Hokkaido Official Tourism Site HOKKAIDO LOVE!

Hakodate, with its Goryokaku Park, Kanamori Red Brick Warehouse, and other attractions packed into a compact area, is perfect for weekend sightseeing. Hakodate is recommended for beginners traveling alone, as they can enjoy gourmet food and shopping at their leisure.

"Hakodate City Tram" is the best way to get around the city. While streetcars are used as a means of transportation by citizens, they are also very convenient for getting to major sightseeing spots and are popular among tourists as they can be used with a transportation system IC card.

Convenient free passes are available, so be sure to take advantage of them to visit various spots.

Since you're on a solo trip, why not enjoy some local gourmet food that the citizens of Hakodate love during your lunchtime?

First, let me introduce you to "Lucky Pierrot," a hamburger chain with a flashy exterior that catches the eye. Known affectionately as "Lappi" by the locals, it has even been crowned the best local burger in Japan. The most popular item, the Chinese Chicken Burger, is incredibly juicy and generously portioned. It's also made with ingredients from Hokkaido, including the local area. Be sure to try this soul food of Hakodate!

Additionally, when you think of Hakodate, you can't miss the authentic salt ramen. The long-established "Hakodate Menchubo Ajisai Main Store," which has been around for about 90 years, is popular for its nostalgic taste that hasn't changed since its founding. The soup, made by slowly simmering chicken bones and pork bones, has a light yet deeply flavorful taste that is truly exquisite! There are also many other traditional and unique ramen shops in Hakodate, so be sure to find your favorite salt ramen.

Goryokaku was the scene of the Hakodate War, the final battle of the Boshin War. This star-shaped fortress, built by order of the shogunate, was the most advanced Western-style fortification of its time, with few blind spots on the defensive side.

If you want to see the star-shaped castle from above, go to the observation deck of Goryokaku Tower! From the second floor of the observation deck, 90 meters above ground level, you can enjoy a spectacular view of Goryokaku as well as Hakodate city. The beauty of Goryokaku in each of the four seasons is sure to catch your eye: cherry blossoms in spring, deep green in summer, autumn leaves in fall, and pure white snow in winter! The first floor of the observation deck has a transparent tempered glass floor that provides a thrilling walk in the air.

Goryokaku Park has historical remains such as cannons and stone walls, and the Hakodate Magistrate's Office, restored in 2010, is a place where visitors can learn more about Goryokaku even if they are not familiar with its history, including a sitting room that faithfully reproduces the conditions at the end of the Edo period and an exhibition that explains the history of Goryokaku. A stroll through the park while thinking back to the final days of the Tokugawa shogunate is a wonderful experience.

It takes about 25 minutes by streetcar from Goryokaku Park to Motomachi area. Once you arrive in Motomachi, head to "Hachimanzaka," one of Hakodate's most famous slopes. When you turn around at the top of the slope, you'll be greeted by a view that looks like a movie poster. The view is impressive, with a straight road leading directly to the sea!

Motomachi area, dotted with churches of different denominations, is a spot where you can feel a particularly exotic atmosphere in Hakodate. The most prominent "Motomachi Roman Catholic Church" is a beautiful Gothic-style building with a high spire, and its grandeur is overwhelming. Mass is held on Sundays, but it is also open for tours at other times. The solemn interior of the church is a spot where solo travelers can take their time to explore.

In addition, there are other unique churches such as Japan's first Russian Orthodox Church "Hakodate Orthodox Church" and "Hakodate St. John's Church" with its white walls adorned with crosses on all sides.

Motomachi can be enjoyed even after sunset. As evening falls, the entire town lights up beautifully. The night view of Hachimanzaka illuminated by streetlights and Hakodate Port spreading out below is breathtaking, offering a different atmosphere from the daytime. The churches and Western-style buildings are also lit up, enhancing their beauty. The "Motomachi Roman Catholic Church," which you visited during the day, is illuminated in two colors, creating a magical atmosphere.

While the night view from Mount Hakodate is famous, the night view from "Motomachi Park" is also highly recommended. From Motomachi Park, located at the foot of Mount Hakodate, you can get a closer view of the illuminated Goryokaku Tower, the Mashu Maru, and the night view of Hakodate Bay. It is a hidden night view spot with fewer people and a more relaxed atmosphere than Mount Hakodate, making it an easy place to visit even for solo travelers.

When you think of Hakodate, you might imagine delicious seafood like squid. At "Local Cuisine Restaurant Nebokke," you can enjoy unique Hakodate specialties such as "Nebokke Sashimi," along with other dishes that focus on local seafood and mountain delicacies.

For a taste of Hakodate's unique atmosphere, visit "Hakodate Beer Hall" located in the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse. The Hakodate Beer Hall, which first opened in 1898 (Meiji 33) in Yachigashira-cho as Hakodate's first beer hall, has been recreated with its original charm. Enjoy local beer in the brick-built interior and immerse yourself in Hakodate's history.

Meeting new people during your travels is also one of the joys of solo travel. At the restaurant, be sure to sit at the counter where regulars often gather. If you take the plunge and start a conversation, you might find yourself in lively discussions and even learn about hidden spots you didn't know about!

Staying at a hot spring inn alone might feel a bit daunting for a solo female traveler... In that case, how about using a day-use hot spring and staying at a hotel around JR Hakodate Station?

Yunokawa Onsen is attractive for its easy access, being about 20-30 minutes by bus or streetcar from JR Hakodate Station. The hot spring resort is lined with hotels and inns, and about 10 of them offer day-use hot springs. You can soak away your travel fatigue in open-air baths with night views or in hot springs with water directly from the source.

Around JR Hakodate Station, there are various hotels where solo female travelers can stay with peace of mind, ranging from clean business hotels like "Route Inn Grantia Hakodate Ekimae" and "Super Hotel Hakodate" to stylishly renovated hotels like "HakoBA."

Let's wake up early in the morning and head to the popular spot, "Hakodate Morning Market"! Located just a minute's walk from JR Hakodate Station, the Hakodate Morning Market is perfect for a morning stroll. The market features four large indoor markets and about 250 street stalls, bustling with lively voices selling fresh seafood, vegetables, and dried goods.

In the "Ekini Market" area of the morning market, the specialty is the "Fishing for fresh squid," where you can catch squid yourself and eat it on the spot. It's easy to catch the squid by hooking the needle onto the squid's ear (emperor), so even beginners can enjoy the experience. The sashimi prepared on the spot is exceptional, especially the squid liver (ika-goro), a rare delicacy unique to Hakodate that can only be enjoyed with truly fresh squid.

In the "Donburi Yokocho" area, which has about 20 restaurants, you can enjoy a variety of seafood rice bowls. The seafood rice bowls, topped with freshly caught seafood, are truly a treasure chest of the sea! It's sure to elevate your mood with a slightly luxurious breakfast.

The Bay Area is the best place to find souvenirs in Hakodate. The Kanamori Red Brick Warehouse is a facility consisting of three shopping buildings (BAY Hakodate, Kanamori Yobutsukan, and Hakodate History Plaza) and the multipurpose Kanamori Hall. The retro buildings, which have been used as warehouses since the Meiji period (1868-1912), are lined with unique general merchandise stores and cafes, making it an exciting experience just to look around!

The red brick warehouse-inspired sundries, postcards, and other cute items are perfect for a memorable trip. Take your time to look around and find your favorite item.

Hakodate is the perfect city for a free-spirited solo trip. Each of the four seasons has its own charm, so there is always something new to discover. Whenever you feel inspired, hop on a plane or the Shinkansen to Hakodate! Enjoy a “Solo Female Travel” on the streetcar.