Hakodate 函館

This is one of my favorite places in Japan. A gritty port city in Hokkaido crammed onto a thin isthmus with Russian, British, and American clapboard consulates dating from the 1800's. Old houses, funky bars, and a Russian Orthodox church wind their way up Mount Cow's Back to a park and viewing area (in the foreground). Red brick warehouses around the port (left side) were converted into restaurants, shops and a microbrewery. A star-shaped castle (back-left corner) and a fairly nice beach (along the right side) are worth a look and the whole place is cyclable. Hakodate is home of the ika-odori (squid dance) - performed by locals at the summer port festival. Go to the morning fish market to taste fresh crab and squid - and in the evening have a beer at the Comfortable Octopus or Peace Place - friendliest bars in town.