Hakodate: Hokkaido’s Most Beautiful City with a Samurai Past

Welcome to Hakodate, one of Hokkaido’s most breathtaking cities — where stunning night views meet samurai history.

From the legendary Mount Hakodate nightscape to the star-shaped Goryōkaku Fortress, this city offers more than just good looks. Walk the old streets of the Motomachi district, visit historic churches, try the freshest seafood at Hakodate Morning Market, and learn how this once-fortified city played a key role in the final battles of Japan’s samurai era.

Whether you’re a history buff, a foodie, or just looking for Japan’s next hidden gem — Hakodate won’t disappoint.

Discover the top things to see, eat, and do in Hakodate — and why it deserves a spot on your Japan travel list.

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00:00 Introduction
00:52 Overview
02:19 How To Get There
03:14 History
09:13 Where to Visit
12:38 Culinary Delights
13:29 Conclusion

References:
Burgess, W. (1982). Hokkaido: Japan’s New Frontier. Geography, 67(1), 64–68. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40570474
ELLIOTT, A., & MILNE, D. (2019). Introduction: War, Tourism, and Modern Japan. Japan Review, 33, 3–28. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26652974
Honjo, E. (1939). JAPAN’S OVERSEAS TRADE IN THE CLOSING DAYS OF THE TOKUGAWA SHOGUNATE. Kyoto University Economic Review, 14(2 (28)), 1–23. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43216858
Howell, D. L. (1994). Ainu Ethnicity and the Boundaries of the Early Modern Japanese State. Past & Present, 142, 69–93. http://www.jstor.org/stable/651197
Lensen, G. A. (1954). Russians in Japan, 1858-1859. The Journal of Modern History, 26(2), 162–173. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1874795
Uchida, J. (2023). At the Nexus of Colonialism and Capitalism in Hokkaido. In Provincializing Empire: Omi Merchants in the Japanese Transpacific Diaspora (1st ed., Vol. 18, pp. 48–78). University of California Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/jj.1791907.8
WALKER, B. L. (1996). REAPPRAISING THE “SAKOKU” PARADIGM: THE EZO TRADE AND THE EXTENSION OF TOKUGAWA POLITICAL SPACE INTO HOKKAIDÔ. Journal of Asian History, 30(2), 169–192. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41931039
Wright, D. E. (2001). Female Combatants and Japan’s Meiji Restoration: the case of Aizu. War in History, 8(4), 396–417. http://www.jstor.org/stable/26013907

2 Comments

  1. Thanks for watching! Hakodate is full of history, stunning views, and incredible food — let me know your favourite part in the comments!