Hakodate and the southern region of Hokkaido are famous for their exotic cityscapes and night views known as the "Million Dollar Nightscape. If you have always wanted to visit the area, now is your chance! Why don't you take advantage of various public transportation discounts such as "Gurutto Hokkaido" to save money on your trip?

In this issue, we will show you a model route for a 2-day/1-night "Hakodate/Donan Round Trip" to enjoy the attractive Hakodate/Donan area at a reasonable price using public transportation! We hope you will find it useful for your trip!

The trip starts with your arrival at JR Hakodate Station at around 9:00 a.m. This is a 2-day/1-night plan.

The first thing to do is to get a discounted train ticket! Purchase a "Hakodate City Tram One-Day Pass" (600 yen including tax for adults) at the Hakodate Tourist Information Center located inside the station and an "Isaribi One-Day Campass" (900 yen including tax) at the Hotel JR Inn Hakodate located next to the station.

The Isaribi 1-Day Campas to be used on the first day are tickets for the Donan Isaribi Railway, which runs from Goryokaku to Kikouchi, and buses within the designated Hakodate Bus area, allowing visitors to freely get on and off for one day. The Hakodate City Tram One-Day Pass, which will be used on the second day, is used by scratching the date you wish to board the train! Interesting!

<函館バス「函館駅前駅」から約20分 「湯倉神社前」着>

First, let's head to Yukura Shrine to pray for the safety of our trip. Hakodate City Tram is a convenient way to get to the shrine, but this time we will take the Hakodate Bus using the Isaribi One-Day Pass for a more economical fare.

Arrive at Yukura Shrine! After visiting the shrine, try your luck at the "Ikasu Omikuji", Hokkaido's local ezomikuji! The novelty of fishing for a squid mascot, a Hakodate specialty, will bring a smile to your face. The temple grounds are filled with other unique tricks that will make your time fly by.

Yukura Shrine

Location: 2-28-1 Yukawa-cho, Hakodate City
View past features of Yugura Shrine on Domingo

<About 25 minutes from Hakodate City Tram "Yunokawa Station" to "Hakodate Ekimae".
Approximately 1 hour from JR "Hakodate Station" Arrive at "Kikouchi Station" of Isaribi Railway

Since there was a short wait for the bus, we paid 250 yen at Hakodate Tram "Yunokawa Station", which was an earlier arrival, and went to "Hakodate Eki-mae". From Hakodate Station, take the Donan Isaribi Railway.

The Isaribi Railway operates between Goryokaku Station and Kikouchi Station, and can be reached without changing trains from Hakodate Station. However, a 250 yen fare from Hakodate to Goryokaku will be charged separately. The Isaribi Railway runs through the lush greenery of nature, somewhat nostalgic and cuddly.

Leaving Hakodate, head to the town of Kikonai in the neighboring city of Hokuto. The fare from Goryokaku Station to Kikonai Station is 980 yen, which already pays for the Isaribi 1-day pass! Kikonai Station is also a stop on the Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet train line, and the wooden interior is very nice. But there were other reasons to make the trip to Kikonai. ......

The "Michi-no-Eki Misogi-no-Sato Kikonai" stands across from the station! This is an amazing roadside station that has been repeatedly ranked No. 1 overall in a certain travel magazine's ranking of roadside stations in Japan. As if to counterpoint the station, the space here is also wood-toned and overflowing with a sense of openness.

Among various delicious-looking foods, the shopkeeper recommended "Misogi no tsuzumi" (miso soup), which is "quite popular! I ordered the "Misogi no Shio (salt) Soft Ice Cream," which was recommended by the shop staff. The salty taste accents the soft-serve ice cream's gentle sweetness, making it perfect for the hot summer.

After purchasing some goods of "Kiko," the official character of Kikonai Town, we will go back to Kikonai Station and take the Isaribi Railway to the next destination.

Roadside Station Misogi-no-Sato Kikonai

Location: 338-14 Aza-Honmachi, Kikonai-cho
Basic business hours: 9:00-18:00
View details about "Michi no Eki Misogi-no-Sato Kikonai" on Domingo

From Kikonai Station, take the Isaribi Railway to Watashimatobetsu Station. Rent a bicycle at the bike rental shop in front of the station and head to your next destination while soaking up the pleasant breezes of southern Hokkaido!

Riding the bike, you will see the "Trappist Monastery" at the end of a beautiful tree-lined avenue. The Trappist monastery is a men's monastery, a rarity in Japan. Even from the exterior of the building, you can feel the solemn atmosphere of the monastery.

The Trappist monastery is famous for its Trappist butter and Trappist cookies, which are popular souvenirs. And the rich butter-flavored soft ice cream is a taste that can only be found here! ......Hey? Didn't we have soft-serve ice cream earlier? Well, soft-serve ice cream is an essential part of a trip to Hokkaido.

Trappist Monastery

Location: 392 Mitsuishi, Hokuto City
View more info about "Trappist Monastery" on Domingo

<いさりび鉄道「渡島当別駅」から約43分 JR「函館駅」着>

Return the rental bicycle at Watashimatobetsu Station and jump on the Isaribi Railway again to JR Hakodate Station. Use the 600 yen Isaribi 1-day pass for the fare from Watashimatobetsu to Goryokaku, and as on the outbound trip, the 250 yen fare from Goryokaku to Hakodate will be actual cost. When you arrive in Hakodate, it is long past 16:00.

While strolling around the station area, we find a Hasegawa Store! Hasegawa Store is a convenience store established in Hakodate. Its specialty is "yakitori bento," which is grilled in the store upon order. The name "Yakitori Bento" is strange in that it is actually pork. So, although it is a little early, this is what we decided to have for dinner!

<函館バス（函館山登山バス）「函館駅前駅」から約15分 「函館山山頂駅」着>

When the sun goes down, head to Mount Hakodate. Hakodate, but since I have an Isaribi 1-day pass, I decided to use it to take the Hakodate Bus (Mt. Hakodate Mountain Climbing Bus). And what was waiting for me at the destination was .......

Hakodate is famous for the "Million Dollar Nightscape" seen from Mt! Hakodate, also known as one of the world's top three nightscapes, is a convincing sight to behold. The night view of Hakodate, which is also known as one of the three most spectacular night views in the world, is so brilliant that it is easy to lose track of time.

Mount Hakodate Observatory

Location: Mount Hakodate, Hakodate City
View more information about Mount Hakodate Observation Deck on Domingo

Today we will stay overnight in Hakodate City. Take a bus to Hakodate Station to end the first day of the trip!

<函館バス（函館山登山バス）「函館山山頂駅」から約15分「函館駅前駅」着>

The morning of the second day starts with Hakodate Morning Market! Hakodate Morning Market is only a 1-minute walk from JR Hakodate Station.

While listening to the cheerful calls emanating from the stores, feast your eyes on fresh seafood or try your hand at squid fishing at ....... Breakfast is, of course, kaisendon! What a gorgeous breakfast! With our bellies full, we are ready for what's to come.

<函館市電「函館駅前駅」から約17分 「五稜郭公園前駅」着>

From here, we will take the Hakodate City Tram to Goryokaku Park, using the one-day streetcar pass we purchased yesterday!

Goryokaku Park is famous for its star-shaped pentagon. In addition to history buffs, the number of visitors to the park has been increasing recently due to the manga/anime "Golden Kamui". In spring, the park is also known as a cherry blossom viewing spot, with some 1,540 cherry trees in bloom in the park.

And here is the 108-meter-high Goryokaku Tower in Goryokaku Park. Not only is the view from the observatory amazing, but the tower itself is also interesting and beautiful from below. The dazzling white color shines against the blue sky. Taking my time to explore the park, lunchtime quickly approached. It is time to leave.

Goryokaku Park

Location: 44 Goryokaku-cho, Hakodate
Opening hours: April - October 5:00 - 19:00 / November - March 5:00 - 18:00
View more information about Goryokaku Park on Domingo

<函館市電「五稜郭公園前駅」から約20分 「十字街駅」着>

Again, use the tram one-day pass to go from Goryokaku Park to Jujigai. It's time to get hungry. ......

So for lunch, I went to Lucky Pierrot, which is the place to go when you think of Hakodate! Lucky Pierrot is a local fast food restaurant in Hakodate. The most popular "Chinese Chicken Burger" has a unique taste unlike any other fast food. The fact that it is only available in Hakodate is what makes it so exciting!

In the afternoon, we will walk around the bay area to see the scenery typical of Hakodate, which prospered as a port town.

When people hear the word "Hakodate," they probably imagine a cluster of brick warehouses along with a night view of the city. The Kanamori Red Brick Warehouse is located in the bay area here. It is a great place to buy souvenirs and have a meal unique to Hakodate. This area is a pleasant place to walk around and take lots of pictures.

Kanamori Red Brick Warehouses

Location: 13-9 Suehiro-cho, Hakodate
Hours: 9:30-19:00
View details about Kanamori Red Brick Warehouses on Domingo

<函館市電「十字街駅」から約3分 「末広町駅」着>

Take the Hakodate City Tram from Jujigai to Suehirocho. Hakodate is known as the "City of Slopes" for its many slopes. There are a total of 19 such slopes in Hakodate! All of them are unique and beautiful, but Hachimanzaka, which was the location of a TV commercial in the past, is particularly famous. If you look back from the top of the hill, you can see the road leading straight down to Hakodate Bay. It is a refreshing sight.

There are also a number of stores selling soft-serve ice cream in this area within a 5-minute walking distance. It is fun to compare soft serve ice cream while conquering the slopes. Soft serve ice cream is an essential part of a trip to Hokkaido. ......

In the afternoon of the second day, we enjoyed the Goryokaku Tower, the bay area, and the slopes, which are typical of Hakodate. It is almost time to go home. We took the Hakodate City Tram from Suehirocho to Hakodate Station. This is the last time to use the one-day streetcar pass.

<函館市電「末広町駅」から約10分 「函館駅前駅」着>

I have arrived at Hakodate Station! So, how was your trip to Hakodate and Southern Hokkaido by public transportation? In addition to being able to visit the standard spots that represent Hakodate and Donan, using the buses and trains that are rooted in the region will make you feel as if you are getting to know the area even better. Please take a look at these tips for planning a budget-friendly trip!