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Hakodate - Hokkaido's Port City

View during the daytime at the top of Mt.Hakodate

Kanamori Redbrick Warehouses Bay Area

Goryokaku Fort - view from the top of the tower

Guests enjoying the view from Mt. Hakodate!

View during the evening at the top of Mt.Hakodate

Welcome to Hakodate!

View of the surrounding area from Hakodate Station

Guests enjoying the morning market!

Hakodate Magistrate's Office in Goryokaku

Morning Market, let's meet in your cruise terminal

Hakodate's Electric Tram

A view of one of the many ramen restaurants!

View from the top of Goryokaku Tower

Hakodate - popular cruise port in Japan!

I look forward to eating kaisen-don with you soon!

If tired, let's use a Rickshaw in the Bayside!

Hakodate - Hokkaido's Port City

Art, Culture, & Historical

Joined 2023

Tomohiko K.

4.79 / 5

(14 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Hakodate

English, Japanese (Native), Russian

6 hours

Private tour (only you and Tomohiko K.)

Up to 8 people

Welcome to Hakodate!

With many things to see and great foods to eat, come for the shopping and gourmet experiences! Let's stroll around the many historic buildings dating back 100+ yrs. Serene in the morning, dramatically illuminated at night, the ever-changing face of Hakodate offers scenery that is not be missed.

*The price difference compared to Aomori is due to transportation and accommodation*

*This fee DOES NOT include transportation fee.

Ex. 8 seaters taxi - 60,000yen every 6 hours

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

10:00 AM

Meeting Point

At Your Location

- Please let me know where you will be staying - rather it is from a cruise or your hotel; I can meet you at your location!

10:10 AM

Hakodate Morning Market

*The arrival time is highly dependent on where you are located, we may arrive here earlier or later.*

*You can find freshly caught sea food such as squid, snow crab, hairy crab, salmon, tuna, scallop etc.

*There are also fresh fruits, dried sea food, a sushi bar, and squid catching.

*Let's try some Kaisen-don dishes! A bowl of rice topped with various fresh seafood, a staple culinary delight in Hakodate.

*Shops in the Hakodate morning market, including those of the Donburi Yokocho Market and serve a variety of Kaisen-don dishes.

If you would prefer, the famous Hakodate Salt Ramen spots are also available in the Morning Market! This ramen is one of the top 3 must tries in Hokkaido. What is common to all of them is a clear soup based on a painstakingly made stock that produces a rich flavor that diners will never get tired.

Come with a hungry stomach to experience Hakodate's soul foods!

12:00 PM

Mt. Hakodate Ropeway

Let's take the ropeway up Mt. Hakodate!

With ideal weather conditions, the top of the mountain has a breathtaking view.

After riding the ropeway, you can see the Honshu island beyond the Tsugaru strait which is the international strait.

In the summit building, there is a souvenir shop, a snack stand, a restaurant and a cafe-bar.

*Please Note:*

*The ropeway may be canceled due to strong winds or unfavorable weather conditions (such as heavy fog).

*In that case, I will recommend another spot.

*This tour can be enjoyed by taxi for those who are afraid of heights

*The fee for taking the ropeway is 1800yen roundtrip

01:10 PM

Goryokaku Fort

From a 90 meter high tower, you can witness the whole view of the Goryokaku fortress where the last civil war was fought between the shogunate forces and new government for

*Please Note:*

Accessing the park is free, however going up the tower is 1000yen per person or 500yen for those with disabilities (certification must be shown)

02:00 PM

Kanamori Redbrick Shopping Warehouses

In the warehouses, you can enjoy shopping and purchasing goods made locally and unique to the area. Some shops include chopsticks engraving for a reasonable price. You can also find music boxes that can be personalized as well. Hakodate is famous for it's unique music box culture!

Around this area, there are some coffee shops such as Starbucks coffee, Komeda coffee and local famous Lucky Pierrot.

Ending Point

As per your request

Want to personalize this tour?

This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.

Inclusions & Exclusions

What‘s included

Tour Guiding Fee

What‘s not included

- All events mentioned in the itinerary (Ropeway usage fee, Goryokaku Tower fee, Magistrate's Office admission fee, etc.)

- Food costs

- Taxi/Transportation fee

Tour Important Information

I recommend wearing seasonally appropriate clothes and comfortable walking shoes as we will be walking a lot.

Additionally, many stores and restaurants only accept cash (Japanese yen) so please prepare enough in advance.

Extra fees for places that we will visit are noted in the itinerary above - please feel free to ask questions as needed.

The total fee does not include taxi/transportation, and other outside expenses as mentioned above or during the trip. The fee is ONLY the tour guiding fee.

Hakodate City offers fresh seafood from its local fishing ports to various handcrafted goods in the Kanamori Redbrick Warehouses.

Let's discover the historical beauty of Hakodate together!

Cancellation Policy

Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time

Joined 2023

Tomohiko K.

4.79 / 5

(14 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Tomohiko K.

*I am generally unavailable on Weekdays however if you schedule at least a week in advance, I am available all days*

*Please contact me if you have any questions!*

Hello, my name is Tomohiko! I am from Aomori City and have lived here for over 60 years. 　

I love traveling and have already visited more than 30 nations so far. After my official retirement as a public officer, I obtained the Japanese Government Licensed Guide Certificate and am nowadays very pleased to guide foreign tourists all over the world.

Did you know that the Fuji apple is not from Mt. Fuji...but is actually from Aomori Prefecture' Fujisaki town? Aomori is proud to be the biggest apple producer in Japan. In Hirosaki city alone, there are over 40 apple-pie restaurants.　

・Let's enjoy real Japanese culture and history together! Let's experience real Samurai history, Kimono culture, local traditional festivals, castle, Japanese garden, temple, shrine, Japanese tea ceremony, food and Sake.

・I often go to the local sea food and vegetable markets and eat fresh foods and would love to show you some secret, hidden restaurants that only Aomori locals know about - let's go on an adventure together!

・If you like sushi and fresh seafood - let me introduce to you Nokkedon ? What is it? Come to Aomori and find out! I am waiting for you!

・Chairman of Aomori International Voluntary Association (AIVA)

・Part-time Lecturer, Aomori City Higher Nursing Academy

・National Government Licensed Guide-Interpreter

・ Medical interpreter who have passed the Ministry of Health, Labor

and Welfare's "Medical Interpretation Curriculum Standards"

examination.

Reviews

Robert J.

5 / 5

Nov 4, 2025

Hakodate - Hokkaido's Port City

Nov 4, 2025

Hakodate

6 hours

“Wonderful day in Hokodate”

Tomo was a wonderful guide: lots of interesting history and general knowledge of Hokodate. The mtn with the Gondola had incredible views of the entire city and sea. We even had fall colors. After that we went to a traditional tea house and then a local ramen restaurant: excellent. Tomo did a wonderful job of adjusting the time and plans to our interests. He made sure we had a memorable visit.

Tomohiko K.

Dear Robert Judge. I am very honored to have an excellent review about my Hakdate-guide from you. It seems that you are now on way back to USA after voyage. Did you enjoy Japan tour ? ! Now in Aomori, Fuji Apple harvest is in highlight. We can enjoy picking apples up from August to November. Please come to visit Japan and Aomori again. Thanks so much for joining my tour again. Best regards, Tomohiko Kudo. Share this review

Mark R.

5 / 5

May 4, 2025

Hakodate - Hokkaido's Port City

May 4, 2025

Hakodate

6 hours

“Cherry Blossom Delight”

Once again, another special thank you to Tomohiko for another memorable day. We were very lucky to have Tomohiko guiding us for two days, one day in Aomori and today in Hakodate. Upon booking my tours many months ago, I had great communication with Tomohiko regarding our bookings. This morning, Tomohiko once again met us at the cruise port and off we went for another great day of seeing the beauty of Japan during cherry blossom season. Like I mentioned in another review, Tomohiko is an incredibly knowledgeable and caring guide, who was always willing to answer questions and provide us with the local history. Tomohiko provided a unique prospective of Hakodate’s history and lifestyle. Arriving in late April, we were truly lucky to experience the cherry blossoms. The view from the Goryōkaku Tower of the fort below was incredible as the cherry trees were in full bloom. Our visit Saruyama Hotsprings to see the monkeys lounging around in the hot spring on a cold cloudy day was entertaining to say the least. Our drive to the top of Mount Hakodate gave an interesting prospective (view) of the city. After a short stop at the Russian Orthodox Church, and Tomohiko telling the history of the Russians in Hakodate, which dated back to around the 1850’s, it was interesting to learn there still is a small Russian presence in the city. Besides a short shopping stop, we ended the day at a local Ramen restaurant. This was definitely a great culinary treat! Based upon this restaurant’s reputation, this is place you would most likely never find or think about going into as a tourist. A must stop if you’re hungry for Japanese style noodles. Listen to Tomohiko’s lunch suggestion. Like yesterday, this day was a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you Tomohiko.

Tomohiko K.

Dear Mark Richard I am very honored to have an excellent review about my guide from you again !!!!! I is seemed that you are now on voyage on way back to USA. Did you enjoyed Japan tour ? ! Now in Aomori and Hirosaki, Apple tree flowers are in bloom. Fuji Apple teee flower just starts to be in bloom. We will enjoy picking apples up from August to November. Please come to visit Japan in Autumn again and again ! I and Monkeys are waiting for you, --- smile ---- ---. Thanks so much for joining my tour again. Best regards Tomohiko Kudo.

Mark R.

5 / 5

May 2, 2025

Hirosaki City - The Original Castle Keep

May 2, 2025

Aomori

6 hours

“A beautiful day filled with cherry blossoms.”

A special thank you to Tomohiko for a memorable day. Upon booking this tour many months ago, I had great communication with Tomohiko regarding our tour. The morning of the tour Tomohiko met us at the cruise port and after attending a tea ceremony, off we went to see the sights of Aomori and its surrounding areas. Tomohiko is an incredibly knowledgeable and caring guide, who was always willing to answer questions and provide us with the local history. Being a long time resident of Aomori, Tomohiko provided a unique prospective of Aomori’s history and lifestyle. Arriving in late April, we were truly lucky to experience the cherry blossoms. The lake and park at Tsuruta Mawarizeki (Fuji Miko Park) were incredibly beautiful and a memorable experience, as the area was filled with pink cherry blossoms. Later in the day a or visit to Saishoin Temple and Hirosaki Castle was equally beautiful. This was a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you Tomohiko.

Tomohiko K.

【Guided tour of Hirosaki, Tsuruata in Aomori and Hakodate in Hokkaido, April 27-28, 2025】 Dear Mark Richards. I am very honored to have an excellent review about my guide from you. I was very glad guided you to Tsuruata, avoiding crowded places, and visited Tsugaru Fujimi Lake Park. This is yourt hird visit to Japan, following their trips to Hakodate in July 2024 and Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara in October of the same year. We had soba for lunch at Shimizu in Hirosaki. In Hakodate, Goryokaku Park was in full bloom with cherry blossoms. A comment about Hijikata Toshizo: "He is like Tom Cruise!" Then, we visited the monkey hot springs Mount Hakodate Kanamori Waterfront. For lunch, we had Hakodate salty ramen at Omachi Fukufukutei. Tomorrow in Akita (April 29) was going to be a port departure (for reasons other than weather), so you intended to return via the Aleutian Islands, arriving in Seattle on May 8. You love Hakodate and will visit again this fall with your son, making this forth third trip to Hakodate. I am looking forward to seeing you in Hakodate again. Best regards, Tomohiko Kudo, tour guide in Aomori city, Japan.