Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

Say "Good Afternoon" (Kon-nichiwa) to your experienced driver and guide when you meet your motorcoach at the pier to begin this half-day highlights tour. Aimed at quickly visiting some of Hakodate's popular tourist attractions, you'll spend a delightful time immersed in the history, culture and scenery of the a major port city in southern Hokkaidos.

You'll enjoy the scenic drive before visiting Goryokaku enjoying expert narration on the history of Japan along the way. From the Edo Period's feudal system of samurai, farmers, craftsmen, and merchants to the Meiji Period's course of modernization heavily influenced by Western culture, Japan has emerged as one of the world's leading industrialized nations.

As you make your way into the city, you'll enjoy dramatic views of this dynamic urban landscape and its unique blend of old and new with distinctive Russian, Chinese and Western influences. Anchored by towering Mt. Hakodate, the city is surrounded by the sea and the Tsugaru Strait and spreads out like a fan to face the main island of Honshu. One of the city's most notable Western-style structures is the Goryokaku Pentagonal Fort, and your stop here allows you to soak up history while you enjoy the beauty of nature. Fort Goryokaku, which means "Five Bastion Castle", was designed by a Dutch studies (rangaku) scholar by the name of Takeda Ayasaburo after researching European forts and castles. It was built between 1857 and 1864 to accommodate contemporary cannons which were placed at each of the five points. Now a popular park, rebuilt the Hakodate Magistrate's Office at the center of the park and historical exhibits including period artifacts and uniformsa are there. After your visit, board your coach for the return trip to the ship.