What's interesting about the western district is that not only are the old streets preserved as a scenic spot, but they are still used as places to live and work. Influenced by Western culture, these Japanese-Western style buildings have evolved in their own way, and now have been renovated into shops, as well as hot spring facilities that have long been popular with locals, all of which welcome locals and tourists alike.
We would like to introduce the "old and new" charms of the western district, focusing on spots where you can experience the culture and lifestyle of Hakodate.
Text: Kohei Abe Photo courtesy of Hakobaru Real Estate (http://hakobar.com/)
Soothe your tired body in a hot spring loved by locals
Yachigashira Onsen / Cafe Classic
Yachigashira Onsen
After enjoying plenty of sightseeing, the Hakodate way is to soak in a hot spring. There are over 20 hot spring facilities in Hakodate city, most of which offer bathing at the same price as a public bath.
Among these, Yachigashira Onsen, which springs up at the foot of Mt. Hakodate, is one of the most famous hot springs in the city, characterized by its brown water that is rich in iron, and is said to be effective in relieving muscle and joint pain and fatigue. Of course, the water flows directly from the source, and the facility is also equipped with a spacious open-air bath, sauna, and cold bath. In Tokyo, hot spring facilities generally charge a separate fee for the sauna, but here all facilities can be used for a price of just 420 yen. This is a hot spring that is firmly rooted in the local area, where it truly feels like a place of daily life.
Spacious bathroom space
Yachigashira Onsen is always crowded with locals, but they also provide large lockers that can store suitcases so that tourists can enjoy themselves, as well as "empty-handed sets" that include towels, shampoo, etc. Another plus for tourists is that they are open from 6am until 10pm!
Yachigashira Onsen has a restaurant where you can taste milk and soft serve ice cream from Yamakawa Farm in Nanae Town, which borders Hakodate. The ice cream is packed with the flavor of fresh milk, a taste that is unique to Hokkaido. The cold ice cream you can enjoy after a bath is something special.
| Yachigashira Onsen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Closed Day | ： | 2nd and 4th Tuesday |
| business hours | ： | 6:00-22:00 (last entry at 21:00) |
| address | ： | 20-7 Yachigashiracho, Hakodate City, Hokkaido |
Enjoy a drink at a cafe near Yachigashira Onsen
cafe classic
For those who want to enjoy a drink in a relaxed atmosphere, we recommend Cafe Classic, located about a five-minute walk from Yachigashira Onsen. The dimly lit interior of the shop allows time to flow slowly, as if you're detached from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, making it the perfect setting for a quiet drink. Originally a dry cleaning store, the building itself has a story to tell that is unique to this old town.
cafe classic
| cafe classic | ||
|---|---|---|
| Closed Day | ： | Tuesday |
| business hours | ： | 11:30-23:00 (L.O. 22:00) |
| address | ： | 25-20 Yachigashiracho, Hakodate City, Hokkaido |
| web | ： | https://classic-hakodate.jimdo.com |
Enjoy the pairing of seasonal ingredients and sake in a traditional row house
Shunsenshuka Sakuramichi
Shunsenshuka Sakuramichi
The best thing to enjoy after refreshing your body and mind in the hot spring is a delicious dinner! At Shunsen Shuka Sakuramichi, located just one tram stop from Yachigashira stop, where Yachigashira Onsen is located, you can enjoy fresh seafood from Hakodate along with delicious sake selected by a sake sommelier.
This shop was renovated from two tenement houses that were built shortly after the Great Hakodate Fire of 1934. Once you take off your shoes and step inside, you'll find a nostalgic, open space.
An open space that makes use of the tenement house structure
As the name of the restaurant suggests, the motto is "to create a restaurant where you can relax like at home while enjoying seasonal and fresh ingredients and delicious alcohol," so the food, drinks, and atmosphere are all extremely high-level. There are various types of seating, from private rooms to the counter, so you can enjoy a leisurely dinner by yourself as well as with a large group.
At Sakuraji, in addition to the fresh sashimi and sushi that you can only find in a port town, tofu from a local tofu shop and carefully grilled meat dishes are also popular. You can choose a drink to go with your meal or your mood from the wide selection of sake carefully selected by a sake sommelier, so each dish is sure to be an unforgettable memory.
The experience and memories of your day walking around the western region will be reminiscent of the experiences you'll have while drinking, and you'll be filled with a rich, extraordinary travel experience that will make your trip even more memorable.
In addition to local Hokkaido sake, there is a lineup of sake carefully selected by a sake sommelier.
| Shunsenshuka Sakuramichi | ||
|---|---|---|
| Closed Day | ： | Sundays (if Sunday and Monday are consecutive holidays, open on Sundays and closed on Mondays) |
| business hours | ： | 11:30-14:00 (LO 13:30) / 17:30-23:00 (LO 22:30) *Open until 24:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and days before holidays |
| address | ： | 24-1 Aoyagicho, Hakodate City, Hokkaido |
| others | ： | Starting July 1, 2018, our regular closing day will be Wednesdays and our business hours will change to 17:30-22:00 (last orders 21:30). |
Experience the new "Hakodate-ness" on a local trip
Hakodate is famous for its seafood bowls and salt ramen, but there are also many other restaurants that carry on the history that can only be found in Hakodate, and foods that can only be eaten here.
Famous tourist sites and local cuisine are very appealing. Recently, however, more and more people are finding the true joy of travel in the unpretentious everyday life of the town, the people and shops that can only be met there. The western district of Hakodate, which has retained its historical streetscape and become a place of daily life for people, is an area that satisfies both of these needs.
Walking around town with a camera in hand, finding your own favorite place, chatting with locals and experiencing the atmosphere of the town, there are encounters and impressions that can only be obtained by walking on foot. Enjoy a local trip that is both "old and new" in Hakodate's old town.
Abe Kohei
Born in Hakodate, Hokkaido. After graduating from university, he set off on a trip around the world, visiting all five continents. After returning to Japan, he began working as a freelance writer for travel magazines and other publications. He also runs the local Hakodate media, "IN&OUT – Hakodate and People" (http://inandout-hakodate.com/index.html).
Twitter: @Fu_HEY
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*Some content was updated on August 20, 2019.
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
