Hakodate Without a Tour Group? We Tried It on Our Own

Hakodate Without a Tour Group? We Tried It on Our Own

Hakodate, Japan: arrive hungry! Join Chi Chi & Bongo for an independent day ashore from Diamond Princess, with the Morning Market, local trams, Goryokaku’s star-shaped fort, Motomachi and the waterfront in 4K.

Chi Chi planned our day: no organised excursion, just us, the trams and a hill that definitely counted as exercise. Thank you for supporting our little channel – it means the world to us. Please like and subscribe if you enjoyed coming along!

BOOK & SAVE – AD / AFFILIATE LINKS (GigSky gave us trial credit; we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you)
GigSky eSIM we used on this cruise – 15% off with code CHICHIBONGO: https://plans.gigsky.com/2JD87HP/2CTPL/?uid=5
Hakodate shore excursion to compare (GetYourGuide): https://www.getyourguide.com/hakodate-l97920/hakodate-shore-excursion-for-cruise-guests-group-t1167180/?partner_id=70TPURD&utm_medium=online_publisher&cmp=yt-hakodate-tour
What we film with – Insta360 Flow 2 Pro: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DPKV8LP7?tag=chichibongoad-21
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome to Hakodate
00:23 Our independent port day
00:44 Morning Market and breakfast
02:25 Tram to Goryokaku
03:03 Tram fares and using Suica
04:02 Saijo-ji temple
04:33 Goryokaku park and star fort
05:48 Hakodate Magistrates Office
07:14 Cherry blossom season
07:33 Into Goryokaku Tower
08:18 Views from the tower
09:34 Tram back to Suehirocho
10:09 Uphill into Motomachi
11:29 Old Public Hall
12:21 Ice cream melon bread
14:13 Funadama Shrine
16:18 Hachimanzaka and the churches
17:58 Chi Chi’s Tip of the Day
18:38 Christmas shopping and the waterfront
19:47 Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses
22:23 Back aboard Diamond Princess
22:46 Our day in Hakodate
24:08 Seven ports, seven films
24:28 Back to China in 2027
25:03 Thank you – more of our adventures

PLAN YOUR HAKODATE VISIT
Hakodate official travel guide
https://www.hakodate.travel/en/

Trams, fares and passes
https://www.hakodate.travel/en/information/transportation/

How to ride the Hakodate tram
https://www.hakodate.travel/en/more-about-hakodate/how-to-ride-hakodate-tram/

Official tram route map (PDF)
https://www.hakodate.travel/en/wp-content/themes/hakodate-city-multi/assets/images/more-about/how-to-ride-hakodate-tram/route_map_jp_en.pdf

Smartphone tram passes – DohNa!!
https://cstm.dohna.jp/

Hakodate Morning Market
https://www.hakodate.travel/en/sightseeing-spots/shopping-spot/hakodate-morning-market/

Goryokaku Tower
https://www.goryokaku-tower.co.jp/en/

Goryokaku Tower opening times and admission
https://www.goryokaku-tower.co.jp/en/price/

Hakodate Magistrates Office (Japanese website)
https://hakodate-bugyosho.jp/

Motomachi and the slopes, including Hachimanzaka
https://www.hakodate.travel/en/more-about-hakodate/slope/

Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward
https://www.hakodate.travel/en/sightseeing-spots/historic-building/old-public-hall-of-hakodate-ward/

Funadama Shrine (Japanese website)
https://funadama.net/

Hakodate Orthodox Church – history and information
https://www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db/en/R1-00907.html

Motomachi Roman Catholic Church
https://www.hakodate.travel/en/sightseeing-spots/shrine-temple-church/motomachi-roman-catholic-church/

Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses

KANEMORI RED BRICK WAREHOUSE

Official city maps and brochures
https://www.hakodate.travel/en/information/brochure/

Hakodate cruise-port visitor guide (PDF)
https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/cruise/detail/004/documents/kanko.pdf

Diamond Princess – official ship information
https://www.princess.com/en-int/ships-and-experience/ships/di-diamond-princess

WATCH THE PORTS IN ORDER
Next – Niigata: https://youtu.be/y8fy8A6lPTY

MORE FROM CHI CHI & BONGO
We’re Chi Chi & Bongo, a British couple who travel the world and film it honestly – cruises, rail journeys, city breaks and big adventures, near and far. Real prices, real opinions and a bit of banter.
China, Japan & South Korea adventure playlist:

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Travel information, prices and opening times can change. Check the official sites and your ship’s all-aboard time. These destination links are not affiliate links.

CREDITS
Music licensed through Epidemic Sound.
Goryokaku spring photographs: Hakodate Official Travel Guide / City of Hakodate.
Tram maps: OpenStreetMap contributors and Geospatial Information Authority of Japan terrain, with illustrative AI-finished aerial artwork. The walking route after Suehirocho is not traced. Seasonal scenes show the destination at other times of year.

#Hakodate #DiamondPrincess #JapanCruise #CruisePort #Hokkaido #ChiChiAndBongo