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Port of Hakodate
Hakodate Port was opened together with Yokohama and Nagasaki as Japan's first international trading ports in 1859. Facing out onto the Tsugaru Strait that divides Hokkaido and Honshu, it lies in an important position for shipping traffic, and was at the forefront of the modernization of Hokkaido. It plays a significant role in shipping with America, Canada, Russia, China and Korea via the Pacific Ocean and sea of Japan.
Sightseeing highlights of surrounding area
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- Goryokaku-koen Park
- A western-style fortress built at the end of the Shogunate, its grounds house a 107m tower and an art gallery, and the restored magistrate's office is also scheduled for opening.
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- Hakodate Morning Market
- This enormous market boast around 280 stores selling local seafood, fruit and vegetables, as well as vendors selling fresh sea urchins, salmon roe and scallops.
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- Mt. Hakodate
- The viewing deck on the 334m peak offers sweeping views of Hakodate City and Port. Together with Hong Kong and Naples, it is listed as one of the world's 3 great night views.
MICHELIN GREEN GUIDE 3STAR
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- Motomachi-koen Park at the foot of Mt. Hakodate
- The center of the former Hokkaido-Donan administration. Western-style houses and brickwork buildings and churches are dotted along the elevated area that overlooks the port.
Culture
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- Foods >
- Ika dish (squid dish)
- In Hakodate, you can enjoy dishes of fresh and transparent squid, either as sashimi or Ika soumen, which is Ika squid cut in thin strips like somen noodles.
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- Hakodate’s night view
- Hakodate’s night view is thought to be the most beautiful in the world. Town lights at night on the narrowest part of the peninsula look like earth-bound constellations.
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- Event >
- Shimin Sousaku (residents’production) Hakodate Yagaigeki (outdoor play) (early July through early August)
- This important event is an outdoor play, set in Goryoukaku fort, in which Hakodate citizens enact Hakodate’s unique history.
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- Heritage >
- Shiretoko
- One of the criteria for this site’s registration is as a “Food Chain from Ocean to Mountain”. The drift ice that comes to the Shiretoko Peninsula in winter carries a lot of plankton. Salmon feed on the plankton and then swim upstream in the rivers in Shiretoko in autumn. The salmon are caught by brown bears and white-tailed eagles. Left-over food and feces of the animals then become nutrient for plants. For this reason, the registered World Natural Heritage Site extends to about 3 km offshore from the coastline. This is Japan’s first World Natural Heritage site that includes ocean area. Blakiston’s fish-owls and Steller’s sea-eagles, which are designated as endangered species, live in this area.
Excursion information
| 2 hour course | Enjoy fresh locally caught seafood, vegetables, fruits and dairy products |
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| 4 hour course | Enjoy historical assets are where many foreigners lived at the end of 19th. century |
| 6 hour course | Enjoy beautiful nature and landscape with Mt. Komagatake, three lakes and many islands |
Passenger terminal information
Tourist information desk (on board and in the city).
| Special reception service | welcome ceremony (welcome speech, bouquet presentation), sail away event (Squid Dance, Japanese Drum and etc.) etc. |
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Facilities for the disabled
Toilets for the disabled
Location
2-31 Minato-cho, Hakodate City, Hokkaido, 041-0821
Access
| Nearest station | Hakodate Station on JR Hakodate Line (30 mins by bus, 20 mins by taxi) |
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| Airport | Hakodate Airport(50 mins by bus , 30 mins by taxi) |
Tourist information center
Hakodate Tourist Information Center
JR Hakodate Station, 12-13 Wakamatsu-cho, Hakodate City, Hokkaido, 040-0063
TEL : +81-138-23-5440
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