Kon’nichiwa!
Below I have created an interactive map of things to do in Hakodate cruise port. You can do a lot of famous Hakodate things from a cruise ship on your own. There are some things that you can walk to straight off the cruise ship, and then there’s also the tram aka streetcar which you can take to go places. There’s a tram stop located within walking distance of the cruise port.
But first I want to explain what’s on the map, and hopefully that will give you a better understanding of how to plan your time in Hakodate cruise port!
My cruise ship visit to Hakodate was in May 2025.
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JAPAN CRUISE TRAVEL > HAKODATE ITINERARY | YOKOHAMA | TOKYO MAP
Is your stop in Hakodate a part of a Japan to Alaska cruise?! I’ve got another blog for the Alaska part of your cruise too! 😁 Do a web search for my other blog! It’s called: MY PERFECT ALASKA CRUISE
So, here’s what’s on the map!
If you want to go straight to the map, here you go: Hakodate cruise port map
Where cruise ships dock in Hakodate
On my map below, the Hakodate cruise port is marked with a yellow anchor pin.
Cruise ships dock in Hakodate basically right in town. You can walk straight off the cruise ship and do things in Hakodate like the morning market, which is a 5-10 minute walk from the cruise port. Or go for a longer walk to the historic Motomachi neighborhood and Mount Hakodate ropeway, which will be a nice 30-40 minute walk… and it will be hilly towards the end! Or head to the nearest tram stop, which is a 5-10 minute walk from the cruise port, and go to more places like the Goryokaku star-shaped fort!
As you walk through the cruise terminal after you get off the cruise ship, there’s a little tourist information desk right before you leave the building. There are also signs for the taxi. There was a taxi stand right outside the cruise terminal, lined up with many taxis. You can also get a driver for the day through a private tour.
Things to do in Hakodate cruise port
On my map below, the famous Hakodate attractions are marked with a pink pin, and more things to do are marked with a magenta pin.
The Goryokaku Tower is where you can see the iconic star-shaped fort of Hakodate! You can buy tickets when you get there. The Goryokaku Fort Park is a large space to walk around, which is free. In the middle of the park is the Old Magistrate’s Office of Hakodate where you can walk inside (for a fee) to learn the history and see traditional Japanese-style rooms. The best way to get to Goryokaku is by taking the tram aka streetcar!
According to the official website of the Old Magistrate’s Office:
The Tokugawa shogunate was forced to give up its national isolation policy when an American fleet led by Admiral Perry of the US Navy came to Japan in 1853, resulting in the opening of Hakodate port. Accordingly, the Hakodate Magistrate’s Office, an administrative institution of the shogunate was established.
The Mount Hakodate ropeway is how you can get the iconic views of Hakodate from above! The Mount Hakodate Observatory is at the top of the ropeway. There’s a seating area at the top so you can sit and take in the views. It’s a 30 minute walk to the ropeway from Hakodate cruise port. Take the waterfront route along the red brick warehouses. Approaching the ropeway station is hilly! Or, you can take the tram.
The Hakodate morning market has a bunch of stalls selling fresh seafood and more Hokkaido specialties. It’s minutes by foot from Hakodate cruise port. To get to know the local tradition better, you can do a guided tour of the morning market.
The Motomachi neighborhood is a historic neighborhood where you can see the western influence from the time when Japan opened up to the world. There are also good views from Motomachi Park, which can be a good starting point if arriving by tram. Motomachi is a 30-40 minute walk from Hakodate cruise port and the morning market.
More in Motomachi: Be prepared to walk the hilly streets! Motomachi is known for them. (The “slopes” of Hakodate.) The most famous hilly street is Hachiman-zaka slope. You can look down the street and see the water… and the cruise ship that’s docked at the Hakodate cruise port! The old public hall of Hakodate is the iconic blue and yellow western-style building of Hakodate. There is an entry fee to walk inside (info), but you can also see it from the outside for free. This is right by Motomachi Park so it’s a good area for scenic views. You can also see Russian influence at the Hakodate Orthodox Church. You can learn about the history of Hakodate from the owner of a local Russian cafe.
The iconic Kanemori red brick warehouses are in a waterfront area. It’s about a 15-20 minute walk from Hakodate cruise port and the morning market, and it’s on the way to Motomachi. It’s also possible to take the tram to get here.
Lucky Pierrot is a burger restaurant chain that has won the award for “best local burger store in Japan.” Lucky Pierrot burger shops ONLY exist in Hakodate! There are 17 shops in Hakodate, including near the cruise port and the red brick warehouse district.
I ate at a ramen shop called Tsubaki (reviews) in the red brick warehouse area.
Half-day Hakodate tour: Hakodate Highlights Shore Excursion for Cruise Guests
Get to know Hakodate better through a 5-hour private guided tour!
Here’s what Julie from the UK says: Excellent day out. We would definitely do this trip again.
Paulo from Brazil says: We loved our experience in Hakodate. He showed us all the tourist spots and non-tourist spots too. His recommendation for our lunch was sensational.
A traveler from Germany says: The best guide ever.
Read more reviews! (Happy people!)
Notable tram stops in Hakodate
On my map below, notable tram stops are marked with a black tram pin.
Hakodate-eki-mae tram stop: Hakodate-eki = Hakodate Station. This is the tram stop near the Hakodate cruise port, which is also near Hakodate Station. It’s a 5-10 minute walk to get to this tram stop from the cruise ship and the morning market. The Hakodate tram (aka streetcar) is the iconic way to get around Hakodate! You can use google maps public transit directions to know where to go to take the tram. Look for the COLORED option for the tram. When in planning stage, adjust the departure time. (Example: map + directions)
You can use an IC card to pay for your tram fare. IC card = same suica or pasmo you use for local trains in Tokyo and Yokohama. Or you can pay in cash with exact change. There is a coin exchange machine for 500 yen coins and 1000 yen bills at the front of the tram. Or if you’ll be taking the tram a lot, there’s also a Hakodate tram day pass.
Goryokaku-koen-mae tram stop: Goryokaku-koen = Goryokaku Park. This is the tram stop near Goryokaku fort and tower. It’s a 20 minute tram ride from the tram stop near the Hakodate cruise port to Goryokaku-koen-mae. The tram stop is a 10 minute walk from the tower, and it’s a little further for the fort park. (map + directions)
Suehirocho tram stop: You can start your time in Motomachi by getting off at the Suehirocho tram stop. It’s a 10 minute tram ride from the tram stop near the Hakodate cruise port to Suehirocho, and then a 5 minute walk to Motomachi Park. (map + directions)
Jujigai tram stop: This is the tram stop for the red brick warehouse waterfront area (5 minute walk), as well as the Mount Hakodate ropeway (10-15 minute walk). You can get off here for Motomachi too. (map + directions)
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Hakodate cruise port map
👇 Explore the interactive map below of Hakodate cruise port! Zoom in to get started and click on the icons for details!
If you are having problems viewing or using the map, you can view it directly on google maps.
JAPAN CRUISE TRAVEL > ONE DAY IN HAKODATE ITINERARY | YOKOHAMA | TOKYO MAP
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