The Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses are one of Hakodate's most distinctive waterfront landmarks. Built in the late nineteenth century as warehouses for the city's growing international trade, the handsome brick buildings have been preserved and transformed into a lively complex of shops, cafés and restaurants. The surrounding Bay Area is also home to historic churches, former consulates and other reminders of Hakodate's early opening to international trade. It is an easy place to explore at a relaxed pace, with plenty of opportunities for photographs, shopping and refreshments. The combination of nineteenth-century architecture, harbour scenery and modern shops makes Kanemori a natural part of any first visit to Hakodate.

Mount Hakodate rises above the city and is famous for its spectacular panoramic views. From the summit, visitors can look across the narrow strip of land connecting the mountain to the mainland, with Hakodate Bay on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. At the summit there is a café and facilities where visitors can take time to enjoy the scenery.

If time permits, Goryokaku Park is a must-see, one of Hakodate's most remarkable landmarks, a five-pointed Western-style fortress built in the final years of the Edo period. Its distinctive layout was intended to make the fort easier to defend against modern artillery. Today, the former fortress is a peaceful public park surrounded by trees, with a moat that traces its unusual geometric shape. Visitors can walk along the old fortifications, cross the bridges and explore the grounds while learning about the dramatic events that took place here during Japan's transition from the shogunate to the modern state. Goryokaku was the site of the final battle of the Boshin War in 1869, when the forces of the former shogunate made their last stand. The nearby Tower provides an elevated view of the entire star-shaped fortress and the surrounding city. In spring, the park is especially popular for its cherry blossoms, while the changing foliage provides a different atmosphere later in the year.