The Best Hakodate Itinerary: Stunning Views And Hokkaido Flavors

Last Updated on October 24, 2025 by Audrey

Looking for the perfect Hakodate Itinerary? Here's the complete plan that I used for an amazing time in Hakodate!

Planning a trip to Hakodate? This charming coastal city in Hokkaido is home to stunning seaside cliffs, world-renowned views (rated by the Michelin Guide!), and mouthwatering local cuisine.

I visited Hakodate last year during cherry blossom season and was instantly enchanted by its calm, timeless beauty and small-town charm.

After exploring Hakodate, I’ve put together a complete itinerary that can either be 1 or 2 days. It’s packed with the best spots I visited in the city, along with tips to help you make the most of your trip. While Hakodate isn’t a small town, there are some nuances that differ from a large city from Tokyo or Sapporo that I wish I knew. Let’s get started!

Hakodate Itinerary Day 1

If you only have 1 day in Hakodate, you can do Day 1 and leave it at that. Day 1 covers the essentials of Hakodate, while Day 2 expands on other great places to visit if you have more time.

Hakodate Morning Market

Hakodate is a coastal town in Hokkaido, so the seafood is absolutely delicious, and the Hakodate Morning Market brings in more than 1.5 million annual visitors.

The market is just a minute from Hakodate Station and consists of 3 main facilities of free seafood, produce, and restaurants.

The first area is a donburi Yokocho Ichiba restaurant plaza, with more than 20 stores selling fresh seafood donburi bowls.

These bowls can consist of salmon, tuna, uni (sea urchin), salmon roe, squid, and much more. It all depends on your preferences, but as long as you like seafood, you’ll love how delicious and affordable these donburi are.

Second, you’ll find the 2-story Eikini Ichiba with a live squid pond where you can catch your squid to eat yourself. It’s a pretty popular spot, and you can try Hakodate’s specialty “Dancing Squid” here at a restaurant named Tabiji.

💡 Pro Tip: The squid is dead as soon as it’s cut, but it dances for a bit afterward and can stick on your tongue. Try it if you’re feeling a little adventurous!

Finally, the third market facility is Asaichi Hiroba, which sells fresh seafood, produce, souvenirs, and also has a food court.

⚡ Hakodate Morning Market Tips:

• Most places will close by 2 pm, so make sure to get there early
• Hokkaido is pretty well known for its different crab varieties (snow crab, Hokkaido crab, Zuwaigani horsehair crab), which you can find here.
• I saw lots of dried squid varieties, seafood furikakes, and dashi that make great souvenirs for home.

Goryokaku Park

Visiting Goryokaku Park was the absolute highlight of my trip, and I completely recommend it if you’re visiting Hakodate during Spring (April-May) when the cherry blossoms bloom. They also have azaleas, wisterias, and water lilies, so it’s enjoyable all year round, except maybe in winter, when the moat freezes.

There are over 1,500 cherry blossom trees to walk along, and the park is formed in an iconic star-shaped fort that you’ll be able to see when you head up Goryokaku Tower.

My partner and I rented a boat for around ¥2,500 ($16) for 50 minutes and rowed around the moat. It was a fun experience that let us appreciate the falling blossoms from the water.

We got some fun pictures, but it got pretty hot so we didn’t stay in the boat for too long, maybe 30-45 minutes max before we got tired out.

⚡ Goryokaku Park Tips:

• There’s a shrine that you can visit and the Former Magistrate Office, where the officers of the shogunate used to work.
• If you visit during cherry blossom season, lanterns illuminate the trees at night for traditional Hokkaido barbecues (Genghis Khan). Rent a Goryokaku Ohanami Plan to have your own barbecue!
• Boat rentals are around ¥2,500-3,000 for 2-4 people for 50 minutes. You can extend for 10 minutes costing ¥500-700 .

Ascend Goryokaku Tower

After strolling around the park, make sure you don’t forget to head up Goryokaku Tower to see the star-shaped fort from above.

You’ll head up to the top of the tower, with a pretty cool ascending video in the elevator. At the top, you’ll get to see the park’s special star shape.

There are also some great displays that demonstrate the creation of the Goryokaku Fort in 1864 to protect Hokkaido during a civil war.

On the first and second floors of the tower are some great restaurants, food stalls, and souvenir shops. We ate at Seasonal Seafood Shunka on the second floor, which serves incredible seafood in a traditional tatami seating room. If you don’t end up going to Lucky Pierrot Burger (our next stop), I totally recommend coming here if you want more seafood.

The stalls serve seasonal ice cream flavors, and I got to try cherry blossom ice cream. Then we picked up a ton of cute cherry blossoms and Hokkaido souvenirs from the shops on the first floor.

Lunch at Lucky Pierrot Burger

Lucky Pierrot Burger is a local burger chain totally exclusive to Hakodate, so you know you have to try it at least once!

It's a fun fast food joint with big servings. There are 17 stores in Hakodate, and there’s one right outside Goryokaku Park just a minutes walk from the tower. I saw the long line outside and was so curious why a clown restaurant was so popular. Now that I know it's only found in Hakodate, I completely regret not trying it when I was there!

Don’t be like me and miss a chance to try something you can’t find anywhere else in the world.

💡 Pro Tip: Each restaurant is unique with different themes and selections, but their most popular burgers are the Chinese chicken burger, Lucky Egg burger, and pork cutlet burger.

Motomachi

Now, if you only have one day to spend in Hakodate, then Motomachi and the Red Brick Warehouses are worth squeezing into your itinerary. They are a little far from Goryokaku Park, but you could opt for a 15-minute taxi ride over the 45-minute bus to save time.

Motomachi is a historic district made with Western-style houses, symbolizing Hakodate’s history of being one of the first ports in Japan to welcome foreign trade.

You can walk through the buildings and spot the cultural influences from different world heritages like China, America, and Russia.

There are lots of shops, cafes, and restaurants in the Motomachi area where you can peruse and shop. Nearby, stop by the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse. These warehouses are iconic for being the first commercial warehouses in the city since 1909 but now operate as a popular shopping area and tourist photo spot.

⚡ Motomachi Tips:

• If you have two days in Hakodate, you can split up Motomachi and Red Brick Warehouses between two days.
• Stop by Minatogoaka Street to try Hokkaido soft serve ice cream.

Mount Hakodate

Once the sun sets and it starts to get dark, walk 5 minutes from Motomachi to Mount Hakodate Ropeway to see one of the best views in the world (per Michelin Guide!)

The view from Mount Hakodate Observatory is special because the sea surrounds the city on both sides, and real lights illuminate the historical buildings and streets to give the illusion of a “jewelry box”.

The entrance to the Ropeway is very close to Motomachi, so I recommend you stop by while you're in the area. The Ropeway reaches Mount Hakodate Observatory in just 3 minutes and comes every 15 minutes so you won’t have to wait too long, and it's a fun activity for all ages and degrees of accessibility.

⚡ Mount Hakodate Observatory tips:

• There are some restaurants at the observatory if you’d like to end your night with a view.
• Make sure to check the live view on the official website to ensure that cloudy weather won’t obstruct your view.
• The last Ropeway is at 21:50.

Hakodate Itinerary Day 2

Visit Hakodate Morning Market one more time

I still recommend going to the morning market for breakfast, since the seafood is so fresh and delicious (and more affordable than the Kanto region like Tokyo). It’s also a wonderful way to explore Hakodate’s local cuisine and culture.

You can try ordering a different kaisendon with different types of fish for variety.

If you can, I also recommend checking out Kaniman Chaya for their snow crab steamed bun that is made fresh every morning.

Once you’re ready, we’ll be heading down south to see Hakodate’s famous seaside cliffs!

Cape Tachimachi

A bit south of Mount Hakodate lies Cape Tachimachi, with Panoramic coastline views that will take your breath away. It’s a 30-meter cliff that overlooks the sea of the Omorihama coastline, facing the Aomori prefecture.

I recommend taking a stroll around here and taking in the fresh sea air and incredible views. Hakodate is a beautiful, calm city where you can relax and unwind.

⚡ Cape Tachimachi Tips:

• In the summer, pink Hokkaido roses ‘Hanamasu’ bloom along Cape Tachimachi, and squid fishing boats illuminate the sea at night.
• There are snacks around the Hamamatsu area, where you can have seafood, ice cream, soba, and other snacks.

Umi-to-Glass Cafe

I recommend swinging by Umi-to-Glass Cafe if you’d like a drink or a snack. They serve tasty crepes and sandwiches, with a variety of different drinks, but the best part is the stunning view of the ocean.

There’s floor to ceiling windows on three sides, and it’s a pretty romantic and cute atmosphere. Keep in mind that there’s no English menu, so you’ll have to bring along your Google Translate.

Yachigashira Onsen

A 7-minute walk on foot from Umi-to-Glass Cafe will lead you to Yachigashira Onsen, a popular hot spring that allows day passes.

If you want to experience a public onsen, this facility is popular with the locals. Onsen are said to be terrific for muscle and joint pain and improve neuralgia and body recovery. Perfect after a long few days exploring Hokkaido!

There are a lot of different onsen of varying temperatures, and there’s even a star-shaped bathtub representing Goryokaku!

It's very affordable, and it's open from early morning until 22:00, so you have a long window to stop by and visit!

Keep in mind though that most public onsen don’t allow anyone with tattoos. Since I have a lot of tattoos, I opted for a hotel with a private onsen. I have a detailed post on Yunokawa Prince Hotel here, which I wholeheartedly recommend.

Hakodate Hachimangu Shrine

Less than a 10-minute walk away lies Hachimangu Shrine, a serene Shinto shrine located in a forest with an amazing view of the sea. It’s a small hike to get to the top, but the views of the mountain and ocean make it worth the effort.

The main hall was built 100 years ago, and the area is quiet and calm. They sell handwritten talisman and souvenirs at the store at the top.

During cherry blossom season, the shrine is another great spot to view the falling flowers, as the entrance is lined with blossoming trees. If you have the time after visiting the onsen, this historic shrine is worth a visit.

Red Brick Warehouses

If you can extend your Hakodate stay to 2 days, I would spend the rest of the afternoon around the Motomachi area. You can visit the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses and finish any shopping if you didn’t have enough time on Day 1.

There are lots of bakeries and shops around here. Petite Merveille is highly recommended for their milk pudding and bite-sized souffle cheesecakes that come in a variety of flavors!

Daimon Yokocho

For dinner, you might want to check out Daimon Yokocho, an alley with over 20 restaurants where you can experience izakaya, Japanese-style pubs with an intimate atmosphere.

Because of its close proximity to Hakodate Morning Market, Daimon Yokocho gets fresh ingredients daily and has tons of different cuisines you can try, like sushi, Yakitori, jingisukan (lamb barbecue that is a Hokkaido specialty), ramen, and more.

You can end your trip to Hakodate with a drink from a local bar around this area, too!

Hakodate Itinerary Free Map

Best Cafes: Umi-to-Glass, Komeda's Coffee, Petite Merveille

Best Restaurants: Seasonal Seafood Shunka, Tabiji, Okushiba Soup Curry Hakodate, Kaniman Chaya, Ajisai Ramen

Hakodate Itinerary Notes

There are a few things I want to leave you off with in case you want to make changes to the itinerary.

Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden seemed interesting because they have hot tubbing monkeys and was near the Yunokawa Onsen area where we were staying, but I ended up not visiting because I heard the monkeys were not kept in good condition.

I checked out some videos online and heard that they only have a concrete space with the hot tub and nothing else to entertain them. Viewers also commented that the monkeys didn’t look too healthy, so do your research before going.

I prioritized Goryokaku Fort because it was cherry blossom season, and it was the best decision ever! If you are visiting Hakodate in Winter or if the park is not a priority for you, I would prioritize the Motomachi area or choose something else from Day 2 instead.

You could extend your itinerary by adding a day trip to Lake Onuma on day 3. Onuma Quasi-National Park has island lakes, easy hikes, and sports rentals like boats, fishing, and camping. Lake Onuma is about 40 minutes away by car or 1 hour if you hop on the limited express train.

Where to Stay in Hakodate

There are a couple of areas where you could stay in Hakodate. I'll go over the main areas, but you can check out my in-depth guide of where to stay in Hakodate here.

If you’re coming from the train station, you could stay in the Hakodate Station area or near Motomachi, where there are lots of restaurants and shops.

You could also stay near the onsen hotels near Hakodate Airport. I opted to stay near Hakodate Airport because we flew from Hakodate to Tokyo, and loved staying at Yunokawa Prince Hotel, a 4-star hotel with a private outdoor onsen in our room! You can read my complete review here.

Hakodate Itinerary Travel FAQs

Conclusion: Hakodate Itinerary

I had the most wonderful time in Hakodate. It gives that small town vibe with peaceful streets, and beautiful weather complements a stunning ocean view.

If you visit, let me know what was your favorite part of Hakodate! See if you like the slower pace of this town compared to other places you've visited.

If you need any help planning your vacation, feel free to reach out to me! You can comment here or send me an email at audrey@getlostinjapan.com! Happy traveling 🙂

Check out my other Hakodate posts here:

Hakodate Hotel Guide: Where To Stay For The Best Experience

Best Top 10 Hakodate Ryokan For Your Seaside Retreat

Is Hakodate Worth Visiting? A Beautiful Coastal Town In Japan

Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei: Complete Review Of The Four-Star Hotel