This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 9:30 Meet at Hakodate Port Terminal
- 9:50 Goryokaku Tower
- 10:30 Goryokaku Park
- 12:10 Former Soma Family Residence
- 13:30 Guide to Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse and end the tour
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Goryokaku Tower at 9:50, Goryokaku Park at 10:30, Former Soma Family Residence at 12:10 and Guide to Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse and end the tour at 13:30.
Public transport for the day came to 800JPY per person.
What Is a Private Cruise Port Day Tour of Hakodate Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests visited Japan from North America, arriving by cruise ship. The city of Hakodate was in full cherry blossom season, and many domestic tourists had also gathered there. Even after purchasing tickets at Goryokaku Tower, there was a long line and it took quite a while to board the elevator. The weather was fine, however, and Goryokaku in full bloom was beautiful. The guests took many photographs. Inside Goryokaku Park, some people were even securing spots for cherry blossom viewing. After Goryokaku Park, we went to the former Soma Family Residence. The streetcar was extremely crowded with tourists. Since the Soma Residence still had few visitors, we were able to look around at a leisurely pace. One could sense the greatness and wealth of the founder of the Soma family. The cruise ship visible from the garden looked beautiful, so we took photographs. After that, I guided the guests from Motomachi Park to the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, and the tour ended. The photograph was taken at Goryokaku Park.
Click here for more details: Hakodate Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Free Pass | In front of Hakodate Station～In front of Hakodate Station | 800JPY |
| Total | 800JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Goryokaku Tower, Goryokaku Park, Former Soma Family Residence and Guide to Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse and end the tour.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 800JPY per person across 1 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Kazu is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Hokkaido itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
I was born and grew up in Kyoto and now live near Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. I used to be a schoolteacher of English and welcome a lot of students from foreign countries. I really enjoyed showing them around Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Himeji, and Hiroshima. I have been a professional tour guide for about 8 years. I always try to let my guests learn Japanese traditional and modern culture. Since I was born in Kyoto, I know a lot about its culture and people. I myself enjoyed several sports, such as soccer, judo, and marathon when I was young. I’m much interested in baseball and sumo. My motto as a tour guide is to let my guests learn about our tradition and culture precisely and really enjoy themselves. I strongly hope you will enjoy the tour in Japan with me.
Jul 24, 2026
Trail65429092687
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Tour
Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep…
Jul 24, 2026
Trail65429092687
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Tour
Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep knowledge about the history and culture of Japan. He is flexible and accommodates changes if you so desire. He is also very empathetic. I had a sprained back and he ensured we took elevators everywhere. You will be lucky if he is assigned as your guide .
Jul 23, 2026
489caelinp
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Guided Tour
My friend and I had a great experience…
Jul 23, 2026
489caelinp
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Guided Tour
My friend and I had a great experience on the tour. We travelled all around Kyoto with our guide Kazuo Sumi. He is a sweet older gentleman who had a great depth of knowledge about each place we went to. We told him places we wanted to go and he made the itinerary for us. There is no one better to have as your guide!!
Jul 16, 2026
margaretsM7923ON
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Great way to see Kyoto
Wonderful tour and exceptional guide.
Jul 9, 2026
Sandra_B
Kazuo was great and…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazuo was great and provided…
Jul 9, 2026
Sandra_B
Kazuo was great and…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazuo was great and provided some excellent recommendations. There’s a lot of walking so make sure you are prepared.