Spend a relaxing day in Hakodate, a city in Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan. It's not just great in winter — this city also has picture-perfect cherry blossom views. It's also a seaside port town with a classic, chic atmosphere, perfect for a stylish photo walk.
On this trip, you'll see the star-shaped fort surrounded by pink cherry blossoms, Western-style red brick warehouses, a slope leading down to the bay, and the most beautiful night view from the top of Mt. Hakodate. Every stop is highly recommended, so if you're ready, let's get started.
| 1 Day Trip: Cherry Blossoms and a Walk Through the Classic Port Town | |
| 8:00 | Depart from JR Inn Hakodate |
| 8:05 - 8:50 | Walk around Hakodate Morning Market |
| 9:00 - 10:00 | Breakfast at Michishita Shokudo |
| 10:30 - 11:30 | View from Goryokaku Tower |
| 11:40 - 12:40 | Walk through the cherry blossom tunnel in Goryokaku Park |
| 12:50 - 13:40 | Café stop to enjoy the cherry blossom view at Pieberry |
| 14:10 - 15:10 | Shopping at MEGA Don Quijote |
| 15:20 - 16:20 | Lunch at Lucky Pierrot Mihara |
| 17:10 - 18:00 | Walk along the bay to see the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse |
| 18:10 - 18:30 | Take photos at Hachiman-Zaka Slope |
| 19:00 - 20:00 | Night view from Mt. Hakodate Observatory |
| 20:25 - 21:30 | Dinner at Daimon Fuku Sushi |
| 21:45 | Return to JR Inn Hakodate |
1 Day Trip: Cherry Blossoms and a Walk Through the Classic Port Town
★ 8:00 Depart from JR Inn Hakodate
・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ezz736vRBD4PgCPB8
★ 8:05 - 8:50 Walk around Hakodate Morning Market
Hakodate Morning Market brings together fresh ingredients from the northern seas in one place. The market is full of the smell of fresh seafood, with small stalls lined up around it serving seafood rice bowls packed with quality ingredients, from uni and salmon roe to scallops and Hokkaido crab. Many stalls can steam or grill your pick on the spot. There's also premium-grade fruit like melon and strawberries to taste and buy.
How to get there: Walk from the hotel to the morning market, about 2 minutes (160 meters).
Hours: Open daily 6:00 - 14:00.
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/MxgAppMrshBg8o1E6
★ 9:00 - 10:00 Breakfast at Michishita Shokudo
This restaurant uses fresh ingredients from the morning market and serves generous portions. The most popular dish is the seafood rice bowl, available in several varieties such as crab, salmon, salmon roe, or shrimp. If you love squid, be sure to order the squid sashimi set, with translucent, springy squid served alongside hot steamed rice, miso soup, and traditional Japanese side dishes. There's also grilled fish on the menu, such as grilled hokke — a large fish with firm, juicy flesh and a wonderful grilled aroma. You'll definitely leave satisfied.
How to get there: Located within the Hakodate Morning Market area.
Hours: Open daily 6:00 - 21:00.
Food prices: 1,000 - 3,000 yen.
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/xK1qqD6qEXEfrS7XA
★ 10:30 - 11:30 View from Goryokaku Tower
Head up to enjoy the view from Goryokaku Tower, a highlight of visiting Hakodate during cherry blossom season, since it's the only spot where you can see the five-pointed star fort surrounded by more than 1,600 cherry trees, forming a beautiful pink star shape. From the observation deck, 107 meters up, you can also see Goryokaku Fort, Hakodate city, and the surrounding mountains. It's especially stunning from late April to early May, when the moat around the fort looks its best. You're sure to be impressed by the cherry blossoms and Hakodate's natural scenery.
How to get there: We recommend buying a Hakodate City Tram 1 Day Pass at JR Hakodate Station, then taking the red or blue tram line from Hakodate Ekimae stop to Goryokaku-koen-mae stop (about 18 minutes). From there, walk to the tower, about 10 minutes (700 meters).
Transport cost: Hakodate City Tram 1 Day Pass, 600 yen.
Hours: Open daily 9:00 - 18:00.
Admission: Adults 1,200 yen / middle school students 900 yen / elementary school students 600 yen.
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Vn551vnYhFfawKEL6
★ 11:40 - 12:40 Walk through the cherry blossom tunnel in Goryokaku Park
During cherry blossom season, Goryokaku Park is decorated with more than 1,600 cherry trees. Inside the park, cherry trees line the paths and the moat, and when they bloom, they form a pink and white cherry blossom tunnel that's lovely to stroll through. One popular activity is renting a rowboat to paddle along the moat around the star fort, for a closer, more romantic view of the cherry blossoms. It's especially beautiful once the petals begin to fall and cover the water's surface.
How to get there: Walk from Goryokaku Tower to the park, about 5 minutes (350 meters).
Hours: Open daily 5:00 - 19:00.
Admission: Free.
Cost: Rowboat rental 2,000 yen / 40 minutesMap: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7voh57h6bv2Z4HhDA
★ 12:50 - 13:40 Café stop to enjoy the cherry blossom view at Pieberry
How to get there: Walk from Goryokaku Park to Pieberry, about 7 minutes (550 meters).
Hours: Wednesday - Saturday 9:00 - 16:00 / Sunday 9:00 - 15:30 (closed Monday and Tuesday).
Food prices: 500 - 1,000 yen.
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vunVKWNEk5vAP7ay5
★ 14:10 - 15:10 Shopping at MEGA Don Quijote
Let's do some shopping at this store, which is bigger than a typical Don Quijote branch. It's one of the most complete shopping spots in Hakodate, with everything from souvenirs and daily goods to cosmetics and food. The Hokkaido souvenir zone is another key highlight, featuring famous treats like Shiroi Koibito and Potato Farm, plus a full lineup of seasonal limited items. The store also has a food court and restaurants where you can sit down and eat.
Click to see a special Don Quijote discount coupon https://www.talonjapan.com/coupon/don-quijote-coupon/
How to get there: Walk from Pieberry to MEGA Don Quijote, about 31 minutes (2.2 kilometers).
Hours: Open daily 9:00 - 24:00.
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/tYtdUFLsNaLoa2PY7
★ 15:20 - 16:20 Lunch at Lucky Pierrot Mihara
This is Hakodate's number one local burger chain, extremely popular among locals and students. Its signature touch is an interior built around the theme "We were all movie kids," filled with classic film posters.
As for the menu, besides the signature burgers, there's also fried chicken tossed in a rich sweet-and-savory Chinese-style sauce, omelet rice, and fries topped with sauce and cheese.
How to get there: Walk from MEGA Don Quijote to Lucky Pierrot Mihara, about 4 minutes (260 meters).
Hours: Open daily 10:00 - 22:00.
Food prices: 400 - 1,000 yen.
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1dymkREbmCC56sFa7
★ 17:10 - 18:00 Walk along the bay to see the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse
The Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses are one of Hakodate's trading-history landmarks, standing along Hakodate Bay. These red brick buildings date back to 1869, in the Meiji era, and have been renovated into a hub for tourism, shopping, and lifestyle.
The warehouse area is divided into four main zones: the Hakodate History Plaza zone, home to restaurants, a beer hall, and souvenir shops; the Kanemori Yobutsukan zone, with fashion and accessory stores; the Bay Hakodate zone, with restaurants, cafés, and glasswork shops; and the Kanemori Hall zone, a space for exhibitions, events, and concerts.
The most beautiful time to visit is in the evening through nighttime, when the lights are lit up, making it a great spot for a stroll and taking in the view.
How to get there: Walk from Lucky Pierrot Mihara to the Kameda Shisho-mae bus stop, 190 meters. Take bus No. 19 to the Chitosecho stop (about 20 minutes), then take the blue tram line from Chitosecho Station to Jujigai Station (about 14 minutes). From there, walk to the warehouse, about 5 minutes (400 meters).
Transport cost: 310 yen.
Hours: Open daily 10:00 - 19:00.
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8fox4MERNs2Gr957A
★ 18:10 - 18:30 Take photos at Hachimanzaka Slope
This is a must-photograph viewpoint, with its straight, steep street leading perfectly down to Hakodate Bay. It's a classic scene that often appears in films, advertisements, and Japanese tourism posters. Especially in spring, the surrounding area is filled with pink and white cherry blossoms, adding a soft touch to your photos.
If you visit at night, the lights along the street create a different, romantic atmosphere.
How to get there: Walk from the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse to Hachiman-Zaka Slope, about 10 minutes (600 meters).
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/S9TRiFM2vJH4p53R9
★ 19:00 - 20:00 Night view from Mt. Hakodate Observatory
The Mt. Hakodate Observatory is a spot you shouldn't miss when visiting Hakodate, since the night view from its summit is regarded as one of the three most beautiful night views in Japan. You'll see the city laid out from above in a shape resembling an hourglass, creating a very romantic atmosphere.
During cherry blossom season, if you come up during the day, you can see the soft pink of the cherry blossoms across the old Motomachi district below. It's the perfect highlight to end a day in Hakodate on.
How to get there: Walk from Hachiman-Zaka Slope to the ropeway station, about 7 minutes (450 meters), then take the ropeway to the summit, about 3 minutes.
Hours: Open daily 10:00 - 21:00.
Cost: Round-trip ropeway ticket, adults 1,800 yen / children 900 yen Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RaGQz4GC15KD99fZ8
★ 20:25 - 21:30 Dinner at Daimon Fuku Sushi
End the day at a long-established sushi restaurant that selects fresh seafood from the seas around southern Hokkaido. The highlight here is a special sushi set featuring premium seasonal ingredients such as chutoro, botan shrimp, abalone, sea urchin, and snow crab legs, along with local seafood like fresh squid, which Hakodate is famous for.
Besides sushi, there's also sashimi, grilled dishes, tempura, and steamed egg custard, along with a selection of local sake. It's a restaurant worth trying at least once.
You can reserve a seat at https://jpneazy.com/restaurants/31566?host=ej4b
How to get there: Take the ropeway back down, then walk to Jujigai tram station, about 8 minutes (600 meters). Take the red tram line to Matsukaze-cho Station (about 9 minutes), then walk 100 meters to Daimon Fuku Sushi.
Hours: Open daily 16:00 - 22:00.
Food prices: Sushi sets start from 3,000 - 5,000 yen.
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/MVBkbCe3UEE8N8AW9
★ 21:45 Return to JR Inn Hakodate
How to get there: Walk from Daimon Fuku Sushi to the hotel, about 12 minutes (800 meters).
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ezz736vRBD4PgCPB8
Cost Summary (approximate price per person)
Accommodation: 12,500 yen / night
Transport: 910 yen
Food: 10,000 yen
Admission fees: 1,200 yen
Other expenses: 1,800 yen
Total: 26,410 yen