What should you visit in Sapporo, Otaru and Hakodate?
Walk through the city at Odori Park or see old harbour warehouses and waterfront scenery at Otaru Canal. Choose Sapporo TV Tower for Odori Park from above, or Goryokaku Tower for the star-shaped fort. Shiroi Koibito Park offers a confectionery factory tour; Mashumaru has exhibits inside a former ferry. Visit the garden on outdoor opening days and Mount Hakodate Ropeway on operating days.
Attractions: admission, hours and access
Odori Park
大通公園
Walk or take a short break here before or after the TV Tower. The park stretches east to west, so choose between the eastern tower area and a longer walk west according to your schedule and energy.
- AdmissionPark walks are free. Events and kiosk purchases cost extra.
- HoursAvailable walking areas may change during events.
- Getting thereLeave the subway at Odori Station and go up to street level. Head to the east end for the tower.
Sapporo TV Tower
さっぽろテレビ塔
After walking in Odori Park, go up Sapporo TV Tower to see the streets you’ve just explored and the city centre from above. Visit the observation deck in the evening for Sapporo’s night view.
- AdmissionHigh school age and older JPY 1,200; elementary and junior high school students JPY 600; preschool children free.
- Hours09:00–22:00; last observation deck admission 21:50. Hours may change for events. Full-building closures are announced for 11 November 2026 and 1 January 2027.
- Getting thereFrom Odori Station, follow Aurora Town to exit 27. Enter the tower on the 1st floor and buy observation deck tickets on the 3rd floor. From the park, head to the tower at its east end.
Sapporo Clock Tower
札幌市時計台
Visit the Clock Tower interior for old photographs, Sapporo Agricultural College materials and clock-mechanism exhibits. It is compact, and you can also choose just exterior photographs. For an interior visit on standard days, arrive before last admission at 17:00. Check official notices for evening openings.
- AdmissionAdults JPY 350; university students with student ID JPY 150. High school students and younger enter free; junior high and high school students should bring student ID.
- HoursStandard hours: 08:45–17:10; last admission 17:00. Check official notices for evening-opening hours and accessible areas. Closed 1–3 January.
- Getting thereWalk from Odori Station’s City Hall-side exit to the Clock Tower in about 5 minutes. From JR Sapporo Station, follow the underground walkway towards Odori and use exit 9; the guide lists about 10 minutes from JR. The Clock Tower and TV Tower can be combined on a city walking day.
Clock Tower official admission: fees, opening and last entrySapporo Clock Tower official exhibition guideSapporo Clock Tower official evening-opening noticeFacility’s station-exit guide
Shiroi Koibito Park
白い恋人パーク
If you’ve seen Shiroi Koibito sweets while travelling in Japan, explore how they’re made at the official park in Sapporo. Factory tours and exhibitions are in the paid area; gardens and shopping spaces need no admission ticket. Confectionery-making activities cost extra, with registration and advance booking arrangements differing by activity.
- AdmissionPaid area: high school age and older JPY 1,200; ages 4 through junior high school JPY 600; ages 3 and younger free. Gardens and shopping need no ticket; activities cost extra.
- HoursUsually 10:00–18:00; last paid-area admission 16:30. Follow official notices for special opening days.
- Getting thereTake the Tozai Line from Odori towards Miyanosawa · 宮の沢 and get off at the terminus. The ride takes about 16 minutes, followed by about 7 minutes on foot to the park. Waiting and hotel-to-station travel are extra. Buy paid-area admission at the park’s ticket centre.
Admission and ticketsShiroi Koibito Park official facilities and factory tourKorean guideAccess
Hokkaido University Botanical Gardens
Botanic Garden, Hokkaido University北海道大学植物園
For trees and flowers near Sapporo Station from spring to autumn, visit Hokkaido University Botanical Gardens. It offers a different setting for a break from city streets or the university campus. Mid-to-late May is an option for alpine plants and lilacs; other seasons bring different flowers and autumn colours. It is a separate paid facility from the campus, with outdoor access only on opening days between 29 April and 3 November.
- AdmissionAges 16 and older JPY 420; ages 7–15 JPY 300; ages 6 and younger free.
- Hours29 April–30 September: 09:00–16:30, last admission 16:00. 1 October–3 November: 09:00–16:00, last admission 15:30. Closed Mondays, or the following day when Monday is a public holiday. The outdoor garden closes from 4 November to 28 April. The glasshouse is currently closed to the public and cannot be used as a winter alternative.
- Getting thereAbout 10 minutes on foot from JR Sapporo Station’s south exit. Use the main gate during the outdoor opening season.
Otaru Canal
小樽運河
Photograph Otaru Canal’s old waterfront warehouses by day, or see gas lamps and warehouse lights reflected in the water in the evening. Check your return train before deciding whether to leave after the daytime views or stay until evening. Stay overnight in Otaru if you don’t want to rush dinner and your walk. A paid boat cruise is a separate option.
- AdmissionWalking beside the canal does not require a cruise ticket. Choose a paid boat cruise separately.
- HoursShop and cruise hours differ from access to the walking path. Plan dinner around each restaurant’s opening days.
- Getting thereTake a JR train towards Otaru from Sapporo Station and get off at Otaru. Walk about 10 minutes to the canal. Return on JR towards Sapporo from Otaru Station.
Goryokaku Tower
五稜郭タワー
Go up the tower for a view of Goryokaku’s star-shaped fort. Choose the park walk separately from the paid tower visit.
- AdmissionAdults JPY 1,200; junior high and high school students JPY 900; elementary school students JPY 600; preschool children free.
- HoursOpen year-round 09:00–18:00; ticket sales until 17:50. Exterior wall work is scheduled until 15 November 2026, with operations continuing according to the notice.
- Getting thereTake a tram towards Yunokawa from Hakodate Station to Goryokaku-koen-mae, then walk about 10 minutes to the tower. Buy observation deck tickets at the 1st-floor counter. This differs from a route to JR Goryokaku Station. Yunokawa · 湯の川 / Goryokaku-koen-mae · 五稜郭公園前
Admission and hoursGoryokaku Tower official construction and continued-operation noticeAccess
Mount Hakodate Ropeway
Mt. Hakodate Ropeway函館山ロープウェイ
See Hakodate and the sea on both sides from the summit. The ropeway ride takes about 3 minutes; ticketing and boarding queues are extra. Check visibility and operations first on cloudy or windy days.
- AdmissionJunior high school age and older: return JPY 1,800, one way JPY 1,200. Children: return JPY 900, one way JPY 600. Ages 0–2 ride free. One preschool child aged 3 or older rides free per adult; additional children pay the child fare. This itinerary uses a return ticket.
- Hours1 October–19 April: opens 10:00, last upward ride 20:30, last downward ride 21:00. 20 April–30 September: last upward ride 21:30, last downward ride 22:00. Same-day changes take priority.
- Service suspension20 October–8 November 2026. Remove the ropeway and summit visit from two-day B, three-day B and five-day B during this period. The summit observation deck itself is listed as open 10:00–21:00, but alternative transport to the summit is excluded from these itineraries.
- Getting thereFrom Hakodate Station, take tram route 2 towards Yachigashira · 谷地頭 or route 5 towards Hakodate-Dock-mae · 函館どつく前 and get off at Jujigai. Walk uphill for about 10 minutes to the lower station, allowing time for a slower pace or breaks. Ticket machines are on the 1st floor and the boarding lobby on the 3rd. If the hill is difficult, consider a bus actually serving the lower station or a taxi separately.
Fares and hoursOfficial suspension noticeAccess mapLower station floor guideTram guide
Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse
金森赤レンガ倉庫
Visit Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse for harbour walks, meals or shopping. If also using the ropeway, you need to travel from the waterfront warehouses to the lower station uphill.
- AdmissionGeneral browsing is free. Meals, shopping, performances and other purchases cost extra.
- HoursThe tourism guide lists 09:30–19:00, year-round. Check special opening days for individual shops. Yobutsukan is closed for electrical work on 9–12 November 2026. Official information says BAY Hakodate and Hakodate History Plaza remain open, so distinguish the building you’ll visit.
- Getting thereGet off at Jujigai tram stop and walk about 5 minutes towards the waterfront.
Hakodate City tourism guideKanemori official partial facility closure in November 2026
Hakodate Seikan Ferry Memorial Museum Mashumaru
Hakodate Seikan Ferry Memorial Museum Mashu-maru函館市青函連絡船記念館摩周丸
Board Mashumaru for the former ferry’s wheelhouse and shipboard exhibits. The ship is moored near Hakodate Station; access and movement inside require stairs.
- AdmissionAdults and university students JPY 500; elementary, junior high and high school students JPY 250; preschool children free.
- HoursApril–October: 08:30–18:00, last admission 17:00. November–March: 09:00–17:00, last admission 16:00. The facility lists regular closure from 31 December to 3 January; temporary opening is announced each year. Ship inspections, cleaning, repairs or bad weather may cause temporary closures.
- Getting thereWalk northwest from JR Hakodate Station towards Hakodate Bay. When you see the ship with an ivory upper hull and blue lower hull on your left, follow the shore towards it. Use the stairs in the adjoining building to reach the 2nd-floor boarding entrance. The facility lists about 4 minutes from the station; allow separately for the hotel-to-station journey and stairs. There is no elevator or escalator.
Admission, last entry and closuresFacility’s same-day noticesStation to boarding entrance
Frequently asked questions
Does Mount Hakodate Ropeway run in October?
It is suspended for maintenance from 20 October to 8 November 2026. Weather and inspections can affect other dates too. Ropeway suspension does not mean the entire mountain is closed, but bus or taxi plans require separate checks of date-specific services and road restrictions.
Can I follow the botanical garden itinerary in winter?
No. The outdoor garden closes in winter and the glasshouse is currently closed to the public. For four days, choose the itinerary with Otaru Canal and Shiroi Koibito Park instead. The one-night Otaru, three-night Sapporo itinerary does not include a winter replacement for the garden on day 3.
Hours and admissionMain gate and accessSapporo official winter walking guideTrain services for your travel date
Official sources and dates checked
- Official suspension notice ·
- Sapporo tourism guide ·
- Admission and opening hours ·
- Getting there ·
- Facility’s station-exit guide ·
- Admission and tickets ·
- Korean guide ·
- Access ·
- Hours and admission ·
- Main gate and access ·
- Hokkaido official tourism guide ·
- Admission and hours ·
- Access ·
- Fares and hours ·
- Access map ·
- Lower station floor guide ·
- Hakodate City tourism guide ·
- Admission, last entry and closures ·
- Station to boarding entrance ·
- Facility’s same-day notices ·
- Tram guide ·
- Train services for your travel date ·
- Sapporo official winter walking guide ·
- Clock Tower official admission: fees, opening and last entry ·
- Goryokaku Tower official construction and continued-operation notice ·
- Kanemori official partial facility closure in November 2026 ·
- Shiroi Koibito Park official facilities and factory tour ·
- Sapporo Clock Tower official exhibition guide ·
- Sapporo Clock Tower official evening-opening notice ·