- July 1st, 2017
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[Kaikyo Lookout in Hakodate] Shimokita Peninsula and Nice Expression of Mt. Esan Can Be Seen
CONTENTS
Kaikyo Lookout
Kaikyo Lookout (恵山展望台) is a lookout at about 350 m above sea level on the mountainside of Mt. Esan (恵山) with 618 m of the altitude in the eastern part of Hakodate city, and comes into sight after finishing going up Esan-Tozan Road (恵山登山道) with some s-curves beside Esan Onsen Ryokan (恵山温泉旅館). I suppose that its name is named after a view of Tsugaru Strait (津軽海峡). * The Kaikyo means “A strait” in Jappanese. Although a signboard written “Esan Lookout (恵山展望台)” is built, the Esan Lookout is built at an another place, so it is a little more confusing. The Esan-Tozan Road under traffic control is available from 06:00 to 18:00. Do not be left behind ! There is not a facility in particular. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge, too.
Mt. Esan
Mt. Esan (恵山) is an active volcano with 618 m of the altitude in the eastern part of Hakodate city, the easternmost of Oshima Peninsula (渡島半島). Around there has been desinged as Esan Prefectural Natural Park (恵山道立自然公園). Mizunashi-Kaihin Onsen (水無海浜温泉), Esan Onsen (恵山温泉), Ishida Onsen (石田温泉) and Misaki Onsen (御崎温泉) are at foot of the Mt. Esan, but the Mizunashi-Kaihin Onsen are not linked with others via a road, so visitors should make a detour. The Mt. Esan is well-known as an easy trekking mountain for beginner hikers, and Yezo Mountain Azalea is full in bloom from late May to early June, and it is a famous place to see fall foliage, too. The end of Esan-Tozan Road (恵山登山道) beside Esan Onsen Ryokan (恵山温泉旅館) is Esan Kakogen Parking Lot (恵山火口原駐車場). The Esan-Tozan Road under traffic control is available from 06:00 to 18:00. Do not be left behind! A public restroom and a resting station are built around the parking lot. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge, too. Read More
Esan Onsen
Esan Onsen (恵山温泉) is a hot spring place in Esan, Hakodate city located in the eastern part of Hakodate city. Esan Onsen Ryokan (恵山温泉旅館) is built at about 90 m above sea level in the foot of Mt. Esan. There are Esan-Kakokgen (恵山火口原), Esan Observatory (恵山展望台), Misaki Lookout (岬展望台), Azalea Park (つつじ公園), Ishida Onsen (石田温泉) and Misaki Onsen (御崎温泉) around here. Unfortunately, convenience stores are not built around the building. The Esan Onsen Ryokan is adjacent to the Azalea Park that is famous for beautiful azalea. A guide map introduced “The distance between a trailhead and a lookout around a hilltop is 500 m. It takes about 20 minutes on foot”. I supposed that it was easy to go up because the distance was very short, but there was very rough path, and the path was a steep slope, and I was considerably out of breath. Esan Tsutsuji Festival (恵山つつじまつり) is held in late May. Read More
Ishida Onsen
Ishida Onsen (石田温泉) is a hot spring place in Esan, Hakodate city located in the eastern part of Hakodate city. Ishida Onsen Ryokan (石田温泉旅館)is built at about 50 m above sea level in the foot of Mt. Esan. There are Esan-Kakokgen (恵山火口原), Esan Observatory (恵山展望台), Misaki Lookout (岬展望台), Azalea Park (つつじ公園), Esan Onsen (恵山温泉) and Misaki Onsen (御崎温泉) around here. Unfortunately, convenience stores are not built around the building. The Ishida Onsen Ryokan is relatively near the Azalea Park that is famous for beautiful azalea. A guide map introduced “The distance between a trailhead and a lookout around a hilltop is 500 m. It takes about 20 minutes on foot”. I supposed that it was easy to go up because the distance was very short, but there was very rough path, and the path was a steep slope, and I was considerably out of breath. Esan Tsutsuji Festival (恵山つつじまつり) is held in late May. Read More
By the way, Express Hakodate-go (高速はこだて号) and Hakodate Limited Express New Star-go (函館特急ニュースター号), express buses, run between Sapporo and the Hakodate. Unfortunately, the express bus does not run between New Chitose Airport and the Hakodate. Besides, Rent-a-car can be rented around Hakodate Station, Hakodate Airport, the Goryokaku Fort and Hakodate Ferry Terminal.
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HAKODATE
Hakodate (函館) that about 260,000 people live is the 3rd largest port city in Hokkaido, and is a regional hub city of the Southern Hokkaido area. The Hakodate became incorporated with Toi town (戸井), Esan town (恵山), Todohokke village (椴法華) and Minami-kayabe town (南茅部) in 2004, and most of Kameda Peninsula (亀田半島) has changed to the Hakodate. It is one of most popular tourist cities in the Hokkaido, and about 5 million people visit here. The downtown of the Hakodate from Mt. Hakodate toward former Goryokaku fort is developed on a large sandbar between the seas, and a unique seashore landscape is very popular. Although a lot of tourists think the center town of the Hakodate is around Hakodate Station and the Mt. Hakodate, it is around Hakodate Streetcar Goryokaku Koen-mae Stop (函館市電五稜郭公園前駅). The Hakodate is also well-known as a city with a lot of slopes, and there are 19 slopes with its name such as Hachiman-zaka slope (八幡坂), Daisan-zaka slope (大三坂) and Motoi-zaka slope (基坂), so around the Mt. Hakodate has a lot of slope lands, and the Hakodate has a lot of narrow roads. As for a climate, the Hakodate is wamer than other cities in the Hokkaido because it is located of the Southern Hokkaido, and it does not snow hard. Read More
Look of Kaikyo Lookout
A stone lookout is built at non large site. The Tsugaru Strait, Shimokita Peninsula (下北半島) and the front side of the gentle Mt. Esan can be seen, if it is fine weather. Sea of clouds covered with the Tsugaru Strait sometimes can be seen, too. There is not a sightseeing facility, so it takes about 10 minutes to look around on foot.
Atmosphere of Kaikyo Lookout Can Be Watched on Youtube
Movie of Kaikyo Lookout
| Admission fee | Free of charge |
|---|---|
| Parking lot | Free parking is provided (11 cars) |
| Business hours | Open 24 hours |
| Regular closing day | Open all year round |
| Telephone number | +81-138-85-2336 |
| Home page | Home page is here |
| Mapcode | 875 153 856*30 |
List of accommodations
Refer to following websites for the accommodations around the Mt. Esan. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.
Around Mt. Esan
South Part of Hakodate Downtown
North Part of Hakodate Downtown
Yunokawa Onsen
A page of Hakodate is here
Hakodate
By the way, Club Tourism (クラブツーリズム), a Japanese tour travel agency, provides various types of tours such as day trip tours or ordinary tours. In the case of bus tours, tourists do not drive their cars themselves, so they can savor alcohol. Choosen tourist attractions are national parks such as Rishiri and Rebun, Shiretoko, and popular tourist places such as Furano and Biei, and some activities such as hiking and fruit picking are also enjoyed depending on seasons. If you are interested in tour trips, you should visit the club tourism's website for details.
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