A trip to Hakodate Day 2-Japanese home cooking class in Tokyo
Personally, I prefer meals savored in the countryside over those in Tokyo. As part of the Hakodate gourmet introduction, the Italian restaurant that left the deepest impression on this trip deserves special mention.
Passo a Passo (Italian restaurant)
It is an Italian restaurant in Hakodate, Hokkaido, known for its pasta lunches and antipasti. Located in Hanazono-cho, it offers a cozy atmosphere with jazz music and popular dishes like clam-natoto pasta. Reservations are recommended due to limited seating.
Location
The restaurant sits at 22-26 Hanazono-cho, Hakodate City, on the first floor of Mezon Patio Hanazono. Reach it by walking 14 minutes from Fuhorimachi Station or 1 minute from Inari Jinja bus stop. Parking is available nearby.
Hours
Lunch runs 11:30–15:00 Tuesday through Sunday, holidays, and pre-holidays. Dinner is weekdays 18:00–21:30, with weekends and holidays following dinner menus for lunch. Closed Mondays.
Menu Highlights
Antipasto Lunch : Includes antipasti platter (e.g., salmon escabeche, bacon, quiche), salad, pasta choice, dessert, and drink.
Pasta options like clam-shimeji-natto or bacon-mushroom cream, often with fresh local ingredients.
Focuses on Hokkaido and Italian wines.
Apetizers
prosciutto salad
Squid ink pasta
venison dish- The Hokkaido venison was exceptionally delicious—a fresh delicacy unavailable in Tokyo. I couldn't help but ask the restaurant owner-chef about it. I savored it alongside a fine Italian red wine, but forgot to take a photo of the wine.
Tiramisu with coffee
Tips
I believe a reservation is recommended, but even with a last-minute inquiry, the kind owner couple responded with great care. The fresh and carefully selected ingredients and dishes, which are hard to find in Tokyo, were truly impressive. I would love to visit again. Thank you for the wonderful meal.
It is located at 22-26 Hanazono-cho, Hakodate City, approximately 923 meters from Keibajomae Station or a 1-minute walk from the Inari Shrine bus stop.
Parking is available for shared use, and the store stands out with its red exterior in a corner of the residential area. TEL: 0138-84-1525
Rokkatei
It is a renowned old-established confectionery manufacturer representing Hokkaido, with multiple directly operated stores in Hakodate. Particularly popular are the Goryokaku and Uomi-dori stores, both featuring tearooms where you can enjoy sweets made with local ingredients.
Goryokaku Store
Located at 27-6 Goryokaku-cho, Hakodate City, it boasts an appealing location facing Goryokaku Park. Operating hours are around 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, with popular tearoom items including Marusei Butter Sandwich, hotcakes, and beef stew. It offers 18 free parking spaces, and the cherry blossom season views are highly recommended.
Rokkatei caffe
Isaribi-dori Store
This seaside spot provides stunning views of the Tsugaru Strait. Store hours are 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with the tearoom open around 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM. It features limited-edition sweets and curry, with 26 free parking spaces. It's conveniently about 10 minutes by car from Hakodate Airport.
Rokkatei caffe
Gotoken
It is a venerable Western-style restaurant representing Hakodate, Hokkaido, founded in 1879. It began in the Meiji era and is renowned for traditional menu items like curry and apple pie.
Gotoken
History
Gotoken was established in Hakodate by first-generation owner Sota Wakayama and head chef Hidekichi Gotō as a Western cuisine restaurant. It overcame major fires and wars, with the main store still located in Suehirocho today.
Popular Menu Items
Its signature dishes include British curry, rich duck curry, and apple pie, which have fans nationwide. Retort products are also available for purchase.
hree kinds of Hokkaido wines
Japanese traditonal youshoku
Japanese traditional youshoku
Store Information
The main store is at 4-5 Suehirocho, Hakodate City, with branches like the Hakodate Curry EXPRESS Goryokaku Tower store and cafes. It has expanded to places like the Omiya Lumine store in Saitama and other areas in the Kanto region.
Hakodate Free Market Seafood Bowl
Kani-don
