Hakodate Walk, Hokkaido, Japan

Hakodate is a charming port city in Hokkaido known for its historic sites, fresh seafood, and beautiful night views from Mount Hakodate.

Hakodate is a popular vacation destination in Hokkaido that I didn’t know much about until I researched places to visit in the area. This small port city is not very well known to people outside of Japan; however, it turns out to be one of the most frequented spots for Japanese travelers. Since it is close to Sapporo, I decided to visit. I took the train from Sapporo to Hakodate.

This is the city center of Hakodate near Red Brick Warehouses.

Red Brick Warehouses

Back side

The Red Brick Warehouses in Hakodate are historic waterfront buildings now home to trendy shops, restaurants, and cultural experiences.

Inside one of the Brick Warehouses

After the Warehouse area, I walked toward the Hachiman-Zaka Slope

Back side.  This is the Hachiman-Zaka Slope

This slope became famous because TV dramas and movies were shot here.

Looked back at the slope again

The slope continues up

The view at the top of the slope

The cross street on top of the slope

On my left-hand side is a small shrine temple.

Came back to the street

Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward

The Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward is a beautifully preserved, early 20th-century Western-style building that once hosted dignitaries and social gatherings, featuring grand interiors and offering excellent views of Hakodate Bay from its hillside location.

Public halls are community-oriented buildings designed to host various activities and events, such as meetings, cultural performances, exhibitions, and social gatherings. They often serve as a hub for civic engagement, offering space for public and private functions and sometimes providing recreational or educational resources. Their architecture and purpose can vary widely, depending on the era and location.

Public Hall buildings in Japan

To the second floor

View of Hakodate Bay

Came out from the building

I walked back in the same direction from which I came.

I came back to the top of Hachiman-Zaka Slope. Many tourists were there to take pictures of the slope.

I passed the slope and continued walking in the same direction to reach the Hakodate Orthodox Church.

The Russian Orthodox Church in Hakodate, also known as the Church of the Resurrection, is a historic landmark built in 1916, featuring white walls, green domes, and Byzantine-style architecture, symbolizing the introduction of Orthodox Christianity to Japan by Russian missionaries.

Hakodate’s history as one of the first Japanese ports to open to international trade in 1859 under the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the United States led to its multicultural character. This openness attracted foreign merchants, diplomats, and missionaries, resulting in the construction of Western-style buildings, churches, and consulates. These structures, particularly in the Motomachi district, reflect the influence of the diverse international community that once thrived in the city, leaving behind a unique blend of Japanese and Western architectural heritage.

The Hakodate Ropeway (cable car) is a scenic cable car ride that transports visitors to the summit of Mount Hakodate, offering amazing panoramic views of the city, the bay, and the surrounding areas. Particularly popular at night, it provides one of Japan’s most famous nightscapes, often called a “million-dollar view.”

At the top station

Mount Hakodate offers panoramic views of the city, the bay, and the surrounding areas. The night view is more popular than the day view, but I was satisfied with the day view.

Came back down from the mountain by the rope way

Hakodate City Museum of Northern Peoples

The Hakodate City Museum of Northern Peoples, located in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan, is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the cultures of indigenous groups from the northern regions, including the Ainu, Uilta, and Aleut peoples. Housed in the historic former Bank of Japan Hakodate Branch building, constructed in 1926, the museum offers a unique blend of cultural exhibits within an architecturally significant setting.

The Ainu are an indigenous people of Japan, primarily living in Hokkaido, northern Honshu, and the Kuril Islands, with cultural and linguistic ties to other indigenous groups of the Russian Far East. Historically hunter-gatherers, the Ainu relied on fishing, hunting, and small-scale farming, with deep spiritual connections to nature, expressed through their animistic beliefs and rituals.

The museum’s extensive collection features traditional clothing, tools, artworks, musical instruments, and household items, providing insights into the daily lives, customs, and spiritual beliefs of these northern peoples. Notably, it holds the Baba Collection, the Kodama Collection, and artifacts collected by the Hokkaido Development Commissioner between 1879 and 1886.