1
Motomachi Area

The Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward, a National Important Cultural Property built in the Meiji era and a symbol of Motomachi

The Motomachi area is a town where the beauty of Hakodate is condensed, featuring slopes with different views, harbor scenery from high ground, and streets lined with historic buildings that blend Japanese and Western styles. That Motomachi......is home to Motomachi Park, located at the top of the representative slope, 'Motozaka'. ThisThe symbol of the park is the Former Hakodate Ward Public Hall, a Western-style building constructed in 1910 (Meiji 43) through a massive donation by local wealthy merchant Teppei Soma. Inside the hall, which retains the glamorous atmosphere of the Meiji era, you can see furnishings and furniture used since its original construction. Additionally, at the "Hakodate Haikara Costume Hall," you can dress up in period-inspired dresses or hakama and enjoy taking photos at various viewpoints within the building.

Packed with highlights such as Hachimanzaka Slope and the Old British Consulate

Motomachi Park is also dotted with other historical buildings, such as the Former Hokkaido Government Hakodate Branch Office, which is now used as a cafe where you can enjoy sweets, and the Former Kaitakushi Hakodate Branch Office Book Depository. Nearby, there are also famous tourist spots like the Former British Consulate of Hakodate and Hachiman-zaka Slope, so it is recommended to use this park as a starting point to visit neighboring historical buildings or spend a relaxing time at a cafe. Motomachi is an area where you can encounter beautiful scenery no matter where you walk.

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Located just down Motomachi Park from Motoyizaka, the Hakodate City Northern Peoples Museum is a hidden gem where you can gain a deep understanding of Ainu history. It exhibits valuable items such as clothing and daily necessities of the Ainu and other northern peoples.

Motomachi Area

• 12 Motomachi, Hakodate City, Hokkaido
• Approx. 15 minutes by the OMO5 Hakodate exclusive "Hakodate Guru-Guru Free Bus" for guests, or approx. 10 minutes by car from JR Hakodate Station
• Approx. 5-minute walk from "Suehiro-cho" tram stop
• Park admission is free
  Former Hakodate Ward Public Hall: Summer season (April 1 - October 31) Tuesday - Friday 9:00 - 18:00 (Saturday - Monday 19:00)
  Winter season (November 1 - March 31) 9:00 - 17:00 *Last admission 30 minutes before closing
• Former Hakodate Ward Public Hall: December 31 - January 3
• Former Hakodate Ward Public Hall: Admission 300 yen for adults, 150 yen for students and children
• 0138-23-5440 (Hakodate City Tourist Information Center)
• None (please use nearby paid parking)

2
Bay Area

Tour the Red Brick Warehouses while enjoying the scenery of the port town

This area symbolizes Hakodate as an international tourist city. Along the seaside road, typical of a port town, various historical buildings, shops, restaurants, and cafes line the streets. At its center is the "Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse." Established in 1887 (Meiji 20) as Hakodate's first commercial warehouse, it was reborn in 1988 (Showa 63) as a commercial facility where you can enjoy shopping and dining. In addition to buildings selling miscellaneous goods, apparel, and souvenirs, there is the "Hakodate Beer Hall" where you can enjoy local beer, and the "Kanemori Hall," which hosts events and live performances.

Enjoy shopping and dining at a complex that lets you feel the atmosphere of the Meiji era

The bay area has another red-brick symbol: "Hakodate Meijikan," which was built in 1911 (Meiji 44) as the Hakodate Post Office and later became a multi-purpose commercial facility. Here, you can purchase glass products, music boxes, accessories, teddy bear-related goods, and more. It also features an experience workshop where you can try your hand at making original crafts.

Next door, at the "Hakodate Seafood Market," you can purchase souvenirs such as processed marine products and sweets, and also enjoy freshly prepared dishes using fresh seafood at the food court inside. It is a gourmet spot popular even among locals.

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Hakodate Port Suehiro Green Space, located about a one-minute walk from the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, is a superb viewing spot with the sea spreading out before you. Within the plaza and its surroundings, there is a bronze statue of Joseph Hardy Neesima and the 'Monument to the First Step in Hokkaido,' a statue of a white brown bear boldly stylized by woodcarver Isao Nemoto.

Bay Area

• Around Toyokawa-cho and Suehiro-cho, Hakodate City, Hokkaido
• Approx. 20 minutes via the guest-exclusive "Hakodate Guru-Guru Free Bus" from OMO5 Hakodate
  Approx. 5 minutes by car from JR Hakodate Station
  Approx. 5 minutes on foot from Jujigai tram stop

3
Hakodateyama Ropeway

After a 3-minute aerial stroll, a breathtaking night view spreads out before your eyes

To reach the 334m-high summit of Mount Hakodate, take the ropeway from the Sanroku Station and arrive at the top in about 3 minutes. From the observation deck, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the beautiful night scenery created by the fan-shaped cityscape nestled between Hakodate Bay and the Tsugaru Strait.

The most popular time to visit is during the twilight magic hour, which occurs 15 to 20 minutes after sunset. To avoid crowds, we recommend visiting after 8:00 PM in the summer and after 7:00 PM in the winter. Additionally, Isaribi Park, located on the opposite side of the observation deck after getting off the ropeway, is a relatively uncrowded hidden gem.

Mount Hakodate during the day is also recommended for taking your time to enjoy the cityscape

While Mount Hakodate gets crowded at night during the tourist season,if you want to enjoy the view of the Hakodate city area at a leisurely pace,visiting during the day is also recommended. On clear days, you can see Mount Komagatake, the Tsugaru Strait, and even the Shimokita Peninsula. Since fog often occurs from May to June, it is a good idea to check the live camera footage of the summit on the official Hakodate Ropeway website in advance for peace of mind.

For those who are more active, hiking is also recommended. There are several courses, all of which allow you to reach the summit in about an hour by walking along gentle mountain paths.

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The observation deck also features restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy the night view, as well as shops selling original goods and souvenirs.

Mount Hakodate Ropeway

• 19-7 Motomachi, Hakodate City, HokkaidoMAP
• Approx. 10 minutes via the guest-exclusive "Hakodate Guru-Guru Free Bus" from OMO5 Hakodate
  Approx. 10 minutes by car from JR Hakodate Station
  Approx. 10 minutes on foot from Jujigai tram stop
• April 20 – September 30: First departure 10:00, last ascent 21:00, last descent 22:00
  October 1 – April 19: First departure 10:00, last ascent 20:30, last descent 21:00
• Open all year round
• Ropeway fare: Adults (junior high school students and older) 1,800 yen round trip / 1,200 yen one way; Children 900 yen round trip / 600 yen one way
• 0138-23-3105
• Use the "Hakodateyama Sanroku Sightseeing Parking Lot" adjacent to the Sanroku Station
  300 yen for the first hour (plus 150 yen for every 30 minutes thereafter)
  

4
Hakodate Jiyu Market

A market that enjoys immense trust from locals and chefs alike

The origins of the Hakodate Jiyu Market date back to the post-war period, when rice, vegetables, and fish were brought from the surrounding Hakodate area and Aomori to the area in front of Hakodate Station, leading to the spontaneous formation of an open-air market. Today, more than 30 shops line the market, many of which have long been cherished for their highly specialized selections. The market is filled with seasonal ingredients from all over the country, including seafood caught in local waters, and the shop owners and staff, who are experts in their respective fields, are happy to friendly share their recommendations for the day and how best to enjoy the food. The fact that many of Hakodate's chefs come here to source their ingredients is a testament to the market's high level of trust.

Enjoy the seafood you bought right on the spot

"At Hakodate Jiyu Market, quality comes first. Our customers have sophisticated palates, so we cannot handle subpar goods," says the chairman of the market association. In fact, 70% of the visitors to the market are locals and 30% are tourists, showing that it is well-supported by the citizens of Hakodate.

On the other hand, there are also initiatives to ensure tourists have a good time. For example, there is a space where you can have the fish you purchased prepared by the shop and enjoy it with rice and miso soup, a charcoal grilling area where you can buy seafood and grill it yourself, and a live squid fishing pond. It is not just about buying things to take home; being able to enjoy them on the spot is also a major appeal.

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With shops specializing in squid, salmon, or a wide variety of shellfish, you'll find experts in each field lined up side by side. We recommend taking a walk around the market first to narrow down what you want to buy. If you're planning to shop, the best time to go is between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM.

Hakodate Jiyu Market

• 1-2 Shinkawa-cho, Hakodate City, HokkaidoMAP
• Approx. 5 minutes via the "Hakodate Guru-Guru Free Bus" (exclusive to guests) from OMO5 Hakodate
  Approx. 12 minutes on foot from JR Hakodate Station
  Approx. 1 minute on foot from the "Shinkawa-cho" tram stop
• Approx. 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM (varies by shop)
• Sunday
• 0138-27-2200
• Available

5
Goryokaku Park

The final stage of the Boshin War, now a relaxing spot that celebrates the beauty of the four seasons

Goryokaku was built by the Edo Shogunate and later became the final fortress for the former shogunate army led by Takeaki Enomoto and Toshizo Hijikata during the Battle of Hakodate, the final battle of the Boshin War. It was later designated as a Special Historic Site of Japan and is now affectionately known as Goryokaku Park. Its appeal lies in how it changes its appearance with the seasons; in spring, it becomes a famous cherry blossom viewing spot with approximately 1,600 trees in full bloom, while in summer, it is bustling with people enjoying walks and jogging along the greenery-covered paths. In autumn, it is dyed in vibrant colors by the fall foliage, and in winter, it is beautifully illuminated with lights tracing the star shape of the five-pointed fortress.

Get a panoramic view of the star-shaped Goryokaku and the city of Hakodate from the Goryokaku Tower

Adjacent to Goryokaku Park is the Goryokaku Tower, a landmark of Hakodate and the only place where you can view the entire Goryokaku site. At a height of 107 meters, the second observation deck offers not only a view of the entire star-shaped Goryokaku but also a 360-degree panorama of Mount Hakodate, the city, and the Tsugaru Strait.

Also located in the center of the park is a historical reconstruction of the Hakodate Magistrate's Office, which bore the heavy responsibility of northern border defense and foreign negotiations at the end of the Edo period. Here, you can enjoy exploring history through various content, including a corner that explains the reconstruction process and a video theater.

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At the Hakodate City Northern Pacific Fishery Museum, located just a short walk from Goryokaku Park, you can trace the history of the Northern Pacific fishery that helped Hakodate develop as a port town. In addition to viewing valuable materials, you can experience the fishing industry of that time through exhibits like a simulator that recreates the wheelhouse of a solo fishing boat.

Goryokaku Park

• 44 Goryokaku-cho, Hakodate-shi, Hokkaido MAP
• Approx. 20 min via the "Hakodate Guru-Guru Free Bus" (exclusive for OMO5 Hakodate guests)
  Approx. 15 min by car from JR Hakodate Station
  Approx. 10 min walk from "Goryokaku Koen-mae" tram stop
• Inside the enclosure (inside the moat): April–October 5:00–19:00, November–March 5:00–18:00
  Goryokaku Tower: 9:00–18:00 (Observation deck admission until 17:50)
• None
• Goryokaku Tower: Adults 1,200 yen, Junior/Senior high school students 900 yen, Elementary school students 600 yen
• 0138-31-5505 (Management Office)
  0138-51-4785 (Goryokaku Tower)
• None (Please use nearby paid parking)