Save this! Some practical advice for traveling in Hakodate

1. Unless you're planning an in-depth trip, two nights and three days in Hakodate is enough. Spend the first day exploring the city and stay near JR Station. On the second day, visit Goryokaku and the zoo (optional), and stay in Yunokawa to enjoy the hot springs. 2. Hakodate is quite small, so you don't need to be in excellent shape. Walking is perfectly fine for getting around the city. Here's a suggested itinerary for a day trip: Start at JR Station, visit the Mashu-Maru, explore the red brick warehouses, see Hachiman-zaka Slope, and finish with the million-dollar night view from Mount Hakodate. This route is relatively easy and covers the main attractions. 3. Hakodate Morning Market is optional. It's quite commercialized and not very cost-effective. Trying squid fishing is okay, but there are usually lines. 4. The red brick warehouses aren't particularly exciting. There's a Komeda's Coffee next to the warehouses that's worth checking out. Their combo meals before 11:00 am are a great deal, and the buttered red bean bread is delicious. 5. Yunokawa is mostly hot spring hotels. Wakamatsu is highly recommended, but it's a bit pricey. One night with two meals will cost around 3,000 CNY for two people. However, it's worth the price, with private hot springs and a tattoo-friendly policy. 6. Hakodate is known for its shio (salt) ramen. The popular Ichimonji Ramen is also in Yunokawa. Honestly, it's not as amazing as people say. It's decent, but not worth going out of your way for. 7. Hakodate is warmer than Sapporo. Snow usually melts as soon as it lands, which can make the roads muddy. Wear waterproof shoes or waterproof shoe covers. 8. It's hard to get a front-row spot for the Mount Hakodate night view, making it difficult to take good photos. Expect long lines for the ropeway down and the bus back to JR Station. Consider walking down and taking the tram instead. 9. Taking photos at Hachiman-zaka Slope is fine, but constantly taking pictures while standing in the middle of the road is inconsiderate and dangerous, especially in winter. 10. Squid is a Hakodate specialty and worth trying. You don't need to look for a specific restaurant; they're all pretty similar.