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What to Do at Hakodate Airport (HKD/RJCH): Incredible Fresh Seafood and Authentic Japanese Souvenirs

What to Do at Hakodate Airport (HKD/RJCH): Incredible Fresh Seafood and Authentic Japanese Souvenirs

Last updated: 26 June 2020

Hakodate Airport (HKD/RJCH) is one of the gateways to Hokkaido and also serviced by domestic flights from Sapporo, New Chitose, and Okushiri in Hokkaido as well as those from Tokyo, the Chubu and Kansai regions; there is also a direct flight from Taiwan.

There are plenty of convenient facilities in Hakodate Airport where you can enjoy a moment while waiting for an arrival or departure.

After checking out the nearby tourist spots you can continue to enjoy your stay in Hakodate Airport right up until you leave for home.

Table of Contents
  1. Hakototate: Hakodate souvenirs brimming with originality
  2. GRANDIR: Dress up in a kimono and have a commemorative photo taken!
  3. Cafe Misuzu: Flavor born in Hakodate
  4. Restaurant Pollux: Fresh seafood
  5. Check out other places in the area!
  6. Lucky Pierrot Tokura
  7. Hakodate Milk Ice 118: Dairy farm freshness
  8. Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden: Check out the cute hot spring monkeys relaxing

Hakototate: Hakodate souvenirs brimming with originality

Hakototate: Hakodate souvenirs brimming with originality

A must-visit shop at Hakodate Airport is Hakototate, a shop selling souvenirs jointly developed with manufacturers in the southern part of Hokkaido. The shop got its start by providing merchandise based on the requests of the many people who were attracted to the charms of Hakodate and it offers a large selection of limited-edition items that can only be obtained here. Here are but a few of them.

The International Signal Flag bags of Kagaya Hata-ten are hand-dyed using the same brush-dyeing method used when making the large fishing flags for ships. The designs are based on the international signal flags used for communication between ships. They have a uniquely Hakodate feel about them, Hakodate, along with Yokohama and Nagasaki, was one of the first ports in Japan opened to foreign trade.

The Ikauro Komon Series, a pattern of squid and fish scales dyed in soft colors, is also a popular item. Among the many rows of triangles there are images of squid with dangling legs and grilled squid. It is used in a variety of ways, such as in handkerchiefs, gathered pouch bags, and pouches with metal clasps.

Animal lovers will also like the series featuring embroidered Northern fox vixen and pups and the series of wood carvings of animals native to Hokkaido. All of the items in the wood carving series are individually handmade, so each has a slightly different expression giving you a wider choice of selection.

If you are planning to get a souvenir for someone, try having it packed in a Kankan gift can. The store offers an original packing method: you can have items you purchase packed in hand-rolled cans. Your friends will be delighted when they receive a souvenir packed in this way and you can also include a card with a message.

Hakototate
Location: 2nd floor of passenger terminal for domestic flights.
Telephone: 0138-57-8884
Hours: 8:00 a.m. ~ about 7:30 p.m. *Open until final boarding time
Closed: always open

GRANDIR: Dress up in a kimono and have a commemorative photo taken!

GRANDIR: Dress up in a kimono and have a commemorative photo taken!

You can have a commemorative photo taken inside wearing one of the rental kimono of your choice. It only takes about 5 minutes to put on the kimono and afterward, if you have time, you can also wear it outside Hakodate Airport, too. There are kimono for both men and women so the whole family can enjoy this.

Once you put on one of these kimono you can have your photo taken in front of the Hakototate panel. Photo provided by GRANDIR
Once you put on one of these kimono you can have your photo taken in front of the Hakototate panel. Photo provided by GRANDIR

GRANDIR
Location: 2nd floor of passenger terminal for domestic flights.
Rental charge: 3,000 yen for 40 minutes for women; 2,000 yen for 40 minutes for men *Prices may change due an increase in the consumption tax.
Telephone: 080-1884-5126
Hours: 9:00 a.m. ~ 6:00 p.m. *Open until final boarding time
Closed: unscheduled

Cafe Misuzu: Flavor born in Hakodate

Cafe Misuzu: Flavor born in Hakodate

Founded in 1932 in Hakodate, this is the oldest coffee specialty shop in Hokkaido. The richly aromatic freshly made coffee is truly delicious.

Cafe Misuzu
Location: 1st floor of passenger terminal for domestic flights.
Telephone: 0138-57-8900
Open: 7:30 a.m. ~ 7:10 p.m.
Closed: unscheduled

Restaurant Pollux: Fresh seafood

Photo provided by Hakodate Airport Terminal Building Co., Ltd.
Photo provided by Hakodate Airport Terminal Building Co., Ltd.

The Toi bluefin tuna bowl (2,050 yen), made with fish freshly caught in the Tsugaru Strait, is popular. The fish is really fresh because it is drained of blood as soon as it is hauled on board the ship and then immediately packed in ice. It is best to visit the restaurant as early as possible because the tuna often sells out quickly.

Restaurant Pollux
Location: 3rd floor of passenger terminal for domestic flights.
Telephone: 0138-57-8884
Hours: 8:00 a.m. ~ about 7:30 p.m. *Open until final boarding time
Closed: always open
* The Toi bluefin tuna bowl is served from 11:00 a.m.
* Prices may change after the consumption tax is raised.

  • HAKODATE AIRPORT
    函館空港
    • Address 511, Takamatsucho, Hakodate-shi, Hokkaido, 042-0952
    • Nearest Station Hakodate Station (Hakodate Main Line)
      20 minutes by bus

Check out other places in the area!

Lucky Pierrot Tokura

Photo provided by Lucky Pierrot
Photo provided by Lucky Pierrot

This is a hamburger chain with 17 outlets in southern Hokkaido predominantly situated in Hakodate City. The popularity of this chain stems from its 20 types of gourmet hamburgers brimming with originality such as the 20 cm tall "The Futtocho Burger".

The Tokura shop near Hakodate Airport reminds one of a basilica and the air is filled with the sound of the wind passing through the nearby windmill.

  • Lucky Pierrot Tokura
    ラッキーピエロ戸倉店
    • Address 30-1, Tokura-cho, Hakodate City, Hokkaido 〒042-0953
    • Nearest Station Access: 7 minutes by car from Hakodate Airport
    • Phone Number 0138-59-5888
    • Open: 10:00 a.m. ~ 12:30 a.m. (Until 1:30 a.m. on Saturday)
      Closed: unscheduled

Hakodate Milk Ice 118: Dairy farm freshness

Photo provided by Hakodate Dairy Corporation
Photo provided by Hakodate Dairy Corporation

Located on the site of a Hakodate dairy farm this shop sells soft ice cream and cheese that brings out the full flavor of milk. There are also corners where you can feed milk to calves and also try your hand at making butter. Reservations are required, so please make reservations by telephone at least one week in advance of the day you wish to visit.

  • Hakodate Milk Ice 118
    函館牛乳 あいす118
    • Address 118, Nakano-cho, Hakodate City, Hokkaido 〒042-0912
    • Nearest Station Access: 5 minutes by car from Hakodate Airport
    • Phone Number 0138-58-4460
    • Fee: Calf feeding 1,000 yen per person (only between May 1 and September 30); making butter 500 yen per person
      Open: April ~ June, September ~ November 9:00 a.m. ~ 5:00 p.m.; July ~ August 9:00 a.m. ~6:00 p.m.
      Closed: April ~ November always open; December ~ March closed
      * Prices may change after the consumption tax is raised.

Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden: Check out the cute hot spring monkeys relaxing

Photo provided by Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden
Photo provided by Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden

About 3000 rare tropical plants of 300 varieties are on display in the garden. Japanese macaque using the hot springs during the winter is also a popular attraction at Monkey Mountain. Adverse to water by nature, these animals have learned how to fight off the bitter cold of winter by soaking in hot springs.

  • Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden
    函館熱帯植物園
    • Address 3-1-15, Yunokawa-cho, Hakodate City, Hokkaido 〒042-0932
    • Nearest Station Access: 10 minutes by car from Hakodate Airport
    • Phone Number 0138-57-7833
    • Admission: 300 yen for adults and 100 yen for elementary and junior high school age
      Open: April ~ October 9:30 a.m. ~ 6:00 p.m., November ~ March 9:30 a.m. ~ 4:30 p.m.
      Closed: December 29 ~ January 1

Text by: Minna no Kotobasha

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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