A journey to immerse yourself in the Christmas fantasy at the timeless red brick warehouses in the historically romantic city of Hakodate.
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
- Winter
- Days required
- About 4 hours [Day trip]
- Main methods of transportation
- Taxi, Streetcar
Since the arrival of Perry in the late Edo period, the history of the international city of Hakodate began. This course allows you to glimpse the good old days of Hakodate by strolling through the historically romantic streets and visiting long-established shops that have preserved traditions from that time.
In the evening, immerse yourself in the romantic atmosphere of the winter tradition, Hakodate Christmas Fantasy.
- * The spots and experience menus introduced in the course are subject to change. Please check the official website for the latest information.
- * Please note that the text shown on this page includes machine translations.
Hakodate Airport
The gateway to the skies of Hakodate, an international tourist city visited by over 5 million people annually.
Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse [Lunch]
Popular retro and photogenic shopping spot
Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse is a popular spot in the bay area. The exotic atmosphere of the red brick warehouses facing the harbor is one of Hakodate's most representative landscapes.
Opened in 1887 as the first commercial warehouse in Hakodate, the red brick warehouse was once destroyed by a large fire, but was rebuilt to its present form. Later, it was rebuilt into a shopping and dining complex, while keeping the exterior of the warehouse intact. The retro buildings with a sense of history are divided into four major facilities: “BAY Hakodate,” “Kanemori Yokomonokan,” “Hakodate History Plaza,” and “Kanemori Hall,” where about 50 stores are located. The shops offer a wide variety of Hakodate-specific goods and limited editions, such as sweets, glass, and music boxes, making it a great spot to pick out souvenirs.
At night, the buildings are lit up and look different from the daytime. A leisurely stroll through the area while taking in the romantic scenery is also recommended.
●BAY Hakodate
BAY Hakodate is a facility with fashionable sundries, fashion stores, restaurants, etc., and is also popular for its original music box making workshops. The beautifully illuminated scenery after dark is also a highlight of the tour. The Kanemori Bay Cruise, a 15-minute cruise around the Port of Hakodate, departs from the side of the building, so you can enjoy a nice cruise along with your shopping.
●Kanemori Yomotsukan
The Kanemori Western-style store has 24 unique stores, including sundries, accessories, crafts, food, character stores, and specialty stores. The “Brick Lab,” where visitors can play with block toys to their heart's content, is free to enter and is very popular with children, couples, and adults. The Santa Post Office next door accepts Santa mail to be delivered around Christmas each year, so be sure to drop it in the special mailbox!
●Hakodate History Plaza
In the retro atmosphere of the restaurant, you can enjoy fresh draft beer directly from the Sapporo Brewery and original local beer that can only be found at Hakodate Beer Hall! Along with the beer, you can also enjoy a locally produced and consumed menu featuring ingredients from the southern part of Hokkaido.
- Address
- 函館市末広町14-12
- Telephone Number
- 0138-27-5530
- Open
- Depends on the store
- Closed
- Open all year round (with maintenance closures)
Senshuan Sohonke Hourai-cho Honten
A long-established confectionery shop that has been thriving since the excitement of the late Edo period and the opening of Hakodate port!
Senshuan, a well-known confectionery shop with branches throughout Hokkaido, was founded in Hakodate in 1860. Their signature product, "dorayaki," is filled with plenty of carefully selected Dainagon red beans from southern Hokkaido, which are made into sweet bean paste over three days! Nowadays, they offer not only traditional Japanese sweets but also Western-style pastries like pies. The shop has a rest area where you can take a relaxing break during your strolls.
- Address
- 函館市宝来町9-9
- Telephone Number
- 0138-23-5131
- Open
- 9:30-18:00
- Closed
- Wednesdays
Motomachi Stroll
A popular tourist area in Hakodate that spreads out at the foot of Mt. Hakodate.
This area, filled with exotic charm, features luxurious Western-style buildings reflecting the glory of the Meiji era (1868-1912) and historic churches standing side by side. The beautiful city shows different expressions depending on the time of day, whether it's early morning, dusk, or night when it's illuminated. Why not find your perfect photo spot in this picturesque town?
Hakodate Christmas Fantasy
Giant Christmas tree Floating on the Sea Surface
Held from Dec. 1 to 25
The Hakodate Christmas Fantasy event happens every Christmas season near the Akarenga Kanamori red-brick warehouses. The main focus of this event is a huge Christmas tree, which appears to rise up from the bay in front of the red-brick warehouses, and lights up the night sky of Hakodate. Approximately 150,000 lights spring to life at 6:00 PM each night of the event, turning the sky into a vivid canvas of color. In addition, soup bars lined up along the bay will offer visitors a chance to taste Hakodate's local cuisine to their heart's content. Visitors can enjoy the warmth of the light from the tree and the crackle of the nightly fireworks.
- Address
- 函館市末広町
- Telephone Number
- 0138-27-3535
- Open
- 16:30-17:45, 18:00-22:00
- Closed
- Open every day during the period
