September Itinerary Idea Day 6 (Hokkaido Day 1)

Table of contents

Introduction

1. Head to Hakodate

2. Lunch

3. Ofune Ruins

4. Kakinoshima Ruins

5. Dinner

6. Mt. Hakodate Observatory

Introduction

On the 6th day, we will take the Shinkansen from Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture to Hakodate City, Hokkaido.

There are no national treasures (buildongs) in Hokkaido. However, Hokkaido has two World Heritage Site. Shiretoko and the Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan, which was just selected on July 27, 2021. Since Shiretoko is quite far away, I did not include it in this itinerary idea, but since it is possible to visit the Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan, I included it in the route.

However, visiting the Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan takes time to travel and the number of public transportation (buses) is very small, so you will not have time to visit other tourist spots. Therefore, this plan is not suitable for those who visit Hakodate for the first time. Alternatively, you should consider extending the length of your stay in Hakodate to visit other tourist attractions.

1. Head to Hakodate

2. Lunch

Eat “Uni-ikura-don : sea urchin salmon roe bowl”. It is Hokkaido’s “local dishes loved by nation” announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. In addition to “Uni-ikura-don”, if you find the seasonal Hokkaido seafood of yellowtail, flatfish, salmon, pacific saury, atka mackerel, Japanese flying squid, and kelp on the menu, let’s eat them.

https://www.maff.go.jp/j/nousin/kouryu/kyodo_ryouri/attach/pdf/190131-6.pdf

3. Ofune Ruins

(8 minutes walk from Ofuna Elementary School)

It is a World Heritage Site that is a constituent asset of the Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan.

On Monday, August 30, 2021, there is information that “Currently, the Ofune Heritage site is temporarily closed due to bear sightings.”

If we cannot continue to go to the Ofune site, we will make a round trip from Hakodate station to the Kakinoshima site. The traffic information in that case is as follows.

Outbound to Kakinoshima Ruins

Return trip from Kakinoshima Ruins

It is a 6-minute walk from the bottom of the Kakinoshima ruins.

4. Kakinoshima Ruins

(8 minutes walk under the Kakinoshima ruins)

The Shimo Ofune bus stop is a 7-minute walk from Ofune Heritage.

It is a World Heritage Site that is a constituent asset of the Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan.

There is Hakodate Jomon Culture Exchange Center. Commentary guides will be provided to those who wish (free of charge, in Japanese). Advance reservation required.

From August 3rd (Tuesday) to October 3rd (Sunday), the exhibition “World Heritage Ofune Ruins and Kakinoshima Ruins” is being held.

Closed days: Monday (the next day if it is a national holiday), the last Friday of every month

Admission fee: Yen 300 for adults, Yen 150 for elementary / junior high school / high school / university students

5. Dinner

We will eat “Chanchan-yaki”, a local dish of Hokkaido selected by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

https://www.maff.go.jp/j/nousin/kouryu/kyodo_ryouri/attach/pdf/190131-1.pdf

It would be great if we could eat “Pacific Coastal Matsukawa-garei : Matsukawa-flatfish”, which is selected by Japan Fisheries Cooperatives as “Pride Fish” in autumn in Hokkaido, in Hakodate. It is also branded under the name “Oucho”. It is landed from Erimo Town in Hokkaido to Minamikayabe in Hakodate City, and the season is from September to November.

Of course, if we find the seasonal Hokkaido season of September, such as yellowtail, flatfish, salmon, pacific saury, atka mackerel, Japanese flying squid, and kelp, let’s eat them.

6. Mt. Hakodate Observatory

We will be traveling by bus from Hakodate Station. Due to the legal regular inspection of the Hakodateyama Ropeway, a temporary bus will be operated from the temporary platform at the trailhead from September 20th to November 7th, 2021. The bus arriving at Hakodate Station from the Kakinoshima Ruins was at 19:02, so I think that the departure time of the temporary bus departing from the temporary platform at the trailhead will be just in time for the last bus at 19:30.

Hakodateyama Ropeway is closed until September 30, 2021.

It is a 10-minute walk from Jujigai to the temporary station at the trailhead.

There are only two buses departing from Hakodate Station to the summit of Mt. Hakodate, departing at 18:15 and 19:00. If we go to the Kakinoshima ruins, we will not be in time.

If the Hakodateyama Ropeway continues to be closed due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection, I think it is actually necessary to give priority to dinner and give up on the Hakodateyama Observatory.

(Note: The departure / arrival times and fares for transportation listed in the text are as of the time of writing the BLOG. They may change in the future, so please check for yourself when you go on a trip.)