Mount Hakodate Ropeway and Night View

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Mount Hakodate (函館山) is a mountain in Hakodate, Hokkaido famous for the specatular views from the mountain. Mount Hakodate is a 334 meter high, wooded mountain with a nine kilometer circumference at the southern end of the peninsula on which much of central Hakodate is located. Its location allows an unobstructed view of both the city and the Tsugaru Strait.

Using Mt Hakodate Ropeway (a kind of Gondola) with 125 persons, passenger can view a beautiful Hakodate port and the city streets of Hakodate to Tsugaru Strait an Shimokita Peninsula. When the weather is fine, you can see the Onuma Park and Mt. Komagatake, as well as the Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori Prefecture in the distance.

The night view from the peak is said to be one of the three best in the world with Naples and Hong Kong, and the summer Hakodate Port Festival fireworks, the winter bay area Christmas illumination, and other events provide a beautiful scene of the city being gradually lit up, and it is truly a “million-dollar night view.”

Mount Hakodate nighlife view is also among the best night views in Japan, together with Nagasaki's Mount Inasa and Kobe's Mount Rokko.

Since 1964, Mount Hakodate has been assigned National Reservation for Birds and Animals; there are about 600 species of plants, and about 150 species of animals reside in Mount Hakodate. Also there are the memorial monuments of a zoologist Thomas W. Blakiston, who discovered a distribution limit of Japanese animals in Tsugaru Strait, and a topologist Tadataka Inoh, who published the first surveyed map of Japan. There are souvenir shops, a restaurant with the finest view, and an events hall where 12 monitors produce a multi-vision presentation that introduces the four seasons of Hakodate.

The ropeway to the peak of the mountain departs from the Motomachi District, a 5 minute tram ride from JR Hakodate Station. Alternatively there is a direct bus from the station to the peak during the warm seasons of the year. There is also a hiking course to the top that takes about an hour. The cable car station is about ten minutes walk from "Jujigai" streetcar stop. The Mt. Hakodate Ropeway station is situated near the top of the Nanbuzaka-slope; the Nanbuzaka-slope lies next to the city hall branch office of Suehiro-cho (old Marui-Imai department store). The cable car, which rides 125 people, departs every five minutes in rush time.


Mt Hakodate Ropeway

ACCESS TO MT. HAKODATE
By ropeway
The Hakodateyama Ropeway departs from the Motomachi District. The ropeway's lower station can be reached in a 10 minute walk from the "Jujigai" tram stop (3rd station, 5 minutes, 200 Yen from Hakodate Station) or by direct Hakodate Bus from Hakodate Station (10 minutes, 230 Yen, every 30 minutes in the evening only).

The cost for a ropeway ticket is 1160 Yen for a round trip and 640 Yen for a one way trip. The ropeway operates from 10am to 10pm (until 9pm during winter, from 9am during the Golden Week and summer holidays).

By Bus
From late April to mid November, direct buses by Hakodate Bus operate between Hakodate Station and the summit of Mount Hakodate every evening, taking 30 minutes and costing 360 Yen for the one way journey. Day passes are valid on this bus. There are departures every 20 minutes. Fewer departures in autumn.

By Car
There is a toll free road to the summit of Mount Hakodate. However, the road gets closed to individual car traffic in the evenings between 17:00 and 22:00 from late April to mid October.


Mt. Hakodate Ropeway Fares

Adult : 640yen (One Way), 1,160yen (Round Trip)
Child : 320yen (One Way), 590yen (Round Trip)


Mt. Hakodate Photos :


Mt Hakodate at Day


Mt Hakodate at Night


Mt Hakodate Ropeway


Mt Hakodate Ropeway


Mt Hakodate Ropeway


Mt Hakodate Souvenir Shop


Mt Hakodate Restaurant Genova
From the top of Mt Hakodate you can see a dreamlike world unlike any other place in the world. The views are spectacular and it is the most comfortable observatory restaurant you'll find at the 2nd floor of the building named "Genova".

Watch Cable car ride up to Mt Hakodate Video here

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Shopping at Gotemba Premium Factory Outlet

Visiting Tokyo (or Japan) will not complete without doing some shopping. Tokyo is the world fashion place, and there are also a lot of department stores and shopping centres. Although shopping in Tokyo will damage you a lot of money, but Tokyo is still world well known shopping paradise for its Shibuya, Ginza, Shinjuku, Daikanyama, Harajuku.

If you want to try something different shopping place and at a cheaper price, then you can visit Gotemba Premium Factory Outlet.

Gotemba Premium Outlet (御殿場プレミアムアトレット)



Gotemba Premium Outlet actually is the most famous popular outlet mall, located in Gotemba City near the foot of Mount Fuji. However, it is quite far from Tokyo central and will take more than 2 hours by train and bus.

Gotemba Premium Outlet is the biggest factory outlet stores in Japan with total area of 350 thousands meter squares, with about 200 outlets stores ranging from international top designer brands to local famous brands.

The goods here are 30%-40% off the normal retail price, if it is during sale seasons, the pricing will fall even to 70% off! By the way, it is very near to Hakone, so you can stop by here after your Hakone trip on the way back to Shinjuku.

Gotemba factory outlet is an upscale outlet mall which housed many international top designer brands like Armani, Balenciaga, Banana Republic, Coach, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Kate Spade, Jimmy Choo, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent and many more. But the real good bargains from sportswear brands Nike, Adidas and Puma that will make your trip worthwhile!

Introducing some famous outlet stores in Gotemba Premium Outlets here:

1. Beams Outlet

If you are the Beams fans, you must not miss out the outlet shop here as it is the largest Beams outlet in Japan, it has all brands in Beams Group, the goods sale here are so many and you need to search it slowly, you will definitely get what you want with a very value bargain price.

2. Nike Outlet

The biggest Nike Outlet and has everything about Nike. So you will not miss out any cool gears and clothing if you are Nike fans!

3. Vivienne Westwood

It is not usual to see Vivienne Westwood setup outlet to sell the products, but you will find it here in Gotemba Premium Outlets. It has promotion and discount for old season fashion goods and apply some new arrival promotions for latest season fashions.


How to get Gotemba Factory Outlet

The Gotemba Premium Outlets are located on the outskirts of Gotemba City not far from Hakone. A free shuttle bus operates every 20 minutes between the mall and JR Gotemba Station, stopping at the Tomei-Gotemba IC (interchange or expressway exit) along the way.

There is a free shuttle bus service which operates from 9.30am to 10.40pm at 20 minutes interval. It picks up passengers from JR Gotemba Station (Otome Exit) via Tomei Gotemba Interchange to Gotemba Premium Outlets.

1.From Shinjuku Station
By Bus: At Shinjuku Station West Exit, board the Odakyu Hakone Express Bus to Gotemba Premium Outlets (approx. 100 minutes). Return ticket price: $2800 yen (adult), $2000 yen (kid)
By Bus: At Shinjuku Station’s New South Exit, board Gotemba Premium Outlets Liner (approx. 95 minutes)
By Train: At Shinjuku Station, board the Odakyu Line “Romance Car” Express Train Asagiri (approximately 95 minutes) to reach.

2. From Tokyo Station
By Bus: Tokyo Station’s Yaesu South Exit, board the Gotemba Premium Outlets Liner (approx. 85 min.)
By Bus: Tokyo Station’s Yaesu South Exit (Bus Stop No.1) board the Tomei Highway Bus (approx. 100 min.).

3. From Hakone
At Gora Station board the bus to Hakone Sengokubara (approx. 30 min.). At ?board Hakone Sengokubara to Gotemba Premium Outlet.

4. From Yokohama
At Yokohama Station’s Yokomana, East exit, board the Fujikyoko where you can get Gotemba Premium Outlets Yokohama Shopping Bus Tour. (approx. 90mins)


Gotemba Premium Factory Outlet


















Watch Shopping at Gotemba Premium Factory Outlet Video here

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