The Hakodate City Tram is a streetcar system operated by the Transportation Division of the Hakodate City Public Enterprise Bureau, providing convenient transportation for both residents and tourists.
It began service in 1913, five years before Sapporo, making it the first streetcar system north of the Tohoku region. Today, it operates two lines with a total route length of 10.9 kilometers.
Passenger numbers increased after World War II, and during the system’s peak in the 1960s, it operated 12 lines covering 17.9 kilometers. Around 1990, however, competition from bus services and declining ridership due to the growing use of private cars led to a major reorganization of the network, reducing it from its former size.
Although only two lines are currently in operation, the route is simple and easy to understand. It runs from Yunokawa in eastern Hakodate via Goryokaku Park and Hakodate Station before branching into two directions, making it easy even for first-time visitors to use.
The trams are not only a means of transportation but also an attraction in themselves, with a variety of both historic and modern vehicles delighting travelers and railway enthusiasts alike.
One of them is the retro-style Hakodate Haikara-go, affectionately known as the traditional "ching-ching tram." It uses the original bogies from the vehicles introduced when the tram first began operation and has been restored to its Meiji-era appearance.
Its traditional two-person operation, with both a driver and a conductor on board, is especially popular. Reservations are required and must be made online.
During the Hakodate Port Festival, held every August, elaborately decorated Flower Trams also operate, continuing to serve as a familiar symbol of the local community.