Hakodate & Southern Hokkaido Travel Guide

Hokkaido’s gateway from Honshu offers historic towns, pleasant waterfront and onsen. Start your journey from nostalgic Hakodate.

This travel guide includes relevant information about the places of interest and transport in Southern Hokkaido.


This ebook covers the following destinations:

• Hakodate: One of Japan’s first international trade ports opened in 1854, Hakodate is a romantic port town with an East-meets-West culture, historic buildings, markets and seafood. Motomachi district on a scenic hillside keeps a nostalgic atmosphere.

• Onuma Park & Around Hakodate: Rugged sea cliff, peaceful lakes, volcanic mountains and relaxing onsen, the region around Hakodate making for a popular excursion. Onuma Quasi-National Park is Southern Hokkaido’s top resort that offers graceful holiday, such as cycling and skiing.

• Matsumae & Hiyama: The spectacular coastal Oiwake Soran Line, stretch south from Matsumae to Hiyama Region, is the home of Hokkaido’s Japanese culture and historical heritages dating back to the feudal period. Japan’s northernmost castle town Matsumae and once the island’s main trading center Esashi keeps tasteful buildings and festivals.


• Special Features

Southern Hokkaido and Hakodate Major Bus Routes, Travel by Train, How to Take the Bus, Travel Glossary, Useful Phrases