Hakodate: Feeling the Chill in Hakodate (Plus) Four Points by Sheraton Hakodate Review

Before we begin our review today, we would like to express our deepest condolences and support to the people of Hokkaido who have been affected by the recent devastating earthquake, the most severe in decades. We understand that the situation is gradually returning to normal, and preparations are underway to welcome tourists once again. 頑張って (Ganbatte)!

It has been almost a year since we last went on a long trip together. Due to work and school commitments, we haven't had the chance to travel anywhere. Today, we have some free time, so let's dust off our memories of our impromptu New Year's trip to Japan. Nowadays, it's incredibly easy to travel to Japan. When Thais can't think of anywhere else to go, they head to Japan. At the beginning of last year, we decided to visit the Tohoku region, which includes Yamagata Prefecture, Aomori Prefecture, and finally, Hokkaido, the largest prefecture in northern Japan.

Hokkaido boasts numerous charming cities, including Sapporo, whose rapid development rivals that of Tokyo or Osaka. Hakodate, a gateway city connecting mainland Japan on Honshu Island, is another must-visit destination. It marks the terminus of the Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo, before transferring to local trains bound for Sapporo and other cities. Many travelers may overlook Hakodate in their haste to reach Sapporo, as the journey from Hakodate to Sapporo is no short feat, requiring at least half a day of travel. However, for those with ample time, a stopover in Hakodate is highly recommended. This compact city offers a day's worth of exploration, Michelin-star-worthy views, and fresh, affordable seafood. These reasons alone were sufficient for us to spend two nights here. Moreover, the journey from Aomori takes just over an hour to reach Hakodate.

Before we take you on a tour, let's take a look at the accommodation first. This time we are staying at Fourpoint by Sheraton Hakodate, which has been completely renovated from an old hotel. Not only is it clean, modern, and affordable (the water pressure is great, I like it!), but the location is also fantastic. Downstairs there is a frozen seafood supermarket, next to the hotel is the morning market and Hakodate's main seafood market, and best of all, it is located right in front of the train station. The day I arrived, there was a snowstorm, luckily the hotel is right in front of the station so I only had to drag my luggage through the snow (which was quite thick) and the cold weather for a couple of minutes. Luckily, I arrived before noon and the hotel was kind enough to let me check in early. I was able to take a relaxing soak in the warm water while waiting for the snow to stop. The rooms here are basic but spacious, and the TV has international channels, making it comfortable and affordable. I recommend it. Let's take a look at the room to help you decide before we continue our tour.

Across from the hotel is the morning market, but we went in the afternoon, so it was closed. However, there is a food center next to the market with seafood restaurants that get their ingredients from the morning market. The prices are reasonable, and I think all the restaurants are delicious. In addition to the food center, there are many restaurants around the hotel.

After a satisfying meal, it's time to explore Hakodate. While not a large city, it served as the capital of the Bakufu government before Sapporo's establishment. As one of the first port cities open to Western culture after the Meiji Restoration, Hakodate boasts architecture reminiscent of the early Meiji period (around the early reign of King Rama V). Most tourist attractions are located south of the central train station. For those who prefer not to brave the snow on foot, trams offer a convenient alternative. However, I opted for walking, covering several locations within an hour.

After the snow stopped for a while, the sun shone through the thick clouds. I rushed to take the cable car with my friend to see the Michelin-starred view. If we didn't go up today, it might snow heavily tomorrow and we wouldn't be able to go up. This is one of the advantages of traveling without a tour, because we can adjust the time and place on the spot.

We started our ascent around 4 pm, almost 5 pm, as the sun sets around 5:30 pm during the winter season. We hurried up the hill, walking straight from the warehouse for about ten minutes. It was a bit slippery because we were in a hurry, but we made it to the cable car station. Fortunately, there weren't many people when we arrived. Looking back, I saw a large group of Thai and Chinese tour groups chattering in the lobby. When Thais gather in groups, they are just as loud as the Chinese, I must say. 555. It was really lucky that we went up. Even though we had to endure the freezing temperatures, we got a great view without having to fight anyone for space. We were able to capture the atmosphere from dusk until each house started turning on their lights, and it got dark. I'm sharing pictures from every moment so that everyone can plan their trip and decide what time is best to go up. In conclusion, I stayed there for about three hours until 8 pm, and then I came down with a cold.

The temperature plummeted below zero as I descended from the mountain at 8 pm. The sky grew ominous, hinting at another snowstorm. Despite the biting cold, Hakodate's harbor area remained bustling. For dinner, I headed to the famous Lucky Burger near the warehouse district. As soon as I finished my meal, heavy snow began to fall, forcing me to trudge back to my hotel through the blizzard. It was my first experience walking through a snowstorm.

The travelogue of my trip to Japan in early spring. I am currently in Hakodate, spending my last night here before taking the train to Sapporo tomorrow. It turned out to be a heavy snowstorm last night. This is my first time experiencing such heavy snowfall. I was looking for trouble, or rather, I wanted to experience heavy snowfall. I didn't dare to do this when I was in Switzerland, but tonight, the snow seems to be falling less, allowing us to go out and explore Hakodate in the snow tomorrow. This is the snow in front of the train station, which is right in front of our room.

As expected, although the day is a bit overcast, it is definitely possible to go sightseeing. There was no snowfall at all from morning to evening, but the sky was not very beautiful. After arriving in Hakodate, the first goal was to have breakfast at the morning market. Let's go to the famous morning market next to the Fourpoint where we are staying.

No text provided for translation.

The morning market was not very crowded, perhaps because it was a weekday. However, once the tour groups arrived, the place became bustling with people. Our goal was to follow the advice on Pantip and eat hairy crab and taraba crab. We even brought seafood dipping sauce from Thailand, hoping to enjoy a delicious meal. The crabs here were indeed large and reasonably priced, and they were fresh from the sea. We stopped at a shop with a friendly owner who offered large crabs at an affordable price of just over a thousand baht. As our mouths were watering, a customer next to us chose a large crab, paid for it, and the owner steamed it right in front of us. At that moment, our appetite vanished as we saw the crab desperately trying to escape. Looking at the other crabs, we knew they wouldn't survive, and it was just the natural order of things. In the end, my partner and I decided to cancel our plan to eat hairy crab in Hakodate. We nodded in agreement and went to eat salmon rice and ikura don at the same old restaurant we had visited the day before. So, our visit to the morning market was just a walk, not a food tasting. Oh, but don't forget the melon! It was delicious and my favorite.

After a hearty breakfast, we decided to take the tram to the northernmost station. It was the end of the line, and there was nothing to see except the Goryokaku Park. However, the tram map showed that there was more to see. The end of the line had the same name as the station: Yunokawa Hot Spring. They said we could take pictures of the monkeys bathing in the onsen. Oats and I decided to go to Yunokawa to digest our breakfast.

The Yunokawa Onsen is arguably the most convenient hot spring in Hakodate, eliminating the need for a long journey into the mountains. The final station also houses a historic hotel or inn, which we initially considered staying at to enjoy the hot spring. However, its distance from the city center, despite not being isolated, and the lack of proximity to other tourist attractions, made us opt for the numerous hotels near the train station, which are likely more affordable. However, for those driving outside of the snowy season, this hotel is a good option.

Before heading to the Botanical Garden, we decided to watch monkeys bathing in the onsen, despite the freezing temperatures. Fortunately, Yunokawa has a pavilion with a footbath, where we competed with a young child who seemed to thoroughly enjoy the experience. While our feet were hot from the bath, the cold air above made us realize that warming our feet could warm our entire bodies. We ended up soaking for almost half an hour before continuing to the Botanical Garden, which is about a 10-minute walk from the station. The only challenge was avoiding slips, as I managed to fall twice in Hakodate, bringing my total to eight falls in this city alone. Thankfully, the falls were mostly on the soft, marshmallow-like snow, minimizing any injuries.

Upon arrival, I was slightly disappointed. Although it was still early morning and the snow had begun to melt, the monkeys were indeed soaking in the hot spring. However, the scenery was not as picturesque as in Nikko or Hakone, as the monkeys were not surrounded by snow. Additionally, the monkeys appeared to be poorly cared for, as they seemed thin, with patchy fur and shedding. The botanical garden also seemed somewhat deserted. The entrance fee was charged, but there were no staff at the gate, which was open. The ticket booth was closed, and it seemed that the center was closed for the day. However, after a while, an elderly staff member came to sell tickets. The place had an eerie atmosphere, perhaps because it was still early in the morning on a workday. This area is located on the outskirts of Hakodate.

Slightly disappointed by the botanical garden, I walked back to the tram station. As I arrived, it started snowing again. It was a pity that if I had stayed a little longer, I could have captured a picture of the monkeys in the snow. Nevertheless, I continued my journey. This time, we took the tram back to the city. After passing the station where we took the cable car to enjoy the view, we went to a shrine. We got off at Yachigashira Station, not Yunokawa as the Hakodate tourism website itself stated. The two stations are located at opposite ends of the city. This shrine is called the Eight-Gate Shrine or Hachiman Shrine. Its main feature is the red torii gate, which offers a view of Hakodate Bay. On the day of our visit, there was no one around, and the shrine was closed. The snow was thick and soft, tempting me to lie down and roll around in it. However, I refrained, fearing that it might turn into an ice bath and cause problems. Let's take a look at the atmosphere of the shrine.

Instead of taking the tram back from the shrine, it is recommended to continue walking. Walk straight down to the Motomachi district, which is one of the oldest parts of Hakodate. Hakodate was one of the first port cities in Japan to open its doors to foreign trade over 150 years ago. Motomachi was the first area to develop during that time, and the streets that were built under Western influence remain to this day. The sloping streets offer views of the harbor and Western-style buildings, such as foreign churches and old consulate buildings. This area is therefore well worth a walk. Motomachi has a beautiful scenery like in a movie, making it a perfect backdrop for taking pictures. In particular, don't miss the opportunity to enjoy sweets at the former British Consulate. And far from the consulate is the Hachiman-zaka slope, which slopes down to Hakodate Bay. It is a landscape that is often used as a location for filming movies. Oh, not this slope below, scroll down a few more pictures.

The golden-hued building below is the Old Public Hall, a significant cultural asset. It boasts an impressive main hall and various rooms reserved for distinguished guests. Members of the Japanese royal family have stayed in these rooms during their visits to Hakodate.

The morning trip to Hakodate after the New Year was surprisingly quiet, possibly due to it being a weekday. While there were few tourists in the morning, I did encounter a group of Thai tourists who requested a photo together, particularly at the Hachiman-zaka Slope, where there were many Thai tourists taking pictures. With nothing else to do, I decided to head to the Red Brick Warehouse for lunch, which was only a 5-minute walk from Motomachi.

The final stop of this trip is Goryokaku Park. It is recommended to visit this park during twilight, as the maple leaves will be illuminated by the five-pointed star lights, making for beautiful photos. I arrived after dark and couldn't see much. The tower also has an exhibition on the history of the city, with models depicting the time when Western powers were about to exert their influence on Hakodate. It's quite a walk from the Goryokaku-koen-mae tram station. P.S. If you're hungry, there's a delicious and affordable sushi conveyor belt restaurant near the park. I heard that the manager is Thai, so you might get extra good service. I didn't meet the manager, but the service was still excellent. I highly recommend this restaurant. Thank you for following along. I'll take you on another trip when I have a long weekend and don't have to study for exams. Good night.