The night view of Hakodate in Hokkaido is a must-visit highlight of this trip. As one of the three major night views in Japan, its magnificent scenery is definitely not to be missed! Even if you visit in summer, the low temperatures and strong winds at the top of the mountain are still biting. It is recommended to bring warm clothes and hot drinks to enjoy photography and appreciation with peace of mind. It’s definitely worth the effort to capture the stunning images of this beautiful landscape!
The Origin and Evolution of the Three Great Night Scenes in the World
The concept of "The World's Three Great Night Views" originated from the Night View Summit, an event dedicated to studying the impact of night views on the tourism industry and conducting voting. The organizer will conduct a comprehensive evaluation through questionnaire surveys and on-site surveys to select the most representative night view locations in the world. The earliest three major night scenes include:
- Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong – Famous for its dazzling sea of high-rise buildings and charming night view of the harbor.
- Mount Hakodate, Hokkaido – Lauded for its jewel-like lights and unique location.
- Naples, Italy – The romantic night views of its mountain towns and Mediterranean coast are unforgettable.
These locations have long attracted countless tourists and become must-visit highlights on their journeys. However, on October 2012, 10, the Night Scene Summit announced the "Top Three Night Scenes of the New World", and the judges re-voted the following three major night scenes:
- Hong Kong – continues to retain its place as a symbol of its classic charm at night.
- Nagasaki, Japan – The night view of mountains and sea is mesmerizing and has become a new representative of night view.
- Monaco – The luxurious harbor and dazzling city lights earned high praise.
These changes show that the definition of nightscape is constantly evolving as travel demand and tourism trends change. Whether it is the three major night views of the Old World or the New World, they all have unparalleled beauty and deserve to be included on everyone's travel list! According to the latest selection announced on November 2021, 11, the "New Three Night Views in the World" are:
- Monaco – The dazzling night view of the Mediterranean coast, with luxury yachts and city lights complementing each other, shows a luxurious and romantic atmosphere.
- Nagasaki City, Japan – Viewed from the top of Inasa Mountain, the night view of Nagasaki combines the beautiful scenery of mountains and seas with lights, presenting a rich three-dimensional visual effect, which is known as the “Millions of Night Views”.
- Shanghai – Based on the city lights of the Bund and Pudong, the night scene is full of modernity, showing the vitality and future of the cosmopolitan city.
Related Post: Hong Kong Symphony of Lights: Take the Star Ferry to see the world-famous night view of Victoria Harbour
Related Post: 10 Days and 9 Nights Shanghai and Hangzhou Double Cities Free Tour Guide: Parent-child Travel Notes with Bright Night Views
Transportation and sightseeing suggestions to Mount Hakodate
After exiting JR Hakodate Station, walk about 300 meters to the "Hakodate Ekimae" tram stop. Take the Hakodate Municipal Electric Line here, choose Line 2 or Line 5, and get off at Jujigai Station. After that, walk about 600 meters to reach the "Sanroku Station" of the Hakodate Mountain Ropeway. It should be noted that this 600-meter road is uphill. Although it is not too steep, it is recommended to be mentally prepared in advance and wear comfortable shoes to avoid fatigue.
If you plan a day trip to Hakodate, you can refer to the following routes:
- In the morning or afternoon, first go to Motomachi Park to admire the exotic European-style architecture.
- Then walk downhill to the harbor area and take a stroll to admire the beautiful views of the harbour.
- After dinner, take a 15-minute walk from the harbor area to the Hakodate Mountain Ropeway, where you can enjoy the nighttime street view and help digest the delicious dinner.
Related Post: Hakodate free travel guide: two days and one night in Hakodate, Hokkaido classic attractions self-service lazy bag
▲ Walking on the streets of Hakodate in summer, the temperature is very comfortable.
▲Walking up, you can see the position of the cable car on the left hand side.
▲ Since the scenic spots are not far apart, you can see the cable car line when you walk. You can just walk in this direction.
Hakodate Mountain Ropeway Transportation Guide and Viewing Suggestions
The million-dollar night view of Mt. Hakodate has been awarded the honor of being one of the three best night views in the world. It is also a three-star attraction recommended by the "Michelin Green Guide Japan" and is known as a beautiful attraction "worth a special trip to explore". In the evening, Mount Hakodate attracts a large number of tourists, including many local Japanese tourists. Therefore, it is recommended that you arrive before 18:30 and take the cable car up the mountain. This will make it easier to find a good location to enjoy the gorgeous night view of sunset and first night. Especially in the summer, when large numbers of group tourists arrive, arriving early is even more important.
Cable car fares and precautions
The fare for taking the Hakodate Ropeway (Hakodate Ropeway/Hakodate Mountain Ropeway) is as follows:
- Adult round trip fare: 1,800 yen
- Child round-trip fare: 900 yen
- Children under three years old are free
For detailed fare information, please refer to the display in the cable car station or the official website. Before taking the cable car, the staff will check the ticket and you will need to show it again when you return, so be sure to keep it properly to avoid loss and inconvenience. If you are keen on collecting commemorative stamps of tourist attractions across Japan, stamping services are provided at the entrance of the cable car station. It is recommended to prepare a booklet to save as a special memory of the trip.
Cable car seat selection and viewing suggestions
The cable car takes only about 3 minutes from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain. For the best viewing experience, it is recommended to line up early and choose a window seat at the rear right in the direction of travel, so that you can overlook the beautiful scenery of Hakodate city that gradually lights up at night. If you arrive too late, you may only see the mountain view, which is a bit regretful.
Mount Hakodate sunset time reference
The sunset time in Hakodate varies with the seasons. It is recommended to check the sunset time of the day in advance to plan your trip more perfectly. The following is the official website information of Hakodate Cable Car. You can easily confirm the latest information and sunset time, making your trip smoother.
Mount Hakodate Ropeway
▲ Official fare information and sunset time.
▲ This cable car has been in service since 1997 and can carry 125 people. After entering the carriage, the staff will ask the passengers to spread evenly to facilitate balance.
▲ In order to collect stamps from various places in Hokkaido, I have a special notebook to cover it.
Night view and thoughts on my first visit to Hakodate in 2013
Cooperating with a Japanese advertising company, Wendy and I set foot on Hokkaido for the first time at the end of June 2013, completing relevant interviews and filming before the summer tourist season. However, the weather in Hakodate is still a bit cold at this time, so you need to wear a jacket in the morning and evening to keep out the cold. The temperature is equivalent to Taiwan’s winter. However, there are not many tourists, and I can still take photos of the night scene at the observation deck. I am quite lucky!
▲ The cold wind is coming, and the temperature in Mount Hakodate at the end of June 2013 was only 6-13 degrees, which was extremely cold!
▲ The clouds have thickened that night, and everyone can see the beautiful night view of Mt. Hakodate under different weather conditions from evening to night.
▲ It was not only cold in Mt. Hakodate, but the sea breeze was so strong that I ended up with a slight cold the next morning.
▲ Commemorative coins can be stamped with time and name. We bought them at Osaka Castle last year. Please refer to them.
▲ The restaurant on Mount Hakodate allows you to enjoy the night view while dining.
▲ A world-class night view, you must come once in your life!
Thoughts and changes on the night view of Hakodate during my second visit in 2023
Since it was my first self-guided trip to Hokkaido, I had too many regrets. For example, the weather was cold and slightly humid, so I couldn’t take photos of the scenery under a clear sun. Furthermore, it was far away from Biei and Furano flower fields, so I couldn’t complete the shooting of the scenery and records. In order to work on the route, I returned to Taiwan for follow-up content production, so Hokkaido has always been on my second visit list, but I didn’t expect that when I came back 10 years later, I would have an extra hamburger to accompany me, which the two of us never expected at the time. .
Ten years later, I wanted to visit many cities and days in Hokkaido, so I arranged a one-month long stay trip, one of which was Hakodate. Due to the increase in the number of tourists in recent years, the Mt. Hakodate Cable Car Station has also been renovated. Whether it is the official website, on-site hardware and gate equipment, it also allows tourists to check the live conditions on site to facilitate their itinerary arrangements. The night view of the mountain is still brilliant and beautiful, with four The viewing location and angle are shared below.
- Fishing Fire Park: The Yuhuo Park on the left side of the cable car exit is a relatively little-known viewing spot. When the weather is clear, you can overlook the Shimokita Peninsula and Tsugaru Peninsula across the Tsugaru Strait.
- Observation deck top floor: This is the busiest place for tourists. After arriving, both floors were full of people waiting to watch the night view. I managed to squeeze into the second row. A Hong Kong friend in the first row was kind enough to help me take a few photos with his camera. I was able to leave and continue taking photos at other locations.
- Restaurant view: "Genova" on the second floor and "Legato" on the third floor have circular, large-area glass viewing locations. If you want to go there to dine and enjoy the scenery, it is recommended that Novice Village call the hotel counter for assistance in contacting and making reservations.
- Take commemorative photos at the observation deck:right! Everyone also knows that the location where you can take commemorative photos must be perfect! It’s also great to take a photo to commemorate your return to Taiwan. There is also a good view in front. On nights from summer to autumn, you can enjoy the fishing fires of squid fishing boats lighting up the sea.
▲ It is recommended that you come to Novice Village earlier. (very crowded)
▲ Compared to 10 years ago, when I came to Hakodate to take night photos at the end of July, there was indeed less cold sea breeze and fog, and it was so beautiful!
▲ The ships on the sea also form a pattern with the bay-shaped night view.
A must-see for newbies! Three Most Beautiful Night Scenes in Hokkaido
After reading the introduction to the night view of Mount Tengu in Otaru, do you want to explore more? Don’t miss this summary of Hokkaido’s top three night views! We have selected the night views of Hakodate, Sapporo and Otaru and introduced in detail the highlights, transportation methods and fare information of each night view to help you plan your itinerary easily.
Whether it is a romantic date for a couple or an unforgettable time for a family trip, these three night views will definitely allow you to experience the charming night style of Hokkaido. Click the link below to start your own night view tour of Hokkaido!
Related Post: Hokkaido attractions for beginners: three most beautiful night views, transportation fares and real-life guide
Hakodate Ropeway / Hakodate Mountain Ropeway
- Address: 19-7 Motomachi, Hakodate City, Hokkaido
- Phone: 0138-23-3105
- Official website: http://334.co.jp/cht/
