Hakodate is one of Hokkaido's leading tourist destinations.
Hakodate, which attracts many tourists every year, has a wide variety of guidebooks available.

However, there are many places where it's unclear where to go and in what order, and the model courses only feature the usual, well-known spots.

Therefore, I would like to suggest a slightly different way to sightsee in Hakodate as a one-day driving trip.
This is almost exactly the same route I took when I toured Hakodate for a day.

You can visit all the spots in order and complete the tour in one day, but please note that some locations require advance reservations.
This driving plan mainly covers the outskirts of Hakodate, so the distance covered is considerable. Please enjoy sightseeing in Hakodate at a leisurely pace and drive safely.

<Table of Contents>
1. Hakodate Karl Raymond "Raymond House Motomachi Store"
2. Hasegawa Store
3. Trappistine Convent
4. Karl Raymond Headquarters Factory
5. Hakodate Wine Budokan Main Store
6. Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station
7. Hokuto Fishery
8. Trappist Monastery
9. Michi-no-Eki Misogi-no-Sato Kikonai
10. Hotel Kaikyo no Kaze
Final thoughts

When it comes to gourmet food in Hakodate, Carl Raymond is a name that always comes up.

Raymond House Motomachi store is built on the former site of Carl Raymond's factory, located at the foot of Mount Hakodate.

Located in an area brimming with exotic charm, this is a must-visit spot when sightseeing in the Motomachi district.

The first floor has a shop and fast food restaurants, while the second floor houses the "Raymond Historical Exhibition Hall," which can be visited free of charge.

The official website offers coupons that can be used at fast food restaurants, so don't forget to print them out and bring them with you!

[Raymond House Motomachi Store]
Address: 3-92 Suzuranoka-cho, Hakodate City, Hokkaido
Telephone number: 0138-55-4596
Hours: 9: 00 ~ 18: 00
URL:http://www.raymon.co.jp/

One of the top three famous gourmet items in Hakodate is the "Yakitori Bento" from Hasegawa Store (commonly known as Hasesuto).
You'll probably see them in various places, mainly around Hakodate city.

If you've never tried it before, this is a dish I highly recommend you stop by and try at least once.

Although it's called "yakitori," in this region it refers to pork. You can choose between salt and sauce, but you can also order a mix.

My recommendation is the "Yakitori Bento (small)" which comes with three skewers, one mixed with salt and two with sauce.
The lid of the bento box has a skewer-shaped notch, so you can insert a skewer into it, hold the lid firmly, and pull it out to easily remove the meat from the skewer.

The Trappistine Convent is an essential stop on any sightseeing trip to Hakodate.

As the first women's convent in Japan, a sacred atmosphere permeates the grounds.
In addition to religious statues, the grounds also house a museum where visitors can catch a glimpse of the nuns' lives in a solemn atmosphere.

Many websites describe the Trappistine Monastery, so here, let's focus on the "Citizens' Forest" located near the entrance.

This public forest boasts the largest hydrangea garden in Hokkaido, with approximately 13,000 colorful hydrangea plants blooming across its vast grounds.

The best time to visit is from July to August, and with a park path that stretches for about 2 kilometers, it's perfect for a leisurely stroll.
After returning from my walk, my usual routine is to take a break at a shop that sells rich, creamy soft-serve ice cream.

[Trappistine Convent]
Address: 346 Kamiyukawa-cho, Hakodate City, Hokkaido
Opening hours: (summer) 8:00-17:00 (winter) 8:00-16:30

When people think of Karl Raymond, many probably imagine the "Raymond House Motomachi Store," but the Karl Raymond headquarters and factory are located in an area away from downtown Hakodate.
Reservations are required in advance, making it a hidden gem with hardly any people.

Upon entering the factory, you'll first be shown a video about Carl Raymond, and then you can slowly observe the manufacturing process downstairs through the glass windows on the second floor.
Upon returning from the tour, samples will be available for tasting, and products can be purchased at the factory outlet store at a 10% discount off the regular price.

[Carl Raymond Headquarters Factory]
Address: 3-92 Suzuranoka-cho, Hakodate City
Telephone number: 0120-39-4186
Reception hours: 9:00 AM to 16:00 PM (excluding Sundays, Wednesdays, and some public holidays)
URL:http://www.raymon.co.jp/about/factory.php

The main branch of "Budokan Seibu Store," located on the 1st floor of "Hakodate Meijikan," is "Hakodate Wine Budokan Main Store" in Nanae Town.
This is a directly managed store located next to the headquarters and factory of "Hakodate Wine Co., Ltd."

They always offer more than five types of free wine tastings and winery-exclusive products, and their popular "wine soft serve ice cream" comes in two flavors: red and white.
If you make a reservation in advance, you can also take a tour of the adjacent winery.

[Hakodate Wine Budokan Main Store]
Address: 11 Kamifujishiro, Nanae-cho, Kameda-gun, Hokkaido (adjacent to the head office factory)
Telephone number: 0138-65-8170
Hours: 10: 00 ~ 18: 00
URL:http://www.hakodatewine.co.jp/

The Hokkaido Shinkansen opened on March 26, 2016. Its terminal station is Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station.

Although it has "Hakodate" in its name, the station is actually located in Hokuto City, which is next to Hakodate City.
Therefore, it is located quite far from Hakodate Station.

You'll need to change trains from here to get to Hakodate city.

At the end of the free passage on the second floor of the station, you can see a giant rice paddy art installation through the windows.
Another must-see spot here is the best viewpoint for the Hokkaido Shinkansen, located at the south exit of the station.

A simple observation deck has been set up on the roof of the "Municipal Multi-story Parking Garage," from which you can watch the Hokkaido Shinkansen arriving at and departing from the station.

If you want to take pictures of the Hokkaido Shinkansen, this spot is more recommended than the platform.

[Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station]
Address: 1-1-1 Ichiwata, Hokuto City, Hokkaido

Hokuto Fishery opened at the end of 2015 as a direct-sales store with eat-in facilities, operated by the local fisheries cooperative.
You can enjoy shellfish such as oysters, surf clams, scallops, and whelks steamed and grilled on a hot plate.

While frozen items and prices may vary depending on the season, being able to watch the food being grilled right in front of you is a uniquely Hokkaido way of eating.

When you sit down, they even provide you with gloves, as if to say, "Please go ahead and grill it yourself," but don't worry, the staff will take care of everything until it's cooked.

When I went, they were using frozen oysters, but the oysters, which were steamed on a metal lid, were large, plump, and juicy.

They offer reasonably priced set menus, so if you're not driving, it's perfect to enjoy them with a beer!

[Hokuto Fishery]
Address: 1-13-29 Iio, Hokuto City, Hokkaido
Telephone number: 0138-73-0700
Hours: 11: 00 ~ 17: 00
Closed on Mondays

While the Trappistine Convent is a popular tourist spot in Hakodate as a women's convent, there is also a men's convent in Hakodate. That is the "Trappist Monastery."

If you peek through the fence in the first photo, you can see the scene in the second photo.
While you can only view the building from the outside, men only are allowed to tour the interior every Tuesday at 14 PM, with a limited number of people. (Advance registration required)

The popular Trappist cookies, a popular souvenir from Hakodate, are made here.

The shop in the parking lot sells products made within the monastery, but the one thing you absolutely must try here is the soft-serve ice cream.
This product uses milk produced near Hakodate and is generously made with Trappist fermented butter.

This creamy soft-serve ice cream has a clean aftertaste, with a subtle hint of butter lingering in the finish.
A unique feature is that it comes with a Trappist cookie instead of a spoon.

You can choose between a cup and a waffle cone, but we recommend the waffle cone, which is made with fermented butter.

[Trappist Monastery]
Address: 392 Mitsuishi, Hokuto City, Hokkaido
Telephone number: 0138-75-2139
URL:http://www.trappist.or.jp/

"Misogi no Sato Kikonai" is a roadside station located in front of Kikonai Station on the Hokkaido Shinkansen line.

This new roadside station, which just opened in 2016, houses restaurants, shops, a bakery, and more.

"Koppen Dodo," where you can enjoy freshly baked bread, is popular for its coppe bread sandwiches and salt bread.

[Roadside Station Misogi no Sato Kikonai]
Address: 338-14 Honmachi, Kikonai-cho, Kamiiso-gun, Hokkaido
Telephone number: 01392-2-3161
営業時間：9:00～18:00（7/1～8/20は9:00～19:00）
Regular closing days: None
URL:http://kikonai.jp/

HAKODATE Kaikyo no Kaze (Sea Breeze) opened on April 25, 2016, as an annex to "Yumoto Takuboku-tei" in Yunokawa Onsen.

With its stylish interior, based on the concept of "Taisho Romance, Showa Retro, and Heisei Modern," the hotel has a relaxed atmosphere reminiscent of a luxury hotel.

Upon entering the building, the first step is check-in. A welcome drink and snacks are offered, allowing you to relax and check in at your leisure.

We'll head to the room, passing through a stylish space.

It is connected to the neighboring "Yumoto Takuboku-tei," allowing you to go back and forth without going outside, and you can also use the baths at Takuboku-tei.

The room I stayed in that day was a slightly luxurious "Japanese-Western style room with a private bath with a view."

The spacious rooms and private baths with views mean you can enjoy a bath anytime, 24 hours a day, without worrying about other people seeing you.

This room was perfect for resting my tired body after sightseeing in Hakodate.

At the "Seikan Market" restaurant, you can enjoy fresh seafood in a buffet style.
One of the unique features of this place is that they don't serve meat dishes.

Personally, I'm the type of person who feels that meat is essential for any meal, but the wide variety of seafood and the delicious, creatively prepared dishes really whet my appetite.

You can order grilled dishes on the spot and have them served fresh, and the live squid is prepared right in front of you, so it's incredibly fresh!

Final thoughts

We've introduced some sightseeing spots as part of a one-day driving trip to Hakodate.

I deliberately avoided including too many popular spots and focused on introducing hidden gems, unique places, and restaurants.

And now, the hot spring hotel in Hakodate that I would most highly recommend is "HAKODATE Kaikyo no Kaze," which only opened in 2016. It is clean, tranquil, and the perfect hot spring hotel to soothe your travel fatigue.

The price is a little on the higher side, but you can expect service that's well worth it, so it's my top recommendation among the hot spring hotels in Hakodate!

There will be many festivals and events as we head into the summer season.
Since the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen, the number of tourists visiting Hakodate has increased, making it difficult to make reservations for hotels and other accommodations.

Book your tickets and plan your trip early to fully enjoy sightseeing in Hakodate!

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