View Japan & Asia on the mapA sightseeing port city for history, seafood, and gourmet experiences

Hakodate

Hakodate · Japan · 41.78, 140.72

A port town in southern Hokkaido facing the Tsugaru Strait. It is known for its retro streetscape of slopes and preserved Western architecture, as well as one of the world's finest night views. Its morning market is popular for fresh seafood, making it an easy port for cruise passengers to enjoy walking and local food.

Port highlights

A mid-sized city of about 240,000

Population

Hakodate is comfortable for sightseeing in summer, while winter brings snow and temperatures can become very cold.

Climate

Japanese

Language

Japanese yen (JPY).

Currency

May to October (especially comfortable from early summer to autumn)

Best time to visit

Local food

Seafood bowls, live squid, shio (salt) ramen, fresh sea urchin and crab

Sights

Night view from Mount HakodateMotomachi slopes, churches, and Western-style architectureHakodate Morning MarketGoryokaku Tower

Monthly average high / low temperatures

1°

-6°Jan

2°

-6°Feb

6°

-2°Mar

12°

3°Apr

17°

8°May

20°

13°Jun

24°

17°Jul

26°

19°Aug

23°

15°Sep

17°

8°Oct

10°

2°Nov

3°

-4°Dec

Unit: °C · Adapted from Japan Meteorological Agency climate normals · Period: 1991–2020 · Station: Hakodate · about 4.9 km from port · elevation difference about 30 m · Last checked: Oct 3, 2026 · A guide for choosing your travel month.

Local prices for travelers

Similar to Tokyo

Compared with Tokyo, Japan (median of items)100 (Tokyo = 100)

Compared with Tokyo, everything costs about the same.

¥108

Water 370 ml

¥485

Coffee

¥950

Inexpensive meal

¥650

Local beer

¥500

Big Mac

Prices from nearby Sapporo (about 152 km away) · Amounts in the recorded local currency. No currency conversion applied. · Last checked: Oct 2026 · Sources: Shop and menu prices · The Economist, Big Mac Index (CC BY 4.0)