🗿 Hokkaido · 1–2 days
Hakodate Jōmon & Komagatake Drive: World-Heritage Sites, a Seaside Geyser & Onuma
East of Hakodate along the Jōmon coast — the active volcano of Esan, the UNESCO World-Heritage Jōmon sites at Minamikayabe, a seaside geyser at Shikabe and the Onuma lakes below Mt. Komagatake. 5 michi-no-eki.
East and north of Hakodate the Oshima coast is older and stranger than the postcard city: the smoking, azalea-covered cone of Esan, 6,000-year-old Jōmon settlements now on the UNESCO World Heritage list, a geyser that erupts beside the sea at Shikabe, and the volcano Komagatake reflected in the Onuma lakes.
The drive runs from the Esan coast east of Hakodate up through Minamikayabe — home of the Ōfune and Kakinoshima Jōmon sites — past the Shikabe geyser park, where you can steam your own eggs over a hot spring, to Mori and the Onuma Quasi-National Park at the foot of Mt. Komagatake, ending with Mori's famous ikameshi (squid stuffed with rice).
The stops, in driving order
- 1 Michi-no-Eki Natowa ・ Esan 道の駅 なとわ・えさん · Hokkaido
Michi-no-Eki Natowa ・ Esan (道の駅 なとわ・えさん) is a government-designated roadside station in 函館市, Hokkaido, Japan, one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, a campground, showers and free Wi-Fi. There is free parking for about 109 cars and 3 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00（4–9月） 9:00–17:00（10–3月）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Hokkaido road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Joumon Roman Minami Kayabe, Shikabe Kanketsu Izumi Kouen and Nanairo ・ Nanae.
Nearby: ⛰Mt. Eyama (6 km)
- 2 Michi-no-Eki Joumon Roman Minami Kayabe 道の駅 縄文ロマン 南かやべ · Hokkaido
Michi-no-Eki Joumon Roman Minami Kayabe (道の駅 縄文ロマン 南かやべ) is a government-designated roadside station in 函館市, Hokkaido, Japan, registered in 2011 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk, hands-on experiences, a museum or gallery and a baby room. There is free parking for about 33 cars and 5 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00（4–10月） 9:00–16:30（11–3月） 定休日：毎週月曜日※月曜日が祝日の場合は翌日，年末年始（12月29日–1月3日）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Hokkaido road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Shikabe Kanketsu Izumi Kouen, Natowa ・ Esan and Nanairo ・ Nanae.
Nearby: ⛰Mt. Yokotsu Dake (14.4 km)
- 3 Michi-no-Eki Shikabe Kanketsu Izumi Kouen 道の駅 しかべ間歇泉公園 · Hokkaido
Michi-no-Eki Shikabe Kanketsu Izumi Kouen (道の駅 しかべ間歇泉公園) is a government-designated roadside station in 茅部郡鹿部町, Hokkaido, Japan, registered in 2015 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi, a tourist-information desk and hands-on experiences. There is free parking for about 45 cars and 6 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 【3月20日−11月30日】 月〜木 9時–17時 金〜日·祝 8時半–18時 定休日なし 【12月1日−3月19日】 月–木 10時–15時 金〜日·祝 9時–18時 定休日 1月4日–3月19日の毎週水曜日、年末年始（12月30日–1月1日）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Hokkaido road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Joumon Roman Minami Kayabe, Tsudo ~ Ru ・Puraza・ Sawara and Nanairo ・ Nanae.
Nearby: ⛰Mt. Yokotsu Dake (11.2 km) · 🌋Mt. Sawaratake (12.8 km)
- 4 Michi-no-Eki You ・ Yuu ・ Mori 道の駅 YOU･遊･もり · Hokkaido
Michi-no-Eki You ・ Yuu ・ Mori (道の駅 YOU･遊･もり) is a government-designated roadside station in 茅部郡森町, Hokkaido, Japan, registered in 1995 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 90 cars and 13 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:30（3/21–10/20） 9:00–17:00（10/21–3/20）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Hokkaido road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Tsudo ~ Ru ・Puraza・ Sawara, Nanairo ・ Nanae and Shikabe Kanketsu Izumi Kouen.
Nearby: 🌋Mt. Komagatake (9.8 km) · 🌋Mt. Sawaratake (10.3 km)
- 5 Michi-no-Eki Tsudo ~ Ru ・Puraza・ Sawara 道の駅 つど〜る・プラザ・さわら · Hokkaido
Michi-no-Eki Tsudo ~ Ru ・Puraza・ Sawara (道の駅 つど〜る・プラザ・さわら) is a government-designated roadside station in 茅部郡森町, Hokkaido, Japan, registered in 1999 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a cafe, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk, an observation deck and a baby room. There is free parking for about 40 cars and 3 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Hokkaido road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as You ・ Yuu ・ Mori, Shikabe Kanketsu Izumi Kouen and Nanairo ・ Nanae.
Nearby: 🌋Mt. Sawaratake (5.9 km) · 🌋Mt. Komagatake (6.9 km)
Make this route yours — load all 5 stops into the planner, reorder or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
Customize this route →Route tips
- The Jōmon sites at Minamikayabe (Ōfune, Kakinoshima) are part of the 2021 UNESCO World Heritage listing — the visitor centre explains them in English.
- Shikabe's geyser park lets you steam eggs and vegetables in the hot-spring vapour.
- Esan's azaleas peak in late May, and the volcano is an easy hike with sea views.
- Finish at Onuma below Mt. Komagatake — canoe or cycle the lakeshore — and try Mori's ikameshi.
Before you drive
- Can you drive in Japan? License rules by country
- Renting a car in Japan: the complete guide
- Can you sleep overnight at a michi-no-eki?
FAQ — Hakodate Jōmon & Komagatake
How many days do you need for the Hakodate Jōmon & Komagatake route?
1–2 days is a comfortable pace: roughly 80 km of driving with 5 michi-no-eki stops along the way. You can compress it, but the stops are the point.
Where does the route start and end?
It starts at Hakodate (Cape Esan) and ends at Mori (Onuma / Komagatake). Load all 5 stops into the free MichiStops route planner to reorder, add or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
When is the best season to drive this route?
May–October (Esan azaleas late May, autumn colour at Onuma).
Do I need to rent a car?
Yes — michi-no-eki are roadside stations, realistically reachable only by rental car or campervan. Most visitors can drive in Japan with a 1949-convention International Driving Permit; check the license rules for your country before booking. License rules by country →
Can I sleep overnight at the michi-no-eki on this route?
Resting overnight in your vehicle is tolerated at most michi-no-eki (camping outside the vehicle is not), and 1 stop on this route has a proper campground next door. Read the overnight-stay guide for the etiquette. Overnight-stay guide →