Access to Mt. Hakodate Observatory

Cable Car (Mt. Hakodate Ropeway)

It takes 3 minutes to get to the summit from the base station. Most people use this access. Before and soon after sunset, the cable car can be crowded. An operation can be canceled in case wind is stronger than a set speed. In the autumn season, the service is suspended for maintenance for about 2 weeks. The fare is 1,500 yen for the round-trip and 1,000 yen for one way.

Fares and Business Hours

• * Children up to 2 years old can ride for free.
• * One pre-school infant 3 years or older can ride for free if accompanied by an adult. In the case of two or more infants per adult, the children's fare must be paid.

• * It is about a three-minute ride.
• * Operating hours may change subject to weather or other conditions.
• * Time is subject to change.

Contact 0138-23-3105

• Instructions for the ride
• Mt. Hakodate Ropeway

Mt. Hakodate Climbing Bus

The bus starts at JR Hakodate Station and goes up Mt. Hakodate via the Bay area. It is a bus on a regular route. You don’t have to change buses. It takes about 30 minutes when there is no traffic jam. The road is busy during the tourist season. No operations are available during the winter because the road is closed for safety reasons. The one way fare is 500 yen.

• Hakodate Bus

Sightseeing bus

To enjoy the night view from Mt. Hakodate, you can take a sightseeing bus that departs from and arrives at JR Hakodate Station, hotels near Hakodate Station, and hotels in Yunokawa Onsen.

Hakodate night view Tourist bus(Hakodate Bus)

In addition to the Mt. Hakodate Observatory, the bus also makes stops at the Bay Area and Hachiman-zaka Slope to enjoy the night view of the city from the bus windows. There are two methods of transportation to the top of Mt. Hakodate: bus only in the summer, and bus and cable car in the winter. Reservations are required by phone at least three days in advance, but can be made on the day if seats are available.

• Hakodate night view Tourist bus

Taxi

Taking a taxi is recommended for a group of 3 or 4 people. Typically, you ride a taxi and go to the summit, have the taxi wait for 30 minutes while you see the view, and then take the same taxi to go down. This access is not available during the winter because the road is closed. The fare varies from 8,000 yen to 16,000 yen per taxi to go to and from Hakodate Station (depending how busy the road is).

• Hakodate Hire Association

Rental car

You can go around at your own pace by rental car. But the rental car is not permitted during the time the road is busy (from 5 pm to 10 pm between April and September, from 4 pm to 9 pm in October and November). The road becomes congested right after the end of the restriction. This access is unavailable because the road is closed for safety in winter.

• Hokkaido Car Rental

Motorcycle Bicycle

Two-wheeled vehicles such as motorcycle and bicycle cannot go on mountain trails heading for Mt. Hakodate Observatory. You can park your two-wheeled vehicle at a specified parking lot opposite Mountain Base Station and use the cable car or the mountain climbing bus.

Walking

There are well-maintained paths from the base to the summit of the mountain. It takes about one hour from the Mt. Hakodate Information Center (6-12, Aoyagi-cho) (by the Tsutsujiyama route). Wear sneakers in the summer and ordinary snow boots in the winter. It is recommended taking a long-sleeved jacket against bugs and the cold.

• Mt. Hakodate Information Center