Friday 20 April 2012

HAKODATE CITY, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

函館 . 하코다테


(A sightseeing stop in the Hong Thai Travel 7D Hokkaido Package Tour, my first packaged tour experience.)


Hakodate Factory 函館のベイエリア

Our next stop was the Hakodate Factory, where old red brick warehouses 金森倉庫 have been converted into shops and restaurants. It's a pretty area, and rather windy.

    Directions: From JR Hakodate Station
                      - Walk - 15 mins; or
                      - Tram - 5 mins to Jujigai Station 十字街, and then a 2-min walk
    Tel:           0138-26-1811






 
Mr. Tour Guide first brought us to the Seafood Market where they sell fresh seafood, and they can also cook the seafood that you've bought immediately. I was curious to see how they prepared the scallops and salmon sashimi that some of the uncles and aunties bought.

Hairy Crab - 7000 yen each, I think

I have never seen some of these before
Cooked on the spot!
  
Wish I could buy them home!




My favourite - ikura! All the ikura onigiri were sold out!

We spent the rest of the allocated hour exploring the rest of the area. It is a beautiful place, and I told Mom that the next time we are here again, I want to take the bay cruise.






Cafe inside BAY with a scenic view
Although I wanted a soft serve cone, I wasn't
expecting a pumpkin flavoured one ...


Mt. Hakodate - The View 函館

After dinner, we walked to the Hakodate Ropeway Station, onto a 3-min gondola ride that took us to the summit and roof observatory. Mr. Tour Guide said that the Hakodate night view is one of the 3 best night views in the world, the other 2 belonging to Hong Kong and Naples. What do you think?

    Operating Hours: Apr 25 - Oct 15  10am-10pm
                              Oct 16 - Apr 24  10am-9pm
    Ticketing:  Adult (one-way) 640 yen / (round trip) 1160 yen
                    Child (one-way) 320 yen / (round trip) 590 yen
    Directions: 7 mins by taxi from JR Hakodate Station
                     Take the tram from JR Hakodate Station to Jujigai Tram Station
                     十字, and then walk - total time taken is about 10mins
                     Click here for more details (in Japanese only)




At sunset ... isn't it beautiful?
When dark
Mom said it was a lovely sunset ... she doesn't get to see this anymore
 in Singapore as she would still be in the office working ...
I think I lost Grandma somewhere in the souvenir shop



Dinner @ 沙羅の月

The restaurant for dinner, called Sara no Tsuki 沙羅の月, is located very near the Hakodate Ropeway station in Motomachi District, and it boasts a nice view. Again, there is salmon served, and though I like salmon, I think I am getting an overdose of it.

    Operating Hours: Lunch  11am - 2.30pm
                              Dinner 5pm - 8pm
    Address: 北海道函館市青柳町9-23
    Tel:         0138-22-8022



View from the restaurant
Mom doesn't know what this is, but she said
it was rubbery and tasted ok. Anyone knows?







Read about our next stop - Fort Goryokaku.
Read about our previous stop - Mt. Usu.
 

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