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

  • 9:00 Meet at Wakamatsu Wharf ⇒9:10 Free Market (enjoy king crab and hairy crab) ⇒ 11:00 Goryokaku Park ⇒ Ishizaki Jinushi Kaijin Shrine (double cherry blossoms in full bloom) ⇒13:00 Rokkatei (buy Japanese sweets) ⇒ Mount Hakodate ⇒14:00 Tour the Motomachi district and move to Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse
  • ⇒15:00 Guide to dining and shopping spots at the Red Brick Warehouse complex ⇒15:15 Tour ends. The guests decided to take their time and return to the ship on their own.

Title: What's a Private Sightseeing Tour in Hakodate Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting from North America. It was their second time in Japan, and they were able to speak simple Japanese without any trouble. The group got along wonderfully, and walking was no problem for anyone. Since we had exchanged messages many times through a messaging app, I knew that food was their top expectation, and that they especially loved mochi and manju, so I chose the destinations around those interests and sent them an illustrated itinerary with photos in advance.

At the market, the guests cheered at the impressive king crabs and hairy crabs, and at the lively fresh fish moving about on the ice. When I took them to a traditional Japanese sweets shop, the guests said they had a real weakness for sweets and did quite a bit of shopping with delighted expressions. They exclaimed with joy wherever we went, which was truly rewarding as a guide. The Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms in the city had already finished and turned to green leaves, so we visited Ishizaki Jinushi Kaijin Shrine, a spot not widely known even among locals. There, 180 double-flowered cherry trees were in full bloom, and the guests were moved by the breathtaking beauty.

Hello, my name is Keiko Ichinei. I was born in Hakodate, Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. Hakodate is located in the southernmost in Hokkaido, so compared with Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, Hakodate is not so cold or hot all through the year, very moderate climate and comfortable to live in.

Hakodate has been chosen one of the three most popular destinations for travelers in Japan, including Kyoto and Sapporo. A few years ago Hakodate was chosen number one for three years consecutively. Why don’t you come to Hakodate and find why Hakodate is so popular?
My family consists of four: husband, daughter and son. My husband is an alpine photographer and is a curator of his own photo museum. His museum is not in Hakodate but in Asahikawa city, 400 km away from Hakodate. The museum opens on May 1 and closes at the end of October, because it’s too cold there in winter time. That means we live separately for 6 months every year. We enjoy this kind of life style, because, you know, “A mouse will have to play when a cat is away !”
I have five grandchildren. My two kids and all my grandchildren are so gentle and kind and always support me, to my thanks.

I used to be an English teacher at a junior-senior high school for about 24 years while working as an interpreter and a tour guide sometimes. I love kids, flowers and dogs. However, I wanted to be a “through guide”, who accompanies the clients for a few weeks traveling all the way together with them. Consequently, I quit being a teacher in 2015 and decided to focus on guiding since then.
As an interpreter, I have experienced in a wide range of fields, including interpretation for VIPs and seminars, facility and factory tours, and medical interpretation at hospitals.

I believe that my job is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so my priority is to create as many happy memories as possible. I will do my best to make sure that you return home fully satisfied and with a smile on your face

Apr 20, 2026
Gail_H
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Great private tour of Hakodate!
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Great full day
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monika_everywhere
Beautiful – even on a rainy day
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