Traveling to Hakodate in Winter: An Accessibility Guide

Feb 10, 2026

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Hakodate is a historic port city in Hokkaido that’s directly across the Tsugaru Strait from Aomori. It’s a city that is semi-accessible in the warm months and presents its own sort of challenges in the winter months. I visited Hakodate last year in December and I thought it was a really unique city with lots to offer. Here are my tips for your visit to Hakodate in winter months.

A panoramic view of the city of Hakodate from the summit of Mt. Hakodate on a cloudy day, showing the city's unique shape, the busy harbor on the left, and the open ocean on the right.

Stay warm

It can get really cold in the winter. Be sure to pack warm, especially if you have issues in the cold. It can also get windy near the station and that can make the cold even worse.
If you get too cold, I would recommend going to cafes, restaurants or museums to warm up. The city has a lot of cafes around and one wouldn’t be too far from anywhere in the city.

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