We spent yesterday afternoon and evening and most of today exploring Hakodate and I love it! It’s such a cool city with a great vibe. There is so much history and culture, and although it is a big city, it feels different to other cities around Hokkaido we have visited so far.

Here’s a run down on all things Hakodate:

1. Goryokaku.
   Goryokaku is a star shaped fort in the heart of Hakodate. It was designed in 1855 by and Japanese man named Takeda Hisaburo. His plan was based on the work of a french architect whose name I have forgotten already. It was purposely designed and built like a five-pointed star to allow greater numbers of gun emplacements on its walls than a traditional Japanese fortress, and to reduced the number of blind spots where cannons could not fire. Clever.
   We went to the top of a purpose built tower to look over the Hakodate city-scape and see Goryokaku from above, which was really interesting.
   
   

   The tower

   

   

   The star-shaped fort viewed from the tower (as you can see most of the snow has melted here and the ground is recovering from the winter).

   

   In springtime (not our photo)

   

   Hakodate

   

   Spring is almost here!

    

2. Mount Hakodate ropeway.
   After we checked into our hotel we walked to the ropeway that takes you to the top of mount Hakodate. The view from the top was great at night, with all of the city lights sparkling and reflecting on the water.

   

3. Hakodate Morning Markets (Fish markets).
   We got up early and walked down to the fish markets. It wasn’t quite as big as Stephen and I were expecting, but there was still lots of fresh seafood available. We didn’t spend too long here (once you’ve seen one squid you’ve seen them all), so here are a few photos of the sorts of things you can find here.
   

   

   BIG crabs

   

   clams

   

   filleted fish

   

   squid, squid, suid

   

   giant octopus

   

   sea urchins

   

   check out those tentacles!

   4. Motomachi area.
   Motomachi was the first area really to flourish after Hakodate started foreign trading. This led to the Western-influenced streetscape which remains now. With sloping streets offering views of the port and western-japanese fusion buildings such as foreign churches and old consulate buildings, we really enjoyed our leisurely stroll around the area.

   

   Former public hall

   

   

   Old Branch Office of Hokkaido Government

   

   British consulate

   

   The founding fathers of Hakodate city’s design and layout

   5. Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse area.
   Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse was the first commercial warehouse built in Hakodate. It now houses over 50 restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops. It’s located down at the wharf near the dock and it has a cool funky vibe.
   
   You’re all Hakodate experts now. So let’s re-cap with these cute little tourist photo boards (note how Stephen is not in any of them! haha).
   M.