Trip Report

Southern Hokkaido Cycle Tour Day 7 – Shiriuchi to Hakodate

Posted on Sep 26, 2016
23 0

Posted on Sep 26, 2016

Not being one to overly enjoy popular sightseeing locations, I’d never been to the tourist-bustling city of Hakodate before. But despite my reservations about its popularity with hoards of Asian tourists, it was an overwhelmingly worthwhile place to visit. The old star-shaped fortress and its painstakingly reconstructed magistrate’s building is moving. The night-view is actually quite stunning. And the red-brick port area is very tastefully developed. Highly recommended.

Last updated Oct 14, 2018

The day really couldn’t have started better. Sure, there was a definite chill on the air, but the morning sun was on point.

Southern Hokkaido Cycle Tour Day 7

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Like most mornings, we started the day with Haidee’s awesome toasted muesli, softened with a little boiling water. Of course there was mokapot coffee too.

Southern Hokkaido Cycle Tour Day 7

The approach into Hakodate City was a good reminder that Hakodate is not just about tourism. It is a large, functioning city, with one of the largest cement factories I’ve ever seen. This massive behemoth of a factory dominates the view for most of the way into Hakodate from the southwest. This, coupled with a busy road and narrow shoulders, makes the approach into Hakodate from this direction not the most relaxing of routes on a bicycle.

Southern Hokkaido Cycle Tour Day 7

We rewarded our efforts in getting into the city by having conveyor-belt sushi for lunch. This particular place had a touch-screen ordering system, which worked well to eliminate most interaction between staff and customer.

Southern Hokkaido Cycle Tour Day 7

Post lunch, we carried on into the city and went into sightseeing mode. The sights, such as the 30-story viewing platform above the star-shaped fortress, and the reconstructed magistrate’s building, cost money. But they really are very much worth it.

Southern Hokkaido Cycle Tour Day 7

In particular, the reconstructed magistrate’s building is spectacular. The craftsmanship is immaculate. It must have cost a small fortune to recreate this place.

Southern Hokkaido Cycle Tour Day 7

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Being a large public park, it is possible to cycle around the fortress, which is a great way to get a feel for the place.

Southern Hokkaido Cycle Tour Day 7

That evening in Hakodate, we stayed at a hotel just down from the ropeway. The hotel was called Hotel Hakodate-Yama, and was the only one on the eastern slopes of this western-quarter of the city. Despite this prime location, and the masses of Asian tourists at the top of the ropeway, the hotel seemed mostly empty. It was perfect for us to wander to the ropeway and take in the views from the top.

Southern Hokkaido Cycle Tour Day 7

Day 7 Route Map

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Southern Hokkaido Cycle Tour Day 7 – Shiriuchi to Hakodate Difficulty Rating

Category

Grade

Points

Strenuousness

Vertical Gain

D

25

Time ascending

D

0

Technicality

Altitude

D

0

Hazards

D

Navigation

D

Totals

25/100

GRADES range from A (very difficult) to D (easy). Hazards include exposure to avalanche and fall risk. More details here. Rating rubric adapted from Hokkaido Yukiyama Guidebook 北海道雪山ガイド.