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Northern Sapporo contains some excellent photogenic parks that make good day trips from the city center: Moerenuma-koen, Yurigahara-koen and Sapporo Satoland.

Founded as Hokkaido’s first industrial area in the 1880s, Naebo (苗穂) has a variety of factories, warehouses and historical museums.

On the eastern side of Koma-ga-take, Shikabe (鹿部) is a small coastal onsen town.

Minamikayabe (南茅部) is home to the Jomon culture and archaeological finds in Southern Hokkaido. The town’s two Jomon prehistoric sites are designated as a World Heritage.

The area is designated as Esan Prefectural Natural Park that makes a worth-visiting another day trip from Hakodate. The highlight here is the active volcano E-san.

Hakodate-yama (函館山) is known as one of the best places to see the night view spots in the world. Yachigashira (谷地頭) is dotted with an atmospheric shrine, public onsen, park, museum and cape.

Okushiri-to (奥尻島) is Southern Hokkaido’s only inhabited island, with a couple of tranquil beaches, scenic roads, fantastically-shaped rocks and heartwarming hospitality.

Taisei (大成) is the westernmost town of mainland Hokkaido. Kumaishi (熊石) has some peaceful onsen.

In the upper reaches of the Hiyama Coast is the town of Setana (せたな), which boasts rugged coastline, pleasant beaches and one of Japan’s clearest rivers.