Mount Hakodate (Hakodateyama), Hokkaido

Mt. Hakodate is famous for its night view, but there are also many attractions for the daytime view “Day view”. Unlike the popular night view, there are few people and you can see the scenery slowly. From the top of the mountain, you can see the churches at the base, the bay area, and the Goryokaku Tower. Access is convenient if you use the streetcars that connect the main tourist spots. After strolling around the Hakodate Motomachi area, which has a fascinating retro structure, head to the summit by ropeway. Let’s enjoy the beautiful scenery created by the cityscape of Hakodate and the special terrain.
There are various means such as route buses, taxis and car rentals for sightseeing in Hakodate, but it is recommended to use the Hakodate tram if you want to go around the major sightseeing spots in the city. The all-day ticket is 600 yen for unlimited rides and is advantageous if you get on and off more than three times. In addition to the route map, this one-day ticket includes a tourist area map, so it’s easy to see where to get off to get to the destination. Also, if you show your one-day ticket at a souvenir shop or tour facility, you may get a discount.
Sightseeing spots that can be accessed by Hakodate Tramway include Yunokawa Onsen, Goryokaku Park, Bay Area, and the Motomachi area at the foot of Mt. Hakodate. Because there are many trains and there is less waiting time, you can move efficiently. There are various designs of cars, such as cute ones and retro ones, and it is one of the pleasures to wait for “What kind of vehicle is next?” While riding, you can see the cityscape of Hakodate slowly, and you can enjoy sightseeing in Hakodate while viewing the scenery and taking photos from the train window.
There are buses, ropeways, private cars, taxis, etc. to climb Mt. Hakodate, but if you want to enjoy the scenery, the ropeway is recommended. If you use the ropeway, it takes just 3 minutes from the base station to the summit. The scenery that spreads under the eyes as you ascend to climb Mt. Hakodate at once is a masterpiece.
At the peak of the night view from sunset for 1 to 2 hours, it is crowded and you can hardly stand on the window side, and it is difficult to take videos and photos while riding on the ropeway. But it is easy during the day. If you line up a few minutes earlier than the boarding time, you will definitely get the best window-side position facing the city.
The advantage of going to Mt. Hakodate during the day is not only that it is more vacant than the night, but you can enjoy the scenery slowly. In the daytime view, you can see Goryokaku Tower, the Bay Area warehouses, and the Motomachi area church in the distance.
The Hakodate Church of St. John can also clearly see the brown roof in the shape of a cross. You can also find places you have walked from the top of the mountain, or look at the sightseeing spots from the top against the Hakodate City sightseeing map.
The beautiful scenery created by the special terrain of the sea and Hakodate is as good as the night view. A city like a miniature model can be seen only in the daytime. This is the scenery you want to experience with the night view.
If you head to the Motomachi area on the Hakodate Tramway, it is recommended that you walk around the churches and historic buildings on foot. Motomachi is an area where the charm of Retro City Hakodate is packed so much that it is not exaggerated to say that a view spot appears after a few steps. It is best to walk slowly.

There are plenty of things to enjoy

Speaking of Mt. Hakodate (Hakodateyama), it is a classic spot of Hakodate sightseeing. Although many tourists visit the night view, the city of Hakodate, which has unique landscape and natural environment close to the main island of Japan, can enjoy beautiful scenery in the daytime. There are plenty of things to enjoy in addition to the scenery, such as the Mt. Hakodate Ropeway mountain foot station and the mountaintop observation platform which was renewed as the Hokkaido Shinkansen Line (the bullet train) opened.

The scene produced by this sectoral landscape has earned high praise

Mount Hakodate is a mountain with an altitude of 334 meters. It was once born as an island of stacked ocean floor volcanoes. Then, the shaved earth and sand became a sandbar and were connected with land. And, it was formed the topography of Hakodate which is surrounded by the sea on the three sides. The scene produced by this sectoral landscape has earned high praise from home and abroad.

You can see the beautiful setting sun

People who would like to enjoy the night view of Mt. Hakodate, the sunset gradually decreases as the sun sets and the color of the sky changes, it is recommended to watch from 1 hour before sunset. If you go outdoors from the 2nd floor of the observation deck, go to the place where the monument of Mt. Hakodate is located and see the direction on the left side toward the city area, you can see the beautiful setting sun.

The large panorama expand in front of you

When you look back after enjoying the scenery of the sunset, a beautiful night view spreads before you. If you climb the rooftop which is the highest place in the observation deck and look at the night view, it will further expand the large panorama.

From Mt. Hakodate Ropeway, you can enjoy the views of the seasons

In order to arrive at the top of the mountain, basically you will use the ropeway. It is a large gondola with 125 passengers, and the required time is about 3 minutes on one way. On the way to the mountaintop on the gondola, you can see the Motomachi church group on the right side. From Mt. Hakodate Ropeway, you can enjoy the views of the seasons, such as lush green of summer, autumn leaves, winter snow scenery. Especially, the view of spring is especially recommended. There are more than 30 cherry blossoms planted, in addition to old trees called “Hyakunen Zakura” (the Cherry Blossoms for Centuries). You can see these from the gondola.

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