Hakodate
Hakodate Morning Market. The food basket of the locals, the morning market opens from 6 a.m. to noon. The market area spans about four city blocks, offering products from fresh seafood to produce. This is also a good place to sample the freshest seafood at reasonable prices.
Motomachi. Hakodate is one of the earliest ports opened to foreign traders. Located at the foot of Mt. Hakodate, Motomachi is an area favored by early foreign settlers. Many colonial style buildings and churches still remain in the area today. The most renowned are the Old British Consulate, the Russian Orthodox Church, and the Old Hakodate Public Hall.
Mt. Hakodate. The night view of Hakodate is considered as one of the best night sceneries in Japan. Mt. Hakodate is a 334-meter high hill located in the center of the city. The viewing platform at the summit offer a stunning postcard view of Hakodate and its harbors day and night. The summit is accessible by cable cars from the Motomachi district.
Goryogaku or 'Five-Corner Fort', built by the shogunate in 1864 to defend the city from foreign aggression. At the end, it was besieged by Japanese soldiers during the Hakodate War in 1869, when the shogun’s troops made a futile last stand against the imperial forces during the Meiji Restoration. It is one of the most favorite spots for cherry blossom viewing. There is also an observatory where you can have a birds-eye view of the fort.
Hakodate Waterfront Area. Old seaport of the city. Some of the old red-brick ware houses were restored and converted to shopping and dining venues with many restaurants, beer hall and cafes. It has become one of the most recognizable landmarks of the city.