Taste The Unique Romance of Hakodate : Five Selected Retro Cafes & Restaurants in Hakodate

Photo source : Hakodate and Southern Hokkaido Tourist Guide

[Last updated : December 2025]

Hakodate has a long history, and many traditional buildings constructed during the Meiji and Taisho periods have been preserved. These structures are not only open to the public as sightseeing destinations, but a considerable number have also been renovated and repurposed as cafes and shops. When visiting Hakodate, spending time in such historic cafes and restaurants allows visitors to experience the unique charm of the city and feel as though they are stepping back in time.

Tea Salon Hishii (茶房ひし伊)

Tea Salon Hishii (茶房ひし伊) is located in Horai-cho, Hakodate, and operates as both a café and an antique shop in a building that was originally constructed in 1921 as a pawnshop warehouse. The structure reflects a fusion of Japanese and Western architectural styles. Inside, the first floor features a Western-style counter and a small seating area, while the second floor consists of a traditional Japanese tatami space. Upon entering the cafe, visitors can sense the rich atmosphere of the Taisho era through the interior ambience, furnishings, and decorative items.

Sweets are the highlight of the cafe, offering a wide selection that includes traditional Japanese desserts such as Shiratama Matcha Cream Anmitsu (combination of the traditional refreshing jelly and sweet beans with the chewy mochi), Yogurt Parfait, and the Hishii-style Parfait.

Next to the cafe is a two-story antique shop. The first floor features an array of Japanese accessories and small items, including bags and traditional-style accessories, while the second floor is filled with a variety of kimono. It is an ideal spot for visitors who enjoy kimono and Japanese crafts, offering the charm of discovering unique items much like a treasure hunt.

When exploring the Motomachi area of Hakodate, be sure to stop by Tea Salon Hishii to relax with a cup of coffee and a sweet treat, and afterward, don’t forget to visit Gokoku Shrine located at the top of the hill.

• Address: 9-4 Horai-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido
• Business Hours: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Closed: Wednesdays
• Website

LR Tacos & Local Dishes

LR Tacos & Local Dishes is located in Suehiro-cho, Hakodate, in a traditional building that was originally constructed in 1909 and has been renovated into a Mexican-style taco restaurant. The original wooden structure and window frames have been carefully preserved.

LR Tacos combines Mexican tacos with ingredients from Hokkaido to create unique and innovative taco dishes. The menu is extensive, featuring meat tacos made with Ezo deer from Hakodate, fish tacos using locally caught fish, and vegetable tacos prepared with beans and seasonal vegetables. There is a variety to suit every taste.

For travelers visiting Hakodate who want to enjoy a fresh local culinary experience, LR Tacos is highly recommended and a gourmet spot worth visiting.

• Address：14-4 Suehiro-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan
• Business hours：11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, on Fridays and Saturdays also open from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• Closed：Thursday
• Take out：〇
• INSTAGRAM

Tea Room Kyu-Chaya-tei (茶房旧茶屋亭)

Tea Room Kyu-Chaya-tei is a Japanese-style cafe located near the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses. It is housed in a merchant building constructed in 1939 and renovated to create a space that blends Western elegance with Japanese delicacy. It is considered one of Hakodate’s representative examples of mixed Japanese-Western architecture and is officially designated as a “Traditional Building of Cultural Significance”.

At this cafe, visitors can enjoy Japanese tea, coffee, and traditional sweets. The owner, trained in the Japanese tea ceremony, carefully prepares matcha one cup at a time. The cafe also serves three-year-aged coffee, handmade desserts made to order, and uses carefully selected tableware. Guests can even choose their preferred cups, and a popular matcha experience set is available.

In this century-old cafe, the retro interior complemented by subtle modern touches provides a serene atmosphere where visitors can savor the owner’s attention to detail. It is an ideal place to relax and take a peaceful break during a trip to Hakodate.

• Address：14-29 Suehiro-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan
• Business hour： July to September: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM, October to June: 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM
• Closed：Irregular holidays
• Official Website

Kingyo Chaya (きんぎょ茶屋)

Kingyo Chaya is a Japanese-style tea house located in front of the “Suehiro-cho” tram stop in Hakodate, set in a black wooden house with a history of over 100 years. The building’s black wooden exterior with red window frames creates a nostalgic and romantic atmosphere, evoking the feeling of stepping back into Japan’s Showa era. Inside, retro furniture, antique goods, and handmade items add to the nostalgic charm. True to its name, “Kingyo” (goldfish), goldfish motifs are displayed throughout the tea house, including on the tableware, adding a delicate and whimsical touch.

The signature “Hagoromo Set” includes shiratama zenzai (chewy dumplings in sweet red bean soup), matcha chiffon cake with black sugar syrup, warabi mochi, bite-sized traditional sweets, and potato mochi, showcasing the meticulous craftsmanship of Japanese confectioners.

The main branch of Kingyo Chaya is located in Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture, so the tea house also offers the famous Gifu “Morning Set,” a hearty breakfast featuring toast, salad, potato salad, a boiled egg, and a mini zenzai.

Located just a short walk from the Suehiro-cho tram stop, Kingyo Chaya is the perfect spot to take a break during sightseeing in Hakodate or to enjoy a traditional Japanese-style afternoon tea in a relaxed and charming setting.

• Address：20-18 Suehiro-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan
• Business hours：10:00 AM～5:30 PM（L.O.4:20）
• Closed：Wednesday・Thursday
• INSTAGRAM

Marutamagoya (まるたま小屋)

Marutamagoya is a Russian restaurant in Motomachi, Hakodate, set in an 80-year-old renovated traditional house. The interior combines the warmth of wooden furnishings with a traditional Russian atmosphere, inspired by the concept of a “dacha,” a small wooden vacation house commonly used by Russians.

The restaurant serves authentic Eastern European pirozhki, freshly baked daily, with over ten varieties to choose from. Its most popular dish, the “Ezo × Ezo,” features Hokkaido Ezo deer meat and Ezo maitake mushrooms, wrapped in soft, fragrant dough with a perfectly balanced flavor. Set menus are also available, allowing guests to enjoy pirozhki alongside borscht and other Russian dishes.

The restaurant also offers handmade crafts, imported Ukrainian items, and matryoshka dolls. Visitors can savor Russian cuisine while experiencing a unique cultural atmosphere, making it a special destination in Hakodate.

Note: A “dacha” is a small wooden vacation house in the Russian countryside.

• Address：2-3 Motomachi, Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan
• Business hours：11:00 AM～6:00 PM（L.O.5:30）
• Closed：Wednesday
• Official Website
• INSTAGRAM

Lastly

When visiting traditional cafes and restaurants in Hakodate, you are surrounded by buildings and interiors that evoke the Meiji and Taisho eras, allowing you to experience an elegant atmosphere as if stepping back in time. On your next visit to this port city, take a moment to stop by a cafe in an old historical home. Enjoy delicious meals while immersing yourself in the stories of the past, and discover a special experience unique to Hakodate.