Hakodate Morning Market Motomachi and Night View One Day Course

This one day course lets you enjoy Hakodate, the town of slopes and foreign flair, from morning until night. Start the day with fresh seafood, walk through Motomachi with its rows of churches, tour the bay area with its red brick warehouses, and finish with the world famous Mount Hakodate night view. With the streetcar and ropeway, you can do it all without a car. Allow about eleven hours.

Course Route

7:30 Breakfast at the Hakodate Morning Market The day begins at the morning market spreading out right beside Hakodate Station. Enjoying a seafood rice bowl or fresh squid sashimi in the morning is a luxury unique to a port town. Many shops open from early morning, and the market is especially lively at that hour.

9:00 Stroll the Motomachi churches Take the streetcar toward the Jujigai area and head up the slopes to the churches. The Hakodate Orthodox Church, the Motomachi Catholic Church, and others form a townscape that blends Japanese and western styles. From in front of Hakodate Station to Jujigai is about five minutes by streetcar.

10:30 The view from Hachiman Slope Hachiman Slope runs straight down toward the sea and is a popular photo spot with a view from the top all the way to the harbor. Capture the composition of slope, sea, and sky. It is only a short walk from the Motomachi churches.

12:00 Lunch and a stroll in the bay area Head to the seaside Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses. Shops and restaurants set in the historic warehouses make it a relaxing place to browse and dine. It is just a few minutes on foot from the Jujigai streetcar stop.

14:00 Goryokaku Tower Take the streetcar further to Goryokaku, the star shaped fort ruins. From the tower observatory you can clearly look down on the pentagonal shape of the moat. Admission is about 1,200 yen for adults, and the hours are around 9:00 to 18:00.

18:00 Ropeway up Mount Hakodate Take the ropeway to the summit timed for dusk. The round trip fare is about 1,800 yen for adults, and the ride reaches the summit in around three minutes. About thirty minutes after sunset the city lights come on, the most beautiful time of all.

18:30 Take in the Mount Hakodate night view Enjoy the famous Hakodate night view, where light spreads along the narrow waisted terrain. Be sure to watch the colors of the sky change moment by moment.

Highlights

• Fresh seafood straight off the boat at the morning market
• The slope scenery and Motomachi churches blending Japanese and western styles
• The photogenic view down Hachiman Slope toward the sea
• The world class night view from Mount Hakodate with its beautiful narrow terrain

Access and Tips

• The morning market, Motomachi, and bay area are easily linked by streetcar
• The ropeway is convenient for Mount Hakodate, and the evening is crowded
• A one day streetcar pass is good value
• There are many slopes, so set out in comfortable shoes

Practical Travel Notes

• Best season and time of day: If the night view is the highlight, the rule is to go up Mount Hakodate a little before sunset, when you can have the shift from sunset glow into night view almost to yourself. In autumn and winter, when the air is clear, the night view is especially sharp.
• Avoiding crowds: The Mount Hakodate ropeway is busiest around sunset. Consider going up a little early to secure a spot, or aim for a later hour once the crowds settle.
• Time estimates: From in front of Hakodate Station to Jujigai is about five minutes by streetcar, and the morning market, Motomachi, and bay area are all within walking distance of each other. Goryokaku is about thirty minutes away with a streetcar transfer, and the Mount Hakodate ropeway ride is about three minutes each way.
• Budget sense: Goryokaku Tower is about 1,200 yen for adults and the Mount Hakodate ropeway about 1,800 yen round trip. On a day with many streetcar rides, a good value one day pass helps keep transport costs down.
• Nearby stops: The bay area gathers historic buildings such as the former Hakodate Ward Public Hall and the Hakodate Orthodox Church. If you have time, pair them with your Motomachi stroll.

A Quick Tip

Go up Mount Hakodate a little before sunset to enjoy the sky shifting from sunset glow into the night view. The summit is cold, so bring a jacket even in summer. If you plan to use the streetcar three or more times in a day, a one day pass makes hopping on and off easy.