Hakodate Pop. 291 thousand

Explanation of Signs - Scenic tourist destination: the number of star (from 1 to 4 ) corresponds to the degree of excellence of the location. - Tourist destination with historic heritages and/or cultural assets: the number of star (from 1 to 4) corresponds to the importance of respective location. - Grade of YH facility. 3-star is for the standard grade, and 4-star is for the highest grade.

Hakodate is the gateway to Hokkaido. The city has been a port open to the world since the Edo period (17c - 19c), where churches of foreign religious beliefs such as Russian Orthodox, which had been imported into the country then, remain standing. Hakodate's tourist attractions will include; a beautiful panorama of the town from the Hakodate-yama mountain top, of both day and, a newly developed recreational area located in the former port district, and the city's well known 'morning market'. There is Goryokaku, a pentagonal Dutch-style fortress, on the city's northern outskirts, or Yunokawa-onsen spa resort in the vicinity. [Access from major cities] Train / - Morioka St. <JR, ltd.express> 4hr15min. (364km) Hakodate St. - Aomori St. <JR, ltd.express> 2hr (160km) Hakodate St. - Sapporo St. <JR, ltd.express> 3hr20min. (319km) Hakodate St. Airplane / - Itami / Kansai Apt.(Osaka) 1hr40min. Hakodate Apt. - Nagoya Apt. 1hr 25min. Hakodate Apt. - Haneda Apt. (Tokyo) 1hr 20min. Hakodate Apt. - Sendai Apt. 1hr5min. Hakodate Apt. - Shin Chitose Apt. (Sapporo) 40min. Hakodate Apt. - Okatama Apt. (Sapporo) 45min. Hakodate Apt. - Hakodate Apt. <bus> 30min. Hakodate St. Long distance bus / Sapporo Bus Terminal <bus> 4hr50min. Hakodate St. (night bus also available) Boat & Bus Tokyo St. <bus> 1hr53min. Mito St.<bus>26 min. Oarai Ferry Terminal <boat> 19hr. Tomakomai Ferry Terminal <bus> 1hr48min. Sapporo St. [Food] Hakodate Night View Many restaurants and food vendors can be found at the morning market where varieties of fresh seafood are sold at reasonable prices. Ika-somen, raw squid cut in the shape of thin somen noodles, is one of the specialties of Hakodate. [Festival] Goryokaku Festival: 3rd Sat.,Sun. of May, Port Festival: Aug 1-5, Winter Festival & St. Valentines Street: Feb 1-14. [YH in the area] Hakodate YGH tel 0138-26-7892 [Tips on sightseeing] A half-day to one full day may be required for sightseeing. Tour buses depart from Hakodate St. One-day Pass, which gives an access to streetcar & city bus, is reasonably available at Yen 1000 (Two-day Pass: Yen 1700).

Main Route from Hakodate to Sapporo

Esan Esan is a dormant volcano facing the Tsugaru straits. Although the mountain is not high, its vegetation belongs to that of the cold area. There are several hot springs located at the foot of the mountain. Mizunashi Kaihin-onsen, an open-air hot spring by the seashore that becomes ready for bathing when the tide goes out, is particularly popular for its distinctive feature. One full day will be necessary for rambling in the area. [Access] Hakodate St. <bus> 2hr Esan-tozanguchi Onuma Onuma pond Mt. Komagatake that bears resemblance to Mt. Fuji rises gracefully over the ponds dotted with islets. One full day will be required for strolling. [Access] Hakodate St. <JR, ltd.express> 20min. Onuma-koen St. [YH in the area] Onuma-koen YH tel 0138-67-4126 Suttsu / Raiden- kaigan The steep cliffs that bear down the sea, with rocky beaches and sands woven in between, characterize the peculiarity of the coastline in this area. Small villages scatter along the deserted seashore. A highway runs beside the coast, providing panoramic window view from the bus. A 2-day1-night trip would be most appropriate for sightseeing in the area. [Access] Oshamanbe St. <bus> 1hr5min. Suttu <bus> 1hr Raiden-kaigan <bus> 10min. Iwanai <bus> 1hr25min. Otaru St. [YH in the area] Shimamaki YH tel 0136-74-5264 Niseko The peaks of Niseko, once active volcanoes that rise high beyond the forest latitude and into the air, command a superb panorama from atop. There is a bus that takes the passengers up on the highlands dotted with small lakes, where wide varieties of alpine flowers are to be found. Many ski runs are located on the mountainsides, and there is also a good deal of spa resorts in the neighborhood. Yoteizan, a mountain dubbed as 'Ezo-fuji' (Mt. Fuji of Hokkaido), rises beauti-fully before the eyes of the visitors. Niseko is an ideal place to spend a relaxed holiday. [Access] Oshamanbe St. <JR, local> 1hr30min. Niseko St. <bus> 25min. Niseko- yamanoie <bus> 40min. Kutchan St. <JR, local> 1hr30min. Otaru St. <JR, rapid> 35min. Sapporo St. [YH in the area] Niseko-kogen YH tel 0136-44-1171 Niseko Annupuri YH tel 0136-58-2084 Toyako Toyako is a beautiful caldera crater lake, of which volcanic hill rises up from the water to form an island in the center. On the eastern side of the lake, there are 'Showa-shinzan, an active volcano which began to up heave back in 1943, as well as the Usudake volcano that is currently in action. The mountaintops can be easily reached by cableways. The area abounds in hot springs. Kita-yuzawa YH is a recommended lodging for its high-quality facility and hot spring bath. A half-day shall be necessary for sightseeing. [Access] - Toya St. <bus> 15min. Toyako-onsen (cruising on the lake) <bus> 10min. Showa-shinzan. - Toyako-onsen <bus> 2hr35min. Sapporo St. [YH in the area] Kita-yuzawa YH tel 0142-68-6552 Muroran Muroran is a major industrial city. From a small cape on the bluffs called 'Chikyumisaki', a beautiful three-hundred-and-sixty-degree-panorama of sea and mountain can be enjoyed. A half-day may be required for sightseeing in the area. [Access] Higashi-muroran St. <JR, local> 13min Muroran St. <bus> 15min. Chikyumisaki-danchi <walk> 15min. Chikyumisaki (cape). [YH in the area] Muroran YH tel 0143-44-3357 Noboribetsu Noboribetsu-onsen is the largest spa resort in Hokkaido, with the affluent output of hot spring gushing out from the old craters. Tourist attractions of the area include; hot spring area called 'Jigokudani' (literary, the valley of hell), traces of old craters with spiracles, the mysterious Kuttara-ko Lake on the rear side of the val-ley, the Bear Ranch, 'Date-jidai Mura' (an architectural theme park) and so on. Three to Four hours may be required for sightseeing. There is a tour bus that departs Shin-Chitose Airport and arrives at Noboribetsu-onsen. [Access] - Noboribetsu St. <bus> 6 min. Noboribetsu-onsen. - Tomakomai St. <bus> 1hr30min. Noboribetsu-onsen. [YH in the area] Akashiya-so YH tel 0143-84-2616 Kanefuku YH tel 0143-84-2565 Shikotsuko Shikotsuko is a lake, which can be easily accessed, yet calm and picturesque. It is a crater lake surrounded by beautiful mountains such as Mt. Tarumae, a unique-looking one with a dome on its top, or Mt. Eniwa. There is also the Chitose River nearby, where a run of salmon can be observed in early winter. Hiking to the Okotanpe Lake would be one of the recommended activities for travelers visiting this area. A half-day to one full day would be necessary to see the important places in this area. Tour buses that make a visit to Shikotsuko depart either from Sapporo station or Shin-chitose Airport. [Access] - Tomakamai St. <bus> 40min. Shikotsuko. - Shin-chitose Apt. <bus> 50min. Shikotsuko. - Chitose St. <bus> 40min. Shikotsuko. - Sapporo St. <bus> 1hr25min.  Shikotsuko. [YH in the area] Shikotsuko YH tel 0123-25-2311 Utonaiko Utonai-ko Utonaiko is a lake on the plain. As migratory birds come flying to this lake in the wintertime, it is an ideal spot for bird watching. Two to three hours shall be required for the sightseeing in Utonaiko. [Access] Tomakomai St. <bus> 25min. Utonaiko. [YH in the area] Utonaiko YH tel 0144-58-2153

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