei Otani of the Nippon-Ham Fighters, a proud supporter of the new bullet train!\" width=\"1170\" height=\"878\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-1.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-1-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-1-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-1-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-1-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-1-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-1-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12261\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">My parents pose with Shohei Otani of the Nippon-Ham Fighters, a proud supporter of the new bullet train!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Even just getting to Hakodate has added novelty value since the new Hokkaido <em>S<\/em><em>hinkansen<\/em> line opened in March this year. The new line connects <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japanese-destinations\/aomori\/\">Aomori<\/a> in the north of Honshu with Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, Hakodate\u2019s new bullet train terminus. This means that it\u2019s now possible to arrive in Hakodate by train from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japanese-destinations\/tokyo\/\">Tokyo<\/a> in just four hours, although I highly recommend spending a few nights in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japanese-destinations\/sendai\/\">Sendai<\/a> on the way (stay tuned for another blog post with my reasons why!). There are plans to extend the line onward to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japanese-destinations\/sapporo\/\">Sapporo<\/a>, Hokkaido\u2019s largest city, although this project won\u2019t be completed until 2031.<\/p>\n<h1>2. The Hakodate Ropeway<\/h1>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12264\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-2.jpg\" alt=\"picture-2\" width=\"1170\" height=\"878\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-2.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-2-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-2-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-2-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-2-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-2-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-2-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Perhaps Hakodate\u2019s greatest claim to fame is the famous night view from Mount Hakodate, ranked as one of the best three night views in Japan, and I can certainly understand why. The unique hourglass shape of the city and the shimmering lights on a clear night are truly spectacular.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12265\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12265\" style=\"width: 1170px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12265\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-3.jpg\" alt=\"Night view from Mount Hakodate\" width=\"1170\" height=\"878\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-3.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-3-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-3-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-3-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-3-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-3-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-3-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-3-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-3-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-3-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12265\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Night view from Mount Hakodate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h1>3. Goryokaku Fort<\/h1>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12267\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12267\" style=\"width: 1170px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12267\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-4.jpg\" alt=\"Goryokaku Fort\u2019s observation tower\" width=\"1170\" height=\"878\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-4.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-4-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-4-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-4-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-4-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-4-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-4-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-4-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-4-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-4-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12267\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Goryokaku Fort\u2019s observation tower<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>After taking in such a spectacular night view, you might think it\u2019s hard to beat, but for an equally stunning daytime view, head to the Goryokaku fort and it\u2019s 107 metre high observation tower. The fort is a unique construction in Japan, laid out in a giant star shaped formation and modelled on Western-style citadels. It was built in the Edo period as a protection against the powers of Western imperialism, and later became the site of a civil war between the feudal shogunate and the newly founded Meiji government. The interesting history of the fort is explained well in English inside the tower, and of course there are great views down to the fort itself and across Hakodate city.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12268\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12268\" style=\"width: 1170px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12268\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-5.jpg\" alt=\"Goryokaku Fort\" width=\"1170\" height=\"878\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-5.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-5-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-5-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-5-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-5-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-5-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-5-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-5-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-5-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-5-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12268\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Goryokaku Fort<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h1>4. Hakodate\u2019s Morning Seafood Market<\/h1>\n<p>Hakodate certainly can\u2019t claim to be unique in having a famous morning market, and other fish markets in Japan such as Tsukuji in Tokyo certainly win hands down in terms of sheer size, but what Hakodate\u2019s market lacks in grandeur, it makes up for in terms of the ready availability of delicious seafood. Uniquely for this market, pretty much all of the stalls have an eat-in space behind the street-facing stand, meaning that seafood lovers will be spoilt for choice when looking for a deliciously fresh breakfast or early-lunch. Particularly recommended is <em>uni-donburi<\/em>, found for sale at pretty much every stall; fluorescent orange piles of fresh sea urchin laid over bowls of rice.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12271\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12271\" style=\"width: 1170px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12271\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-6.jpg\" alt=\"Hakodate's morning market\" width=\"1170\" height=\"878\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-6.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-6-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-6-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-6-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-6-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-6-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-6-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-6-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-6-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-6-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12271\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hakodate&#8217;s morning market<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h1>5. Daimon-Yokocho<\/h1>\n<p>By the time evening rolls around, you should be hungry again! I highly recommend heading to Daimon-Yokocho, a maze of connected alleyways containing 26 small restaurants and bars, many only sitting a maximum of ten patrons at a time. As I was there in summer, many of the restaurants had fold-out tables and chairs outside, allowing the action to spill out onto the street, creating a very convivial atmosphere. You\u2019ll find restaurants specialising in the famous local seafood, <em>yakitori<\/em> grilled chicken skewers, and even a French wine bar! A great place to spend an evening bar and restaurant hopping!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12274\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12274\" style=\"width: 1170px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12274\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-7.jpg\" alt=\"Rubbing shoulders with the locals in Daimon-Yokocho\" width=\"1170\" height=\"878\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-7.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-7-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-7-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-7-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-7-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-7-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-7-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-7-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-7-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-7-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12274\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rubbing shoulders with the locals in Daimon-Yokocho<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h1>6. Red-brick warehouses<\/h1>\n<p>Hakodate was one of the first Japanese ports to be opened for international trade in 1854, after the convention of Kanagawa at the conclusion of the Edo Period. As such there is a whole district of red-brick warehouses remaining from that time, which have now been converted into a shopping and entertainment complex. The shopping cannot be particularly recommended, and consists pretty much exclusively of total tat, but the district itself is worth wandering around for the interesting architecture. There\u2019s also a very good beer hall restaurant in one of the warehouses serving local Hakodate beer.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12277\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12277\" style=\"width: 1170px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12277\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-8.jpg\" alt=\"The red-brick warehouses\" width=\"1170\" height=\"878\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-8.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-8-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-8-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-8-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-8-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-8-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-8-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-8-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-8-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-8-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12277\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The red-brick warehouses<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h1>7. Onuma Quasi-National Park<\/h1>\n<p>This one is cheating a bit, as it\u2019s not technically in Hakodate, but the city makes a great base for a half-day trip out to the Onuma Quasi-National Park. Just 20 minutes by limited express train from Hakodate itself, Onuma Park is a very pleasant place to wander around. There are a number of different sign-posted walks around the park, none of which take longer than about 45 minutes. The walks take you through picturesque little islands dotting the lake in the centre of the park, linked with small bridges.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12280\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12280\" style=\"width: 1170px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-9.jpg\" alt=\"A very pleasant stroll\" width=\"1170\" height=\"878\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-9.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-9-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-9-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-9-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-9-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-9-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-9-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-9-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-9-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-9-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12280\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A very pleasant stroll<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Stunning Mount Komagatake is an ever-present backdrop as you make your way around the islets, and one of the short sightseeing boat cruises around the lake is a great way to see the park from multiple angles.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12282\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12282\" style=\"width: 1170px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12282\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-10.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Komagatake\" width=\"1170\" height=\"878\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-10.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-10-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-10-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-10-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-10-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-10-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-10-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-10-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-10-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-10-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12282\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mount Komagatake<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h1>8. Unique ice cream flavours<\/h1>\n<p>Onuma Quasi-National Park is also a great place to sample some interesting ice cream flavours! Some of the most unusual offerings there were red wine, melon and squid ink! Of course I had to go for the squid ink. Actually the flavour was very mild, but the colour was very interesting, and similar in tone to the black sesame ice cream that I often see (and consume!) in my home city of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japanese-destinations\/kyoto\/\">Kyoto<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12283\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12283\" style=\"width: 1170px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12283\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-11.jpg\" alt=\"Squid ink ice cream\" width=\"1170\" height=\"878\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-11.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-11-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-11-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-11-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-11-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-11-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-11-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-11-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-11-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-11-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12283\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Squid-ink ice cream<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h1>9. Corn<\/h1>\n<p>Cheating again on this one, as this item can be found and devoured all over Hokkaido, but the corn-on-the-cob I had in Hakodate was so delicious that I thought it deserved a mention. Hokkaido is famous for producing excellent corn, and there are stalls selling freshly cooked corn-on-the-cob everywhere. The flavour is so sweet, that it really doesn\u2019t need anything adding to it!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12285\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12285\" style=\"width: 1170px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12285\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-12.jpg\" alt=\"A corny smile!\" width=\"1170\" height=\"878\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-12.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-12-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-12-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-12-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-12-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-12-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-12-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-12-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-12-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-12-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12285\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A corny smile!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h1>10. Raffish atmosphere<\/h1>\n<p>Perhaps the thing I loved most about Hakodate was also the hardest thing to pin down &#8211; the unmistakably raffish aura of the city. Perhaps it\u2019s because this kind of atmosphere often develops in port towns, or maybe it\u2019s due to the historic isolation of the city, away from Japan\u2019s centres of government in Kyoto and Tokyo. Whatever the cause however, Hakodate\u2019s rakish charms thoroughly enchanted me, and I highly recommend a visit!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12286\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12286\" style=\"width: 1170px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12286\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-13.jpg\" alt=\"We\u2019re not in Tokyo anymore Toto!\" width=\"1170\" height=\"878\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-13.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-13-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-13-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-13-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-13-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-13-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-13-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-13-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-13-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Picture-13-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12286\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">We\u2019re not in Tokyo anymore Toto!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/self-guided-japan-holidays\/i-wdh\/wild-hokkaido\/\">Wild Hokkaido Self-Guided Adventure<\/a> on our website for an example of how Hakodate can be incorporated into a tailored trip, or speak to one of our expert travel consultants if you would like to explore this city\u2019s raffish charms! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/about-us\/contact-us\/\">Click here to get in touch<\/a>.<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? 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Help us by sharing it! Richard is a tour leader for Inside Japan &#8211; taking our customers from the steamy southern islands all the way up to wintry Hokkaido. He&#8217;s currently based in Kyoto, where he indulges his passion for Zen Buddhism and temples in between gorging himself on delicious food and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2362],"tags":[1625,2678,2862,2865,2868],"class_list":["post-12300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-places-and-where-to-stay-in-japan","tag-hokkaido","tag-richard-farmer","tag-hakodate","tag-north-japan","tag-cities"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12300"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12306,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12300\/revisions\/12306"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}