About Hakodate

The city of Hakodate, located at the southern tip of Hokkaido, is one of Japan's most popular tourist destinations. The attractive tourist spots in Hakodate vary from Goryokaku, a star-shaped citadel, to the Bay area with numerous historic buildings and old brick warehouses, to natural hot springs. Above all, Hakodate boasts a beautiful view from the peak of Mount Hakodate located at the tip of the peninsula overlooking the city and its unique geographical features. The magnificence of the night view is often compared to a sparkling jewelry box.

Historically, Hakodate was one of the two Japanese ports opened for trading with foreign countries in 1854. At that time, Hakodate led the rest of the country in modernization. Now Hakodate has a population of 300,000, and the city is a unique fusion of old style western buildings and modern buildings. Additionally, Hakodate is blessed with its natural surroundings. Just a short drive from Hakodate brings one to the beautiful Lake Onuma and the impressively shaped Mount Komagatake. In addition, Hakodate is famous for its seafood, and so visitors are able to enjoy sushi and other Japanese food to their hearts content.

Climate

In May the weather is beginning to warm up, and flowers are in bloom. The average temperature in May is around 12 °C, and the mornings and evenings are still a little chilly. Clear or cloudy skies are common, but there are also a few rainy days.