Mount Hakodate
Mount Hakodate, A 334 M (About 1,100 Ft) Hill At The End Of The Hakodate Peninsula Whose Summit Deck Looks Down On A Narrow Isthmus Lit Between Two Bays. Its Night View Is Counted Among The Best In Japan. · Hakodate, Hokkaido
Mount Hakodate is a 334 m hill at the southern tip of the Hakodate peninsula in Hokkaido. The Mount Hakodate Ropeway runs from the foot of the hill in the Motomachi area to the summit viewing deck, where the city lies on a narrow isthmus between two bays. After dark the lit streets and the dark water are often ranked among the great night views of Japan. Buses run from Hakodate Station to the ropeway, and a trail leads up for those who prefer to walk. It suits couples, families and anyone with an evening in Hakodate. Allow two to three hours in all, including the queue and the ride up and down. It is worth the detour for the dusk to dark window on a clear night, and not worth it in fog or heavy cloud, which can hide the whole view. The summit is windy and cold even in summer, so take a jacket, and expect crowds at sunset. The Hakodate Morning Market and Goryokaku fort are separate stops in town.
Mount Hakodate, Hakodate, Hokkaido; ropeway from the foot of the mountain in the Motomachi area, summit viewing deck at the top, Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan
The ropeway runs in the daytime and into the evening, with later closing in the warmer season and shorter hours in winter - confirm times, since they change by month. The summit deck is usually open while the ropeway runs, and it may close in strong wind, fog or snow, or for maintenance. Buses leave from Hakodate Station for the ropeway stop in Motomachi, about 15 to 20 minutes; confirm the last bus back. The road to the summit is closed in winter and for part of the year to private cars - confirm. A walking trail is open in the warm season. Nothing needs booking, but plan to arrive well before sunset, as the queue grows.