# Mashu Maru, Japan: what it is and when to go

> Mashu Maru is a museum ship in Hakodate City, Hokkaido, Japan, that used to be a liaison ship (函館市青函連絡船記念館 摩周丸). Interests: History and Museums and art. The best time to visit is February to May and October to November. In June there are 15 h 01 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 59. It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/ferry-memorial-ship-mashu-maru/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-02
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Museum ship in Hakodate City, Hokkaido, Japan, that used to be a liaison ship · History, Museums and art
- **Local name:** 函館市青函連絡船記念館 摩周丸
- **Where:** Japan · 函館市, 北海道
- **Best time:** February to May and October to November.
- **Nearest airport:** CTS Sapporo, 137 km as the crow flies
- **Opening hours:** Mo-Su 08:30-18:00
- **Website:** [mashumaru.com](https://mashumaru.com/)
- **Coordinates:** 41.77296, 140.72192

## What it is and where

Mashu Maru is a museum ship in Hakodate City, Hokkaido, Japan, that used to be a liaison ship (函館市青函連絡船記念館 摩周丸). It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

It is in [Hakodate](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/hakodate/), where this site lists 27 more places to see, 2.9 km from the centre.

Its coordinates are 41.77296, 140.72192; the nearest main airport is New Chitose Airport (CTS, Sapporo), 137 km as the crow flies. How to get around Japan (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=41.772956%2C140.721917)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=41.772956%2C140.721917)

It is one of the [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/historia/) and [Museums and art](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/museos/) places in Japan. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit Mashu Maru is **February to May and October to November**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 9 h 17 |
| February | Best time | 10 h 23 |
| March | Best time | 11 h 40 |
| April | Best time | 13 h 08 |
| May | Best time | 14 h 21 |
| June | Possible | 15 h 01 |
| July | Possible | 14 h 45 |
| August | Possible | 13 h 41 |
| September | Possible | 12 h 16 |
| October | Best time | 10 h 51 |
| November | Best time | 9 h 36 |
| December | Possible | 8 h 59 |

In June there are 15 h 01 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 59. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| History | February to May and October to November | December to January and June to September |
| Museums and art | February to May and October to November | December to January and June to September |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Mashu Maru has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to Japan in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to Japan

To enter Japan there are 10 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “A valid passport covering your whole stay”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Japan checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Japanese yen (JPY); plugs: Type A and B · 100 V · 50/60 Hz (you need an adapter); emergencies: 110 police · 119 ambulance and fire.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Hakodate Morning Market](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/hakodate-morning-market/): Morning market in Hakodate, Hokkaido · 247 m
- [Hakodate City Museum of Northern Peoples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/hakodate-museum-of-northern-peoples/): Museum in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan · 1.1 km
- [Former British Consulate of Hakodate](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/former-british-consulate-of-hakodate/): Museum in Hakodate, Japan · 1.2 km
- [Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church of Hakodate](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/holy-resurrection-orthodox-church/): Building in Hakodate, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan · 1.4 km
- [Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/old-hakodate-public-hall/): Former Japanese public hall · 1.4 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/).

## More in Japan: History

- [Mount Fuji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/monte-fuji/): volcano in Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures, Japan
- [Kiyomizu-dera](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kiyomizu-dera/): Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
- [Himeji Castle](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/himeji-2/): Japanese castle complex
- [Hiroshima Peace Memorial](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/cupula-de-genbaku/): architectural structure
- [Itsukushima Shrine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/santuario-itsukushima/): Shinto shrine in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
- [Kinkaku-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kinkaku-ji/): Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan

Every Japan place under History, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/historia/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Mashu Maru?

It is a museum ship in Hakodate City, Hokkaido, Japan, that used to be a liaison ship (函館市青函連絡船記念館 摩周丸 in the local language). It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

### When is the best time to visit Mashu Maru?

February to May and October to November. In June there are 15 h 01 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 59.

### How do you get to Mashu Maru?

The nearest main airport is New Chitose Airport (CTS), 137 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=41.772956%2C140.721917) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Japan is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Japan map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Hakodate Morning Market](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/hakodate-morning-market/), [Hakodate City Museum of Northern Peoples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/hakodate-museum-of-northern-peoples/), [Former British Consulate of Hakodate](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/former-british-consulate-of-hakodate/). The rest is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/263925780), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11396003), CC0. More about Mashu Maru on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashu_Maru). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).