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
- 8:00 Meet at Hakodate Port Terminal
- 8:20 Goryokaku Park
- 9:00 Goryokaku Tower
- 10:15 Mount Hakodate Summit
- 10:50 Motomachi Area
- 11:00 Lunch
- 12:10 Koryuji Temple
- 12:45 Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse
- 13:40 Hakodate Morning Market
- 14:00 Return to cruise and end of tour
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Hokkaido began at 8:00, when the guide met the guests at Hakodate Port Terminal, and finished at 14:00. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish. It included lunch at 11:00.
From there the group visited Goryokaku Park at 8:20, Goryokaku Tower at 9:00, Mount Hakodate Summit at 10:15, Motomachi Area at 10:50, Koryuji Temple at 12:10, Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse at 12:45 and Hakodate Morning Market at 13:40.
Public transport for the day came to 0JPY per person.
What Is a Private Cruise-Day Tour of Hakodate Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests visited Japan from Europe by cruise ship, and it was their first time in Hokkaido. In Hakodate, the cherry blossoms had just begun to bloom after the flowering declaration was issued the previous day. The number of tourists suddenly increased, and there was a very long line to go up Goryokaku Tower. For lunch, after discussing with the guests, we went into a stylish bakery cafe called Green Gables, which is themed around "Anne of Green Gables." They eagerly took photos of the very lovely interior. Although I had been a little worried because it was not a Japanese-style place, everyone enjoyed it more than expected. Also, when we visited the morning market at the end, they looked at the crab and octopus with great interest. Since English is a foreign language for both of us, communication took a little time, but they enjoyed themselves everywhere we went. The photo was taken at Goryokaku Park.
Click here for more details: Hakodate Shore Excursion: Custom Car Tour, Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Other | Hakodate Port Terminal～Hakodate Port Terminal | 0JPY |
| Total | 0JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Hokkaido tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Hakodate Port Terminal at 8:00, and the tour finished at cruise and end of tour at 14:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 8:00 to 14:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Goryokaku Park, Goryokaku Tower, Mount Hakodate Summit, Motomachi Area, Koryuji Temple, Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse and Hakodate Morning Market.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 0JPY 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.