Hakodate Orthodox Church

Built in 1860, the Hakodate Orthodox Church was the first Russian Orthodox Church in Japan. Its white walls and green roof contrast beautifully. It’s also famous for its booming bell chime before service.

Tochoji Temple

Tochoji Temple was first founded in 806 by Kobo Daishi (774-835)—the founder of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, a form of esoteric Buddhism—and a very famous high priest in Japan. It it also the first temple he founded. It houses the Fukuoka Daibutsu, the largest wooden seated statue of Shaka Nyorai in Japan. Made from […]

Kani Doraku Crab

Found above the entrance to crab restaurant Kani Doraku Dotonbori is a large model crab, the arms and eyes move and the body is large, giving a striking impression. It is rumored that if made into crab stew there would be enough to feed 16,000 people. Originally made in 1962, the sign has been remade […]

Yanagawa moat tour

This is a leisurely boat ride on a donko boat operated by a boatman from the boarding area near Nishitetsu Yanagawa Station to the “Yanagawa Domain Lord Tachibana’s Residence Ohana,” a distance of less than 4 km. The boat ride takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes, and boat riders get to enjoy the scenery […]

Kushikatsu Daruma “Daruma Daijin”

A large-scale, scary-looking old man based on the fourth shop owner was put in place in 2008 and remained there ever since. There is also a full-body version in front of the shop. Size 6.4m tall, 4.1m wide Photo tips Try taking two shots with the full body in front of the store

Munakata Taisha

Usu Ropeway

Lake Oyunuma

Oyunuma is a gourd-shaped swamp (1 km in circumference) formed after a volcanic reuption created this crater and hot water accumulated at the site. Such a large scale hot spring swamp is extremely rare in the world and is highly valued academically. Sulfur spring water as hot as 130 degrees Celsius gushes out from the […]

Toyako Manseikaku

Toyako Manseikaku has two large baths. One is “Hoshi–no–yu,” a large bath with an open–air view on the top floor. From here, you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of Lake Toya and the blue sky. Like the Toya Sun Palace Resort & Spa, the baths have an “infinity” design that allows you to see […]

Shiretoko Pass

A 738-meter altitude pass located approximately halfway along the Shiretoko Highway connecting Utoro on the Sea of Okhotsk side and Rausu on the Nemuro Channel side. Popular as a photogenic spot where visitors can enjoy a magnificent view. Mt. Rausu — the highest mountain in the Shiretoko mountains — directly in front of you, the […]

Umeda Sky Building / Kuchu Teien Observatory

The high-rise Umeda Sky Building was constructed so that the two individual buildings join at the top to form a design that looks like a floating spaceship. With a global reputation, every year the building is visited by over a million tourists and was once featured in a British magazine article on the “Top 20 […]

Goryōkaku Tower

Standing 107 meters tall, the tower is located inside Goryōkaku Park near the entrance. The view of Goryōkaku from the observation deck is fabulous. You must climb up. You can also see the city of Hakodate, the sea, and mountains.

Hakodate Magistrate’s Office

Located within Goryōkaku Park, the former Magistrate’s Office was restored completely in 2010. Recommended to those who are interested in history and Japanese architecture

Ariake Garden

The complex includes more than 200 stores and restaurants, the largest hot spring facility in Tokyo, and Japan’s largest theater-style event hall.

Shinpōkan

Dotonbori Glico Sign

Major Japanese manufacturer Glico put up the sign in 1935. The version currently on display is the sixth rendition, remade in 2014. The sign’s happy-looking, smiling male athlete raising both hands and his left leg after scoring is considered symbolic of the city of Osaka itself. From 30 mins after sunset until midnight the sign […]