@FloatyBee Well I agreed when I read mal2012's comment, so I looked into it a little bit. Apparently it has a fair bit of European-influenced architecture — probably due to the fact that it was the first Japanese port to open to foreign trade in centuries — which is something a lot of people seem to like. On a related note, it also has Japan's only (I think, or maybe just "remaining") star fort. Hakodate also supposedly has some of the best scenic views in Japan, and of course, some great seafood. Onuma Quasi National Park and Matsumae Castle are nearby as well, making Hakodate a convenient base for day trips to explore those attractions. Lastly, and this is just conjecture, but it may be of more interest because there are fewer things to do in Hokkaido than in other parts of Japan in general.