Support site for "Hokkaido Comprehensive Tourist Map (Marumaru Hokkaido)" for a bird's eye view of sightseeing in Hokkaido
Hokkaido Information for Slow Travel｜Marumaru Hokkaido｜Southern Hokkaido Area
Southern Hokkaido Area
Southern Hokkaido, centering on Hakodate City, famous for the world’s three most beautiful night views, is a gourmet area with a mild climate, the oldest history, and beautiful cherry blossoms.
Hakodate City
Hakodate was the first city of note in Hokkaido’s modern history. Hakodate became a trading port lined with foreign trading posts in the Meiji era (1868-1912), and later became the center port of Japan’s North Sea fishing industry. The honor of the world’s three most spectacular nightscapes from Mount Hakodate is a testament to its prosperity. A “Hakodate Town Walk” is made possible by the concentration of buildings and historical sites from each era. You can also enjoy the seafood cuisine of the port town and the hot springs of Yunokawa. The city is attracting attention for its Jomon cultural heritage of Hokkaido.
Popular stores
Area Attractions
Hakodate Morning Market / Daimon Yokocho / Mt. Hakodate Ropeway / Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses / Old Hakodate Public Hall / Old British Consulate / Goryokaku Park / Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden / Hakodate Magistrate’s Office / Yunokawa Onsen
Local Gourmet
Squid dishSushi / Hakodate Salt-flavored Ramen / Crab / Seafood Rice Bowl / Hakodate Wain
Hokuto City
Adjacent to Hakodate City, Hokuto City, the first and last stop on the Hokkaido Shinkansen Line, is a key location for sightseeing in southern Hokkaido. The city functions as a city surrounded by nature, facing the Tsugaru Straits and the Kijihiki Plateau. The city has a mild climate with little snowfall among Hokkaido, and is popular for cherry blossom sightseeing with cherry blossom viewing spots scattered throughout the city in late April.
Area Attractions
Trappist Monastery / Weeping cherry blossoms in Houki Temple / Kijihiki Highland Panoramic lookout (outdoor) / Hachirounuma / Hekirichi Jinya Ruins of Matsumae Clan / Birthplace of paddy
Special Product
Trappist products / Tomato juice / Rice (Fukkurinko) / Garou oyster etc. / Wakame seaweed, Funori seaweed
Mori-machi
Surrounded by Mt. Komagatake in Hokkaido and Uchiura Bay, Morimachi has an abundance of seafood from the sea and mountains that make the most of nature’s bounty. Ika-meshi (squid rice) is a popular ekiben (boxed lunch box). In spring, the town is famous for its cherry blossoms, with more than 1,000 cherry trees in bloom.
Area Attractions
Mt. Komagatake in Hokkaido / Oniushi Park／Torizaki Hakkei / The monument of disembark in Washinoki.(Former Shogunate Army) / Nigorikawa Onsen / Michi-no-Eki You Yu Mori
Local Gourmet
Ikameshi (stuffed squid) / Sushi / Soba / Hikoma Pork / Kamaboko (boiled fish paste) / Scallops Golden Roast / Ice-Cream (gelato) / Edamame (Tamafukura)
Shikabe Town
Adjacent to Hakodate City, Hokuto City, the first and last stop on the Hokkaido Shinkansen Line, is a key location for sightseeing in southern Hokkaido. The city functions as a city surrounded by nature, facing the Tsugaru Straits and the Kijihiki Plateau. The city has a mild climate with little snowfall among Hokkaido, and is popular for cherry blossom sightseeing with cherry blossom viewing spots scattered throughout the city in late April.
Area Attractions
Trappist Monastery / Weeping cherry blossoms in Houki Temple / Kijihiki Highland Panoramic lookout (outdoor) / Hachirounuma / Hekirichi Jinya Ruins of Matsumae Clan / Birthplace of paddy
Special product
Trappist products / Tomato juice / Rice (Fukkurinko) / Garou oyster etc. / Wakame seaweed, Funori seaweed
Nanae Town
The area is located in a scenic natural environment, including Onuma National Park, which has long been known as a scenic spot and has been selected as one of the three new scenic spots in Japan. The colors of Lake Onuma and Mt. Komagatake soothe the hearts of visitors in spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Area Attractions
Onuma National Park / Onuma, Onuma, Konuma, Water shield swamp / Akamatsu Road / View from Mt. Nipporiyama / Joutai Skyline / Activities / Fruit Picking / Ski Resort / Michi-no-Eki Nanairo, Nanae / Danshaku Lounge
Special Product
Onuma dango (dumplings), ice cream and soft-serve ice cream, a variety of fruits, Hakodate wine, junsai, wakasagi tsukudani (food boiled in soy sauce) and raft baking, ramen noodles
Kikonai Town
Adjacent to the Onuma National Park and the great nature of Mt. Komagatake, the fishing and seafood processing industries are thriving, and many processed marine products, including cod roe, are shipped to the area. It is also a hot spring town with intermittent hot springs spouting out, a testament to the abundance of hot water.
Area Attractions
Tulips at Cape Saraki / Kanrinmaru / Satsukari Murakami Shiba Sakura-en / Kanchu Misogi Matsuri (Festival) / Michi-no-Eki Misogi-no-Sato Kikonai (Roadside Rest Area)
Special Product
Hakodate Wagyu beef / locally brewed liquor Misogi-no-mai / Kyujo Jingiskan / Koukou Mochi / Hijiki
Esashi Town
The “herring fishery of Esashi” was the goal of the merchants who boarded the Kitamae Ship. It was off the coast of Ezashi that the prosperity of Hokkaido began and the last warship of the Edo Shogunate, the Kaiyomaru, sank as it headed for the modern state. The many layers of history can be heard in the Ezashi Oiwake and the Ubajin Grand Shrine Procession Festival.
Area Attractions
The setting sun at Kamome Island / Inishie Kaido Street / Oiwake, Esashi Demonstration / Old Hiyama Nishi-gun government office (Esashi-cho Local Material Museum) / Ubagami Daijingu / Old Nakamura House / Esashi Float Hall / Kaiyo Maru Warship / Heishi Rock
Gourmet & Local Products
Nishin soba / Nishin Oyakodon / Osuimono keiran / Gokatteya yokan / Seafood
