Goryokaku Park (五稜郭公園)

Goryokaku Park is in the grounds of the star-shaped Goryokaku Fort and consists of approximately 251,000 square metres of moats, stone walls, lawns, pine and cherry trees, walkways, museums, and gardens.
The European inspired fort was built between 1857 and 1864, during the final years of the Edo period to protect the Magistrate's Office and in response to the increasing presence of foreigners, later becoming site of the final battle of the Boshin Civil War between the remaining Edo shogunate supporters and the recently established Meiji Government.

The 1,600 odd cherry trees burst out in flower in early May, making for a spectacular scene and a popular site for hanami (cherry blosson viewing).

The fort can be viewed in its entirety 90 metres above from the Goryokaku Tower. The 107 metre high tower was opened in 2006, replacing an older one, and consists of two observation floors reached by a 30 second elevator ride. Here there are 360 degree views of Hakodate including the immediate site of the fort and the Yokotsu Mountain Range to the north, as well as Mount Hakodate and the Tsugaru Strait (between Hokkaido and Honshu) to the south.

Plenty of information on the history is provided within the observatory through the models, tables, pictures, diagrams, and a computerised information terminal guide. Also look out for the statue of Toshizo Hijikata (a popular figure from the war) on the 2nd floor, and the windowed floor section on the 1st floor, where you can test your trust in the reinforced glass. There is also a small cafe, a souvenir shop, and an interesting photo display of star-shaped citadels of the world on the first floor of the observatory.

At the base of the tower, there's a large souvenir shop selling Goryokaku and Hakodate goods. Also at the base, on the second floor, is the Gotoken Hakodate Curry Express restaurant and the Milkissimo Gelato bar, which sells a variety of delicious flavours.

 The original Hakodate Magistrate's Office operated as the area's administrative centre for just 7 years after its construction in 1864 until it was demolished following the Boshin War. A large section of it was faithfully reconstructed 140 years later in 2010 using original techniques and materials including Japanese earthen walls and plaster, and clay roof tiles and shingles. Half of the inside of the office has been accurately reproduced with traditional tatami rooms separated by large sliding doors opening to make a hall. The other half consists of interactive displays, a theatre room and exhibits on the construction and history of the office and region. Next to the building is an outline of part of the original building and its many rooms showing the tight spaces and corridors in which they worked in during its operation.

Map: https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=41.796544,140.757608&spn=0.00955,0.01929&t=m&z=16

Goryokaku Fort (Park area)
Admission: Entry is free.
Open: 5am - 7pm (April to October), 5am - 6pm (November to March)

Goryokaku Tower
Admission: Adults 840 yen, junior and high school students 630 yen, primary school students 420 yen, children under 5 free (discount for groups of 30 or more).
Open: 8am - 7pm (April 21st to October 20th), 9am - 6pm (October 21st to April 20th)

Hakodate Magistrate's Office
Admission: Adults 500 yen, students and children 250 yen (discounts for groups of 20 or more, and certain Hakodate citizens).
Open: 9am - 6pm (April to October), 9am - 5pm (November to March). Closed December 31st to January 3rd.

Access: From Hakodate Station (函館駅)
Car/taxi: 15 minutes north-east from Hakodate Station.
Streetcar/tram: Get on the tram at the Hakodate Eki-mae (函館駅前) stop on the 'a' side (heading north). About 16 minutes later, get off at the Goryokaku Koen-mae (五稜郭公園前) stop and walk 15 minutes. Cost is 220 yen for adults, and 110 yen for children (All-day tram passes are 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children). The tower is easy to see through the buildings and the direction (north) is well signed to help you find your way.
Bus: Go to bus stop number 5 in front of the station. Use buses 5-1, 6-2, 59, 105, 130, or 106ループ27. Get off after about 12 minutes at Goryokaku Koen Iriguchi Stop (五稜郭公園入口) and walk 5 minutes north-north-east. Cost is 200 yen for adults and 100 yen for children.


Parking: Nearby pay parking lots only:
Hakodate Performing Arts Centre Car Park (函館市芸術ホール駐車場) is on the south side of the park across the road from the tower and costs 200 yen for the first hour and 100 yen for each hour after that.
Hakodate Goryokaku Tourism Car Park (函館市五稜郭観光駐車場) is on the north-west side of the park across the road from the Hakodate City Central Library (函館市中央図書館) and costs 200 yen for the first hour and 100 yen for each hour after that.

Websites: Tower: http://www.goryokaku-tower.co.jp/
Magistrate's Office: http://www.hakodate-bugyosho.jp/index.html                                     
(Japanese only)
Phone number: (0138) 51-4785 (Goryokaku Tower Corporation)
Address: 〒040-0001函館市五稜郭町43-9


Gotoken Hakodate Curry Express

Milkissimo Gelato

Mt. Tengu (天狗山)

Mt. Tengu provides spectactular views of Otaru and Ishikari Bay both day and night. Clearly prominent from the centre of town, the observatory sits on Mt. Tengu at a height of 532.4 metres and is said to have one of the top three night views in Hokkaido. On fine days, the mountains across the bay can be easily seen, as well as the coastline west to Shakotan. In winter, the mountain also acts as a ski slope.
A gondola (or 'ropeway' as they are called in Japan) offers 4-minute rides to the observatory from the ropeway station at the foot of the mountain, but it is also possible to drive or hike to the top.
Outside the ropeway station/observatory at the summit, there is a park area, which has some other observation points, a shrine, a short hiking course, chipmunk park (free/seasonal), a sled ride (300 yen for adults, 200 yen for children/seasonal), and a large Tengu goblin mask.
Inside the building, there's a cafe/restaurant (with a 25m long counter and fantastic views), souvenirs, Tengu goblin mask display hall, a ski museum, and access to the rooftop observatory.
Rub the Tengu's nose 
Tengu are mountain and forest goblins or monster-spirits, and are from which the mountain gets its name (for not entirely clear reasons). They are famous for their bright red faces and long distinctive noses, although there are also some with bird-like features. Traditionally, they were demons of war, but their image has softened and are sometimes seen as granters of wishes, and the large tengu mask that can be found on Mt. Tengu is said to do just that.
To get your wish, you'll need to touch the tengu's nose, and the way you do this depends on the benefit you're after. For example, for success in business and protection against traffic accidents, touch both sides of the nose with both hands lightly. There's a sign to the left of the mask (in English, Chinese and Korean) that lists the techniques you'll need for the various blessings.




Tengu Hall and Otaru Ski Archives
Inside the gondola station at the summit is a small Tengu Hall which houses approximately 700 varieties of tengu masks from around Japan. Admission is free.To get to the Tengu Hall go through the Otaru Ski Archives, which displays some 400 items, old and new, relating to the history of skiing in Japan, including the olympics.

Ropeway (Gondola): 660 yen one-way or 1100 yen return for adults, and 550 yen one-way or  
                                         550 yen return for children.
                                         Combination tickets for gondola and restaurant at the summit
                                         Round trip ticket + drink: 1200 yen adults, 700 yen children
                                         Round trip ticket + 800 yen meal coupon: 1500 yen, 1200 yen
                                         (Purchase them at the gondola ticket office)
Runs: 9:30am - 9pm (April to November), 9:30am - 10pm (for three weeks from the end of July)
             Gondolas depart every 12 minutes and take about 4 minutes. 
Access: From Otaru Station (小樽駅)
Car/taxi: 15 minute drive to gondola station, or 25 minutes to the summit.
               (Around 60 minutes from Sapporo Station)
Bus: Tenguyama Ropeway Route (#9) (天狗山ロープウエイ線)
        Takes 17 minutes and runs from 8:35am to 8:55pm (3 buses an hour between 9am and 7pm)
        210 yen per adult, 110 yen per child
        Otaru Stroller's Bus B Tenguyama Course (小樽散策バスＢ天狗山コース) Gate 3
        Takes 22 minutes and leaves at 9:55, 10:55, 11:55, 12:55, 13:55, 14:55 and 15:55.
        210 yen per adult, 110 yen per child
        Also stops at Otaru Canal Bus Terminal (B)
        There's also an Otaru Nightview Shuttle Bus (小樽夜景シャトルバス) which leaves the Hotel
        Grand Park Otaru at 6:50pm and 19:20 pm, and stops at Hotel Otaru Furukawa, Hotel Sonia
        and Hotel Nord, Otaru Canal Bus Terminal (B), The Bank of Japan Otaru Museum, Inaho
        Jujigai, and the Otaru Train Station Bus Teminal, before arriving at the ropeway station at 7:24
        and 7:54. It operates from the end April until the start of November and costs 210 yen per adult,
        110 yen per child.
Parking: Free (at both bottom and summit)
Website: http://www.cks.chuo-bus.co.jp/tenguyama/
(Japanese only apart from some English background info)
Phone number: (0134) 33-7381 (Chuo Bus Tourism Co., Ltd.)
Address: 〒047-0023 小樽市最上2丁目16-15

Maruyama Zoo (円山動物園)

A nice way to spend half a day or even a couple of hours is to check out the animals at Sapporo's Maruyama Zoo. Nestled at the foot of mountains that rim the west of the city, Maruyama Zoo has a nice variety of animals (over 170 kinds) which can be seen from fairly close up. There's also a petting zoo section for the kids or kids at heart.
African and Asian zones are being constructed at the moment, with the Asian area due to be completed by the start of 2013.
There's an indoor Tropical Animal House which allows the larger (mostly African) animals like hippos, giraffes, big cats etc. to be seen throughout the year (yes, even in winter).
Check the signs at the entrance for information regarding events and daily feedings.

Entry: 600 yen for adults (high school students and up), free for junior high school students and
              younger, 540 yen each for groups of 30 or more, and 1000 yen for a full year's entry
              passport.
Parking: 700 yen for standard cars, 100 yen for motorbikes and scooters, 1000 yen for vans and
                  mini-buses
Open: 9am - 5pm (February to October), 9am - 4pm (November to January)
             Admission ends 30 minutes before closing time
             The zoo is closed on the 29th, 30th and 31st of December
Access: From Sapporo Station (札幌駅)
               Car/taxi: 20 minute drive from south exit (札幌駅南口).
               Bus: JR Bus - Burai Sightseeing Bus (ぶらいサッポロ観光バス) from Sapporo Station Bus
               Terminal #6. Takes about 30 minutes.Operates on weekends and public holidays from
               April 28th to November 4th, and daily from June 14th to August 19th.
               Subway: Take the Nanboku line bound for Makomanai, and transfer at Odori Station.
               Then take the Tozai line bound for Miyanosawa, and get off at Maruyama Koen Station.
               From Maruyama Koen Subway Station (円山公園駅)
               On foot: From Exit 3 walk straight down the road to Maruyama Park and follow the signs
               to the zoo. Takes around 15 minutes.
               Bus: Go to Maruyama Bus Teminal (円山バスターミナル) via Exit 2. Take the number 15
               Zoo Line (円15動物園線) from Terminal 5. Takes about 8 minutes.
               Taxi: About 5 minutes.
Website: http://www.city.sapporo.jp/zoo/index.html
                  (Japanese only apart from some English background info)
Phone number: 011-621-1426
Address: 〒064-0959 札幌市中央区宮ヶ丘3番地1

帯広百年記念館

この博物館は先史時代から現代までの十勝地方の植物史、動物史、そして農業史の品々を展示しています。
開拓者達が初めてこの地に足を踏み入れてから100年後にその記念としてこの博物館が建てられました。
日本の先住民族であるアイヌの伝統道具や生活の模様が展示されていて特に興味深いです。

この博物館は外国人に対してiPhoneでの無料音声/映像ガイド（英語、中国語、韓国語）を提供しています。このサービスを受けるためには入場カウンターにて必要事項を記入して下さい。ヘッドフォンと説明書も付いてきて博物館のレイアウトに従って各項目が分かれているのでとても分かり易く、日本語の理解度が高くない人々にとってはとても役に立つでしょう。概要のみですがパンフレットも英語、中国語、韓国語と用意してあります。

この博物館は緑ヶ丘公園内にあり、この公園内には動物園や植物園、美術館も併設されているので散策を楽しめるのはもちろん、それぞれに興味がある人にとっては一度に回れてとても便利です。

入場料: 大人300 円, 高校生190 円, 中学生以下無料
駐車場: 無料
営業時間: 9:00 - 5:00pm  (4:30pm最終入場)
休日: 月曜日(祝日除く), 祝日の翌日 (土曜日曜日を除く), 年末年始12月29日から1月3日
最寄り駅:  帯広駅
車: 帯広駅南口から約10分（2km）
バス: 帯広駅バスターミナル発　拓殖バス（15南商・ニュータウン23条線 もしくは 16帯広の森・白樺学園線)　緑ヶ丘6丁目バス停下車
ﾎｰﾑﾍﾟｰｼﾞ: http://www.octv.ne.jp/~hyakunen/
電話番号: 0155-24-5352
住所: 〒080-0846　北海道帯広市緑ヶ丘2番地

Obihiro Centennial Museum (帯広百年記念館)

This interesting museum has exhibits showing the Tokachi region from prehistoric times up to modern times, and displays of local flora, fauna, and agriculture. Its name comes from the fact it was established in 1982, which was a hundred years after the first pioneers moved into the region.
Of particular interest is the section displaying the tools and traditional lifestyle of the Ainu (original inhabitants of Japan).

The Great Wall of Beans

The museum accomodates foreigners by lending out FREE audio/video guides in English (Chinese and Korean are also available) by iPhone. Just ask for it at the admission counter and provide your contact details. It comes with headphones and instructions on its use, and is helpfully broken into sections according to the museum layout. This useful guide is informative and very worthwhile for those without a high level of Japanese ability. A simple English pamphlet (as well as Chinese and Korean) is also available, which summarizes each section of the museum.

The Centennial Museum is located in Midorigaoka Park which itself makes for a pleasant stroll, and it also holds the Obihiro Zoo, Obihiro Wild Flower Garden and Obihiro Museum of Art, making it a convenient trip for those who wish to see the various attractions.

Entry: 300 yen for adults, 190 yen for high school students, free for junior high school students and
younger.
Parking: Free
Open: 9am - 5pm (Last entry at 4:30pm)
The museum is closed on Mondays (unless it's a public holiday), days after public
holiday (unless it's a Saturday or Sunday), and at New Year's from the 29th of December to
the 3rd of January.
Access: From Obihiro Station (帯広駅)
Car/taxi: Around 10 minutes (2km) from the south exit (帯広駅南口).
Bus: Takushoku Bus (拓殖バス) from Obihiro Station Bus Terminal (帯広駅バスターミナル):
Take Bus 15 or 16 (15南商・ニュータウン23条線 or 16帯広の森・白樺学園線) and get off
at Midorigaoka Roku-chome stop (緑ヶ丘6丁目).
Website: http://www.octv.ne.jp/~hyakunen/
(Japanese only apart from copies of the English, Chinese and Korean museum
pamphlets)
Phone number: 0155-24-5352
Address: 〒080-0846　北海道帯広市緑ヶ丘2番地