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
- 9:15 Meet at Hakodate Port Terminal
- 9:45 Goryokaku Tower, Goryokaku Park
- 11:20 Hakodate Morning Market
- 11:45 Lunch
- 12:45 Mount Hakodate Ropeway
- 13:45 Shopping at Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse
- 15:00 Tour ends
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at Hakodate Port Terminal at 9:15, the group explored Hokkaido until the tour ended at 15:00. The day ran to 5 hours and 45 minutes from start to finish. It included lunch at 11:45.
The itinerary covered Goryokaku Tower, Goryokaku Park at 9:45, Hakodate Morning Market at 11:20, Mount Hakodate Ropeway at 12:45 and Shopping at Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse at 13:45.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Hakodate Station to Goryokaku Koen-mae by train (270JPY); Goryokaku Koen-mae to Hakodate Station by train (270JPY); Jujigai to Hakodate Station (250JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 2,590JPY per person.
What Is a Cruise Ship Shore Excursion in Hakodate Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests arrived in Hakodate by cruise ship, visiting Japan from North America. They are retired. We met earlier than scheduled and started the tour. Lunch finished in a short time, and shopping also ended somewhat early, so the tour concluded ahead of schedule as well. One of the guests took many photos with a Japanese-made camera. While walking down the sloped road after coming down from the Mount Hakodate Ropeway, one of the guests remarked that they now understood why I had suggested taking a taxi up to the ropeway station. Another guest commented that if they walked this much every day, they would hardly need any other exercise. The photo was taken at the summit of Mount Hakodate.
Click here for more details: Hakodate Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Hakodate Station～Goryokaku Koen-mae | 270JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Goryokaku Koen-mae～Hakodate Station | 270JPY |
| Section 3 | Other | Mount Hakodate Sanroku Station～Mount Hakodate Sanroku Station | 1,800JPY |
| Section 4 | Other | Jujigai～Hakodate Station | 250JPY |
| Total | 2,590JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Hokkaido tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Hakodate Port Terminal at 9:15, and the tour finished at at 15:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 5 hours and 45 minutes in total, from 9:15 to 15:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Goryokaku Tower, Goryokaku Park, Hakodate Morning Market, Mount Hakodate Ropeway and Shopping at Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 2,590JPY per person across 4 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.