[Houki Temple in Hokuto] One of Largest Weeping Cherry Tree in Hokkaido

Houki Temple

Houki Temple (法亀寺) is a temple in the center of Hokuto city located in the northern part of Hakodate city, but it is away from Hakodate-Shinhokuto Station (函館新北斗駅). Mr. Kinbei Nakamura (中村金兵衛) asked Mr. Nichido Kaneko (金子日能), a then chief priest of Jikko Temple (実行寺) in Hakodate, to built a temple, and he named new temple as Hokian (法亀庵) in 1849. The temple moved to the current place in 1889, and was renamed the Houki Temple before moving. It is famous for a large weeping cherry tree at grounds of the temple, and it is called "Weeping Cherry Tree of Houki Temple (法亀寺のしだれ桜)", and is one of Hokuto Cherry Blossom Corridor (北斗桜回廊) with about 120,000 visitors. The best time to see the cherry blossoms is about from late April to early May. Admission free. A parking lot of the temple was not available, but a temporary parking lot was provided near the temple.

Movie of Hokuto Cherry Blossom Corridor

Speaking of the tasty restraunts in the Hokuto, Yakiniku Hibiya (焼肉ひび屋), Trappist Monastery Shop (トラピスト修道院の売店), Bento Cafe Yonichi Garden (ベントー カフェ ヨンイチ ガーデン), Ramen Shodai Yashiro (らーめん初代 社) are popular in particular. In addition, here is close to Seseragi Onsen (せせらぎ温泉). By the way, a direct bus does not run from Sapporo or New Chitose Airport to the Houki Temple, but Kosoku Hakodate-go (高速はこだて号), an express buse, run between the Sapporo and the Hakodate, and it stops at the Hokuto.

List of Means of Transportation

Refer to following the means of the transportation in the Hokuto. As for car rental comparison websites, you can compare vehicle rental prices on Tabi-Plaza Rental Car Reservation (旅ぷらざレンタカー予約), Jalan Rental Car (じゃらんレンタカー) and Rakutem Travel Rental Car (楽天トラベルレンタカー).

Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Sapporo to Hakodate	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Hakodate to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Nippon Rent-a-car(ニッポンレンタカー)	Their office is near Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Times Car Rental(タイムズカーレンタル)	Their office is near Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Toyota Rental Lease(トヨタレンタリース)	Their office is near Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Nissan Rent-a-car(日産レンタカー)	Their office is near Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Orix Rent-a-car(オリックスレンタカー)	Their office is near Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Station Rent-a-car(えきレンタカー)	Their office is near Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten

Seseragi Onsen

Seseragi Onsen (せせらぎ温泉) is a hot spring place in Hokuto city located in the northwest part of Hakodate city. It takes about 10 minutes by car from New Hakodate Hokuto Station. Hot springs were succeeded in drilling from 1360 m below ground in 1992, and it was named after Ono River (大野川) near. Hokuto Municipal Health Center (北斗市健康センター) relatively near the center of Hokuto city is built at a residential area. Read More

Cherry Blossoms of Hokkaido

Cherry blossoms begin to bloom from late April in Hokkaido. The cherry blossoms in the Southern Hokkaido including Hakodate begin to bloom from late April, and in case of late blooming, the cherry blossoms in the Eastern Hokkaido and the Northern Hokkaido seem to bloom in early June. The cherry blossoms in Honshu (the main island of Japan) begin to bloom from mid March, and tourists can enjoy the cherry blossoms until too late season. If everybody forget to see the cherry blossoms in the Honshu, please visit the Hokkaido to savor the cherry blossoms. Read More

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Weeping Cherry Tree of Houki Temple

Only one large weeping cherry tree grows at the grounds of the temple, and it is believed that an origin goes back at least 300 years. The height is about 12 m, and the width looks about 15 m. It is said that it is one of the largest weeping cherry trees in Hokkaido, and the size makes visitors's eyes open widely. Food stalls open a business in the daytime, and the tree is lit up in the evening.

Atmosphere of Weeping Cherry Tree on Houki Temple Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Weeping Cherry Tree on Houki Temple

Movie of Hokuto Cherry Blossom Corridor Lit up

List of Accommodations

Refer to following websites for the accommodations in the Hokuto. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.

Loding Hamanasu 2(ロジングはまなすII)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel La'gent Plaza Hakodate Hokuto(ホテル・ラ・ジェント・プラザ函館北斗)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Guest House Hakodate Crossroad(ゲストハウス函館クロスロード)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Business Minshuku Abe(ビジネス民宿あべ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Akitaya(ホテル秋田屋)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Murayama Ryokan(村山旅館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Umezu Ryokan(梅津旅館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Ryokan Tomiya(旅館とみや)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Ryokan Taneda(旅館たねだ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Ryokan Yamani(旅館やまに)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshuku Shokudoen(民宿 食道園)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Sakae-so(榮荘)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Nanaehama(ホテル七重浜)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten