Travelogue: Around Hakodate Station/Hokkaido (May 2025)

【Accommodation】 I stayed at "OMO5 Hakodate by Hoshino Resorts," which opened on July 6, 2024. It was a room-only stay. Although I traveled alone, I stayed in a spacious twin room. The room provided comfortable loungewear with separate top and bottom pieces, disposable slippers, and a small bag to carry items to the bath. Accommodation: OMO5 Hakodate by Hoshino Resorts Room Type: Superior Twin Room Access: About a 5-minute walk from JR Hakodate Station ◾️ Large Public Bath "Amber-Colored Hot Spring" Spring Quality: Sodium chloride strong saline spring, pH 6.8 The public bath features natural hot spring water flowing directly from the source! It also includes a sauna, steam sauna, and cold bath. The hot spring water is rich in iron, giving it a reddish-brown color, and it warmed me to the core. The bath is open until 1:00 AM, so even late returns are no problem. Towels are provided near the bath, so you don’t need to bring them from your room, which is very convenient. After bathing, I enjoyed a delicious corn tea. On the way to the public bath, there’s the OMO Base (post-bath lounge), where you can relax and enjoy light snacks in various rest areas. ◾️ 24-Hour Lockers Lockers are available next to the entrance on the first floor, allowing you to store your luggage before check-in or after check-out. They use a 4-digit dial lock system and come in sizes S/M/L, accommodating items like carry-on cases or handbags. ◾️ Shared Bicycles Right outside the entrance, there’s a shared bicycle stand, which was convenient for quick trips. You may need to download and register with the HELLO CYCLING app to use them. ◾️ Smart Laundry I used the laundry facilities on the 6th floor. There are three washing machines and dryers, and they clean without the need for detergent! The results were excellent. The same area also has a microwave, water dispenser, ice machine, and vending machines. The room provides a bottle for drinking water, which can be filled at the water dispenser. However, the room only had four hangers, so drying items that couldn’t go in the dryer required some creativity. Although I didn’t use them this time, guests can enjoy free guided tours and shuttle buses provided by OMO Rangers, making it easy to fully explore Hakodate. 【Nearby Attractions】 ◾️ Sushi Masa A sushi restaurant located in the Free Market that’s a must-visit in Hakodate. While they offer set menus, I always order my favorites à la carte. This time, I indulged in 19 pieces! Everything was delicious, but I especially loved the fresh herring, chun-chun, crab, and striped shrimp. Complimentary soup was a nice touch, and the rich shrimp soup was delightful. During Golden Week, I wrote my name on the waiting list at 7:15 AM and was the sixth group (the restaurant opens at 9:30 AM). You can start signing up around 7:00 AM. With only five seats available, I was seated around 11:15 AM (about the third round). ◾️ Ram Kichi Highly recommend the salted lamb. The restaurant isn’t very spacious, so reservations are essential. ◾️ Sakai Fish Shop I purchased three packs: black rockfish, octopus legs, and hairy shellfish. They were incredibly delicious! I bought soy sauce at a supermarket to enjoy them. ◾️ Miyazaki Koi Shop Finally tried the long-awaited koi sashimi (small portion). It was delicious. They also offer koi soup as a complimentary service, but I couldn’t prepare it this time, so I only had the sashimi. ◾️ Soba Restaurant Maru Minami For lunch, I visited a nearby soba restaurant. It was a windy and chilly day in the port town, so I chose the warm "kakitama soba." The thick soup with ginger and egg was a perfect match, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. ◾️ Numa no Ya I chose "soy sauce and sesame" flavors. I particularly liked the sesame. Alternating between the two flavors, I finished them in no time. The packaging represents Lake Onuma and Lake Konuma, and the dumplings are not skewered to resemble floating islands on the lake surface. ◾️ Yachigashira Onsen This hot spring features natural water flowing directly from the source, rich in iron and reddish-brown in color. The indoor baths are divided into high temperature (43.5°C), medium temperature (42.0°C), and bubble bath (40°C), allowing you to choose based on your preference or mood. There’s also an outdoor bath, sauna, and cold bath. Note that towels, shampoo, and body soap are not provided, so bring your own. It’s a pleasant walk from the Bay Area or a short distance from the Yachigashira tram stop. I walked there and took the tram back. The dining area is known for its delicious tempura rice bowls, so I plan to visit with an empty stomach next time. ◾️ Times Car Share There are several Times Car Share stations nearby. I used one to visit the Onuma area. ◾️ MaxValu (Aeon) There’s a MaxValu supermarket behind the hotel, which was very convenient for small purchases like drinks and soy sauce. ◾️ Cherry Blossoms The cherry blossoms were in full bloom, and Hakodate Park, Shiryokaku, and Goryokaku were all stunning. ◾️ A Second Chance at Asari Main Store I tried to make a lunch reservation by phone 2–3 weeks in advance, but it was fully booked. The store also has a butcher shop, so I visited around noon hoping to buy croquettes, but they were sold out. Apparently, they can sell out within 30 minutes of opening on busy days. Now I have another reason to return to Hakodate.