Ultimate HOKKAIDO Hakodate Travel & Food Guide for First Time Traveler to Japan

Hakodate travel guide for first time traveler to Hokkaido Japan, with some of the best things to do in Hakodate, whether day trip from Sapporo or those starting their Hokkaido journey from down south, Hakodate. In this video we show you the what to do in Hokkaido (Hakodate), how to travel Hokkaido region and what to eat in Hokkaido and Hakodate.

How to get around Hakodate & Hokkaido?
Hokkaido Rail Pass will cover all the JR railway tickets from one city to another city. Within Hakodate, you can use Suica or Pasmo card for bus & local train. If you purchase JR Rail Pass, it will cover all JR rail from Tokyo to Hokkaido. We didn't get JR Rail Pass but instead fly domestically which is cheaper at that time.

Pelago Discount code: PEL15NAH

Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost prefecture, is famous for beautiful wilderness, abundant powder snow, delicious seafood, and popular destination for skiing and snowboarding in winter. Even if you are not skiing or snowboarding, there are still so much things to do, places to visit in Hokkaido region. We recommend 1 or 2 nights in Hakodate and here is all things to do, food you must try, places to visit for your travel itinerary to Hakodate:

1) Eat Chinese Fried Chicken Burger from Lucky Pierott
Do not underestimate this "clown" burger chain that only can be found in Hakodate because their Chinese fried chicken burger is actually very juicy. We did not expect burger in a small Japanese city in Hokkaido can be delicious but it was quite yummy indeed!

2) Ride the ropeway up to Mt Hakodate to see beautiful city from above. We recommend to start going up during sunset

3) Trying food that is unique or only can be found in Hokkaido
7-Eleven hot food snack, only in Hokkaido region - Saku Saku Roll (Japanese fish cake)

4) Must try freshest seafood at Hakodate Morning Market
Kaisendon bowl is a rice topped with fresh raw seafood like ikura (salmon roe), uni (sea urchin), shrimp, crab, sasihimi etc. Also, don't forget to try squid & snow crab bun from Kaniman Chaya.
Hokkaido is blessed with freshest seafood you will ever taste and there are so many types of crabs: King Crab, Hairy Crab, Hanasaki Crab that are super fresh and so sweet. In Hakodate Morning Market, you can also buy some fruits to try like strawberry and melon. Hokkaido's melon is a MUST try fruit!

5) Shopping and sightseeing at Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse
Commercial warehouse with lots of Japanese craft shops, perfect for shopping. Of course there are some food stalls, dessert and cafe like Starbucks in Hakodate Bay.

6) Eating dessert at a traditional tea shop built in 1900s
Kikuizumi Cafe was built in early 1900 and still maintain the old Japanese traditional house architecture that is now open as tea shop or cafe. Try the tofu shiratama parfait while mesmerizing irori - a sunken hearth in Japanese traditional houses that is rare to see.

7) Must try food: Miso Ramen in Hakodate
Hakodate is the birthplace of miso ramen so obviously you need to try miso ramen while visiting Hakodate. We tried Menchuubo Ajisai near the Goryokaku Tower.

8) Visit Goryokaku Tower and Goryokaku Park
The view of Hakodate from Goryokaku Tower is truly magical especially during winter with winter illumination lights, they are just magnificent.

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This Episode Features

00:00 Intro
00:56 How to get to Hakodate Hokkaido
01:41 Lucky Pierott
05:15 Hakodate Winter Illuminations
06:03 Mt Hakodate Ropeway
07:13 7 Eleven - Saku Saku Roll
08:31 Hakodate Morning Market
10:04 Snow Crab Bun at Kaniman Chaya
10:48 Kaisendon Bowl & Red King Crab Leg
13:43 Melon in Hokkaido
14:35 Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse
15:04 Starbucks Hakodate Bay
16:28 Hachiman-Zaka Slope
16:48 Kikuizumi Cafe
18:26 Hokkaido Rail Pass to Travel Hokkaido
18:57 Miso Ramen at Ajisai
20:26 Goryokaku Tower
21:39 Outro

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We're Nick and Helmi, Food and Travel Content Creator based in Sydney Australia. When we are not traveling overseas, we show you things to do and where to eat in Sydney. We're on a journey to achieve our dream as full time video creator. Come along and be a part of our journey!
#japantravel #hokkaido #hakodate #japantravelguide

[gnomevoyeur]

I’ve been roasting away in the Australian summer. That snow looks glorious.

[traveltalesdeg]

I love Hokkaido it is so lovely and peaceful, especially when it snows

[FoodandFootprints]

Epic travel guide, guys! Know how much you two love Japan and it shows through your enthusiasm

[craigwhitehead]

Was lucky to be in Hakodate in January this year, hopefully I can travel back there one day to see a few more of the places in your video. Arigatou

[HokkaidoJapan]

A perfect travel guide!
It is wonderful to introduce things such as what local people are eating from famous places.😊

[rachyy]

Love it! I love how you narrow down the places and go to eating places. Def will follow this itinerary for my visit next week

[smilingdog]

Thanks for a very nice tour guild of Hakodate Japan.

[benjilee]

Hey guys, great video! Just wanted to ask what month were you guys in Hakodate when the video was filmed? Thanks😊

[KandyEvie]

very nice vlog guys. we will go to Japan in August, we'll see if we get a chance to visit Hokkaido :)

[freebeacher]

Thank you guys. I hate cold, but might make an exception. You did a very good job with this video.

[DiegoMartinez-xrvo]

Thanks, very nice and usefull for planing holidays 👏👏👏

[FoodandFootprints]

Didn’t expect to see an old school American themed diner 🤣 That snow crab bun looks delicious - the more seafood the better!

[tommyariel]

Thank you for this informative and beautiful video. I have watched some of your videos and really enjoyed all the information. You guys are so beautiful together. ❤ subscribed

[hypjgrj]

Thanks guys, we are going there next year in May, your vlog is so informative 👍👍

[pluebi]

Hi Nick and Helmi - thank you for sharing your travel experiences in Hokkaido! Your videos are so helpful and beautifully made. I love that you explain everything and share your food! I want to ask you both - what is the best way to layer up and dress for the winter in Hokkaido? Like you guys, I am coming from Australia and our winters (especially in Sydney anyway) don't get anywhere as cold as Japan. Do you have any tips on the best clothing items to bring and how to stay warm?

[songhong]

Amazing video, thank you so much for sharing this experience.

[PeterandYen]

wow guys awesome travel guide. The shots you took look amazing, makes us want to visit too!

[Cassandradeville]

I love this vlog very informative! Thank you, this helped a lot with my planning.

[PogiboyProductions]

Hokkaido is so pretty.. wow they get a lot of snow! But man, what an amazing experience! I need to eat that burger hehe.. so much good food! 2 nights and you guys saw a lot there too!

[naturaldrink]

Production quality is amazing in this Hokkaido video. Loving it 🙂