| Hakodate is a city and port located in Oshima, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture.
As of 2004, the city has an estimated population of 299,737 and the density of 442.24 persons per kmē. The total area is 677.77 kmē.
Hakodate is located in the centre of Kameda peninsula.
The city is overlooked by Mount Hakodate, a lumpy, forested mountain whose summit can be reached by hiking trail, cable car, or car. The night view from the summit is renowned in Japan as one of the best in the country. An obscure local nickname of the bumpy mountain is Gagyuzan (Mount Cow's Back), alluding to the way the mountain resembles a resting cow.
The former Goryukaku fort is now used in as a public park and is popular in Hokkaido for hanami (cherry blossom viewing). Since April 2006, the park has also featured the tall, white Goryokaku Tower. Resembling an air traffic control tower, the structure offers a panoramic view of the park, including mainland Japan across the Tsugaru Strait on clear days.
The city is known for Hakodate Shio Ramen, which uses sliced squid in place of chashu . On a similar note, Hakodate's city fish is the squid. Every year (August) the city gets together for the Hakodate Port Festival. Hordes of citizens gather in the streets to dance a wiggly dance known as the Ika-odori (Squid Dance), the name of which describes the dance appropriately. The glowing lights of squid-catching boats can be seen in the waters surrounding the city.
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