Hokkaido boasts many attractive tourist destinations. Among the many places that can be enjoyed throughout all seasons, Hakodate, an international tourist city, is a must-visit.

Hakodate, arguably Hokkaido's second-largest city, has tourist attractions everywhere, making it impossible to visit all of them within a limited travel time. Therefore, I'd like to suggest...
"Model plans tailored to your specific purpose!"
This time, we'll introduce an efficient model course using the streetcar, which is practically the main mode of transportation for Hakodate residents!

1. This is a diagram of the streetcar's operating system.

If you're visiting Hakodate for sightseeing, the most convenient way to get around is definitely by streetcar!
Hakodate is a wonderful city where you can get around to most of the tourist spots by streetcar!
Route ② (in red) is Yunokawa ⇔ Yachigashira,
Route 5 (in blue) runs between Yunokawa and Hakodate Dock.
These two lines form the core of the network, carrying many tourists and locals every day with a clatter and rumble. When sightseeing, you'll want to get on and off the trains efficiently to see everything.

Using the tram, you can enjoy sightseeing in this international tourist city all day long, from the Yunokawa Onsen area to the bay area. We recommend the "Hakodate Tram & Bus 1-Day Pass."

--Hakodate City Tram Information--
■Regular fare: Starting adult fare 210 yen
■Streetcar 1-Day Pass: Adults (Junior high school students and older) 600 yen; Children (Ages 1 to elementary school students) 300 yen ■Streetcar and Hakodate Bus 1-Day Pass: Adults (Junior high school students and older) 1,000 yen; Children (Ages 1 to elementary school students) 500 yen
* You can use the following: regular route buses (in the area indicated on the route map), the Palopeway shuttle bus, and the Hakodateyama mountain climbing bus.

2. Hakodate Model Courses by Purpose

★Recommended courses for girls' trips and couples

The tours mainly focus on international culture, including monasteries, consulates, and foreign cemeteries.
Skip Suehirocho and get off at Hakodate Station. After lunch, you can enjoy a "hill-hopping" tour starting from Motomachi!
There are 18 hills from the Jujigai area to in front of Hakodate Dock. The scenery is magnificent no matter where you look, whether you're ahead or behind. (Incidentally, I love climbing hills, but it requires a lot of stamina.)

★Recommended model course for families

The plan is primarily designed for children to enjoy.
At Yunokawa Monkey Mountain in Yunokawa, you can see monkeys relaxing in the hot springs until around springtime. (Unfortunately, they don't have towels on their heads.)
A visit to the Hakodate Maru replica allows you to see a replica of the first Western-style sailing ship built in Japan, so you'll be amazed not only by the technology but also by its sheer size!

---Hakodate Maru Tourist Information---
■Address: 14-13 Omachi, Hakodate City, Hokkaido
■Phone: 0138-21-3323 (Hakodate City Tourism and Convention Department, Brand Promotion Division)

3. Highlights of the suggested sightseeing route

• [Yunokawa] Trappistine Monastery

The Trappistine Convent is Catholic and was founded in 1898 by eight nuns sent from France. During the Reformation, the term "Trappistine" was adopted from the name of the Trapp Abbey in France, a Cistercian monastery famous for its strict discipline. It is the first women's convent in Japan.

You can stop by the museum or take a stroll through the garden and see statues of Michael, Saint Teresa, and Mary. It's a pleasant place with great views. Popular souvenirs include Trappistine cookies and rosaries. These might be items you'll want to pick up on a girls' trip!

For those of us living in the outside world, this will likely be a time to realize just how much freedom brings happiness.

---Trappistine Convent Tourist Information---
■Address: 346 Kamiyukawa-cho, Hakodate City　
■Telephone: 0138-57-3331
■Opening hours: 8:10 AM - 17:00 PM (8:20 AM - 16:30 PM during winter)
■Holidays: Wednesdays (Sundays during winter)
■ Admission: Free

• Family-friendly courses include a tropical botanical garden.

A monkey taking a break in an open-air bath...it's a heartwarming sight for both children and adults.
*Note: You cannot enter with monkeys.
The adorable sight of them enjoying a bath and looking so comfortable delights both children and adults!
This botanical garden is packed with attractions and activities, including a play area for toddlers, flowerbeds overflowing with seasonal flowers, a rabbit petting area, and a greenhouse. You'll have a lot of fun!

I recommend spending the entire morning playing and having fun, working up an appetite, before heading to the market.

---Tropical Botanical Garden Tourist Information---
■Address: 3-1-15 Yukawa-cho, Hakodate City, Hokkaido 042-0932
■Telephone: 0138-57-7833
■営業時間：４月～10月：午前9：30～18：00・1月～3月 ：午前9：30～16：30
■ Admission Fee: Elementary and Junior High School Students 100 yen, Adults 300 yen

・[Yunokawa → Hakodate Station] Stroll through Hakodate Morning Market & have a rice bowl lunch!!

Hakodate Morning Market is famous as a filming location for movies and dramas, isn't it?
Take a leisurely stroll through the lively and bustling market to warm up before your meal! (Get ready to eat a lot!) And for lunch, when you come to Hokkaido, you'll definitely want to choose seafood!

At Donburi Yokocho, you can enjoy luxurious rice bowls topped with sea urchin, salmon roe, and sweet crab, as well as lunches generously filled with golden, additive-free sea urchin—choose according to your preference!

---Hakodate Morning Market Tourist Information---
■Address: 9-19 Wakamatsu-cho, Hakodate City, Hokkaido 040-0063
■Telephone: 0138-22-7981
■Opening hours: 8:10 AM - 17:00 PM (8:20 AM - 16:30 PM during winter)
■Holidays: Open all year round (may vary by store)
　　　　May to December (1:00 AM to 4:00 PM)
　　　　May to December (5:00 AM to 12:00 PM)
■ Admission: Free
*Hakodate Morning Market Donburi Yokocho is located next to the morning market.

・How about taking a little detour and going to meet some heroes from the Bakumatsu period?

A 15-minute walk from JR Hakodate Station will take you to the monument marking the final resting place of Hijikata Toshizo. It was erected in 48 by volunteers to commemorate Hijikata Toshizo, the vice-commander of the Shinsengumi, who died in a fierce battle in Hakodate.

Apparently, many fans from all over the country visit during the Goryokaku Festival in May!

• [Hakodate Station Front → Suehirocho] Former British Consulate

Enjoy a relaxing tea time in a building designated as a tangible cultural property by Hakodate City!
Hakodate opened as an international trading port at the end of the Edo period. Interestingly, the British Consulate was also established there in the same year. In 21, it was renovated to commemorate the 150th anniversary of its opening, and you can now see the exhibits and other displays.

After your stroll, you can enjoy tea at the adjacent cafe, feeling like you're in England. (By the way, the tea is truly delicious.)

---Former British Consulate Tourist Information---
■Address: 33-14 Motomachi, Hakodate City
■Telephone: 0138-27-8159
■Opening hours: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM (until 5:00 PM from November to March)
■Holidays: Only during the New Year period
■Admission fee: 350 yen for adults (exhibition room admission fee)
　　　　　Children: 150 yen (admission fee to the exhibition hall)

・[Suehirocho → Hakodate Dock]

After getting off the train, we went to the foreign cemetery located in front of the sea.
When Hakodate was a thriving international city, many foreigners also came to the city.
This is a cemetery for Americans who were part of Perry's fleet, as well as Chinese and Russians who died without being able to return to their home countries.
It's very well maintained and has become one of the top tourist destinations. The view is absolutely stunning!

・[Hakodate Dock Front → Jujigai] When it gets dark, the night view of Hakodate is a must, right?

The famous night view spots known for their million-dollar views are a must-see.
Hakodate's night view is famous for being so beautiful it takes your breath away, isn't it?
Seeing it in person is completely different from seeing it in a photograph. For a night view that both adults and children can enjoy, I recommend going to see it a little before dusk.

As night falls, the lights of each house begin to come on, and the sight of the city being painted with light like a large canvas is quite beautiful. For more details about Hakodate's night view, please see the following page!
Spectacular Views! Everything You Need to Know and Hidden Gems to Enjoy Hakodate's Night View to the Fullest

---Hakodateyama Ropeway Tourist Information---
■Address: 19-7 Motomachi, Hakodate City
■Telephone: 0138-23-6288
■Opening Hours: Last ascent at 9:50 PM (April 25th - October 15th) ←Summer
　Last ascent at 8:50 PM (October 16th - April 24th) ← Winter
■Accessible station: Approximately 3 minutes from the ropeway base station
■Fares: Adults 500 yen (one way), 900 yen (round trip) (790 yen round trip in winter)
　　Children: 250 yen (one way), 450 yen (round trip) (390 yen round trip in winter)

・[Motomachi] Take a stroll through the illuminated churches

The area is dotted with famous churches.
Hakodate St. John's Church. It's built so that it looks like a "cross" when viewed from above!

Hakodate Orthodox Church is designated as a nationally important cultural property.
Catholic architecture looks even more stunning when lit up at night! You can really feel the rich history of the diverse cultures that have accumulated in Hakodate, a city often called an international hub.

・[Jujigai → Jujigai] Cross the streetcar tracks that have been so helpful to us and head to the Red Brick Warehouse!

And the perfect way to end the day is at a beer hall! Let's enjoy some Hakodate beer in a charming red brick warehouse.
The Red Brick Warehouse offers plenty of shopping and dining options, with lots of cafes and restaurants to choose from. We recommend toasting with a glass of beer! Cheers to a great day of sightseeing!

---epilogue---

What did you think? My suggested tram route is somewhat subjective, but I chose it in a way that allows you to spend a relatively long time at each sightseeing spot.

Rather than rushing to visit every famous tourist spot, you'll definitely create better memories by leisurely exploring key points of interest! (A whirlwind tour could ruin your sightseeing experience...)

Perhaps the best advice I can give right now is to plan your trip carefully so that you don't end up visiting tourist spots but not remembering their names. I hope you find your "favorite" in Hakodate!

↓↓Click here for great deals on tours to Hakodate↓↓

Please also check out these related articles.

• 

  Is this really Japan?! 10 Must-See Stunning White Hokkaido Sceneries You Can Only See in Winter

• 

  This is perfect! The complete guide to must-see sights and tourist spots in Eastern Hokkaido!

• 

  What's Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station like? From the station's interior to parking information.

• 

  One hour was enough to satisfy me! A solo food tour report of Sapporo Autumn Fest.

• 

  I found happiness! ♡ Visiting Sapporo shrines using a one-day subway pass.

• 

  7 Hidden Gems in Sapporo | Restaurants Only Insiders Know, Not Found in Guidebooks

• 

  A roundup of Chitose's tourist spots that you'll want to visit on your first or last day of your Hokkaido trip!

• 

  A new hotspot in Kushiro! Introducing the charm and ways to enjoy Kushinosuke Honten.

Introducing our sister site (please check it out if you're interested)