Which city should I stay in overnight on a 5-day trip?
For an evening by the canal, stay 1 night in Otaru before moving to Sapporo for 3 nights. For Hakodate's night view too, choose 2 nights each in Sapporo and Hakodate. The two-city route arrives through New Chitose Airport and departs through Hakodate Airport. The Otaru–Sapporo Botanic Garden visit must fit outdoor opening dates between 29 April and 3 November.
Choose a 5 days / 4 nights itinerary
1 night in Otaru and 3 in Sapporo
Walk around Otaru Canal into the evening and stay there on day 1. Move your hotel to Sapporo the next day, then visit the Botanic Garden and park on the remaining days.
1 night in Otaru and 3 in Sapporo →5 days / 4 nights B2 nights in Sapporo and 2 in Hakodate
Arrive through New Chitose Airport, stay 2 nights in Sapporo, then take Hokuto to Hakodate for 2 nights. Combine city and canal walks with a ship museum, fortress views and night scenery before flying out of Hakodate Airport.
2 nights in Sapporo and 2 in Hakodate →1 night in Otaru and 3 in Sapporo
Walk around Otaru Canal into the evening and stay there on day 1. Move your hotel to Sapporo the next day, then visit the Botanic Garden and park on the remaining days.
Day 1 | Arrive in Otaru and stay by the canal
Arrive in Otaru, walk along the canal and stay overnight. If your arrival time allows, see the evening gas lamps and warehouse lights; if you arrive late, walk the next morning instead.
- New Chitose Airport arrivals → JR signs in the domestic terminal
For an international arrival, complete immigration and baggage collection, then take the floor 2 connecting passage to the domestic terminal. For a domestic arrival, follow JR signs inside your terminal.
- Domestic terminal → New Chitose Airport Station, basement floor 1
Follow JR signs down to New Chitose Airport Station on basement floor 1. Terminal transfers and train waits are additional to the ride.
- New Chitose Airport Station → JR Otaru Station
Choose an Airport train direct to Otaru and get off there. If it is not direct, change at Sapporo for an Otaru-bound train. Check stops and services with JR for your date.
JR: official access and timetablesTrains and operations for your travel dateStandard JR fares
- JR Otaru Station → Otaru Canal
Walk about 10 minutes from Otaru Station to the canal. If you leave the airport late, save the canal walk for the next morning.
- Otaru Canal and station area → Dinner → Otaru hotel
You do not need a Sapporo-bound train that evening, but finish dinner within your restaurant's opening hours.
Hokkaido official tourism guideTrains and operations for your travel date
For a late arrival, move the canal walk to the next morning.
Day 2 | Move to Sapporo and explore the city
Walk along the canal in the morning if you missed it the day before.
- Otaru Station → Sapporo-bound JR → Sapporo Station
After any morning walk, return to Otaru Station and take a Sapporo-bound JR train. From this day, stay in Sapporo.
- Sapporo Station → Namboku Line to Odori → TV Tower floor 3 tickets
Take a Makomanai-bound Namboku Line train to Odori and head towards exit 27. Walk through the eastern park and buy a ticket at TV Tower floor 3. See the city from the deck before coming back down.
Subway route mapDirectionsAdmission and hoursSapporo tourism guide
- Odori Station → Asabu-bound Namboku Line → Sapporo Station hotel
For a station-area hotel, take an Asabu-bound Namboku Line train one stop from Odori.
Stay 3 nights in the same Sapporo hotel from day 2. This itinerary does not return to your Otaru hotel.
Day 3 | Botanic Garden on an opening day, then lunch in the city
- Sapporo Station or Odori hotel → Botanic Garden main gate
Walk about 10 minutes from JR Sapporo’s south exit to the Botanic Garden’s main gate. If staying near Odori, the main gate is about 10 minutes on foot from Odori Station exit 2.
- Botanic Garden → Main gate and lunch in the city
Take a morning walk on an outdoor opening date. Afterwards, leave through the main gate for lunch and a break in the city south of Sapporo Station. There is no restaurant in the garden.
- City centre south of Sapporo Station → Your Sapporo hotel
Return to your booked hotel for a rest after lunch, using its recommended exit and walking route.
Visit the outdoor Botanic Garden on opening dates between 29 April and 3 November. In winter, the outdoor garden closes and the glasshouse is currently closed to visitors. Visit the Clock Tower separately on the final morning. If the garden is closed, swap it with the park on day 4.
Day 4 | Shiroi Koibito Park's paid exhibitions
- Sapporo Station or Odori hotel → Tozai Line to Miyanosawa → ticket centre
From a Sapporo Station hotel, take the Makomanai-bound Namboku Line to Odori and transfer to the Miyanosawa-bound Tozai Line. Get off at the terminus, walk about 7 minutes to the park and buy paid-area admission at the ticket centre.
- Park paid area → Factory visit, exhibitions, optional activity and lunch
Explore the confectionery factory and exhibitions in the paid area, then have lunch. If you booked a confectionery-making activity, arrange your visit around its time.
Admission and ticketsKorean visitor informationShiroi Koibito Park: official facilities and factory visit
- Shiroi Koibito Park → Miyanosawa Station
After your visit, retrace the roughly 7-minute walk to Miyanosawa Station.
- Miyanosawa Station → Odori Station and your hotel
Take a Shin-Sapporo-bound Tozai Line train to Odori. Return to an Odori hotel from here, or take an Asabu-bound Namboku Line train one more stop for a Sapporo Station hotel.
Day 5 | Clock Tower, then New Chitose Airport
Visit the Clock Tower, then travel to New Chitose Airport on the last day.
- Sapporo Station or Odori hotel → Odori Station, City Hall side exit → Clock Tower
From a Sapporo Station hotel, take the Makomanai-bound Namboku Line one stop to Odori. Walk about 5 minutes from the City Hall side exit to the Clock Tower and visit the indoor exhibitions after the Clock Tower opens at 08:45.
Subway route mapFacility directions from station exitsClock Tower: official admission, opening and last-entry information
- Clock Tower → JR Sapporo Station
After your visit, go to JR Sapporo Station, collecting hotel-stored luggage first if needed. From Odori, take an Asabu-bound Namboku Line train one stop; from the Sapporo Station area, walk to JR.
- JR Sapporo Station → New Chitose Airport Station and your terminal
Take a New Chitose Airport-bound Airport train to the terminus. From basement floor 1, go up to the domestic terminal. For an international departure, use the floor 2 connecting passage and continue to international-terminal floor 3 departures.
JR: official access and timetablesAirport: JR access guideNew Chitose Airport: official floor map dated 2026-09-17
The Clock Tower opens at 08:45. Visit on the final morning only if you have enough time to reach the airport afterwards.
Included: Clock Tower, TV Tower, park paid area and Botanic Garden: 3,170 yen + airport to Otaru: 2,040 yen + Otaru to Sapporo: 800 yen + airport-bound train: 1,230 yen
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, luggage storage, confectionery-making activities, shopping and Sapporo subway travel are excluded. Confirm the final JR fare for your date and seat type on the booking screen. Airport JR uses unreserved seats; the Airport car 4 reserved-seat supplement is excluded. Attraction costs use standard individual admission.
Changing your overnight base does not necessarily make JR fares cheaper. Visit the Botanic Garden on spring-to-autumn opening dates. Skipping it in winter removes the 420-yen admission but reduces day 3 sightseeing. The glasshouse is currently closed to visitors, so it is not an alternative. For a 5-day winter trip, choose another place for day 3 before selecting this route.
Clock Tower: official admission, opening and last-entry informationAdmission and hoursAdmission and ticketsHours and admissionJR: official access and timetablesStandard JR fares
2 nights in Sapporo and 2 in Hakodate
Arrive through New Chitose Airport, stay 2 nights in Sapporo, then take Hokuto to Hakodate for 2 nights. Combine city and canal walks with a ship museum, fortress views and night scenery before flying out of Hakodate Airport.
Day 1 | Arrive in Sapporo, then Clock Tower and TV Tower
See Clock Tower exhibitions and TV Tower views on day 1, then visit Otaru Canal on day 2. Move to Hakodate on day 3 for a visit aboard Mashu Maru. Day 4 combines Goryokaku views and the mountain night view.
- New Chitose Airport arrivals → JR signs in the domestic terminal
For an international arrival, complete immigration and baggage collection, then take the floor 2 connecting passage to the domestic terminal. For a domestic arrival, follow JR signs inside your terminal.
- Domestic terminal → New Chitose Airport Station, basement floor 1
Follow JR signs down to New Chitose Airport Station on basement floor 1. Terminal transfers and train waits are additional to the ride.
- New Chitose Airport Station → JR Sapporo Station
Take a Sapporo-bound Airport train and get off at Sapporo. Reserved seats add a seat charge to the unreserved fare.
- Sapporo Station → Namboku Line to Odori → City Hall side exit and Clock Tower
Take a Makomanai-bound Namboku Line train to Odori, use the City Hall side exit and walk about 5 minutes to the Clock Tower. Arrive before standard last admission at 17:00. Check official notices separately for hours and viewing areas on evening-opening dates.
Subway route mapFacility directions from station exitsClock Tower: official admission, opening and last-entry informationSapporo Clock Tower: official evening-opening notice
- Clock Tower and Odori Park → TV Tower floor 3 tickets and visit
Then walk through the eastern park, buy an observation-deck ticket at the TV Tower's floor 3 counter and visit the deck.
- Odori Station → Asabu-bound Namboku Line → Sapporo Station hotel
Take an Asabu-bound Namboku Line train from Odori back to your Sapporo Station hotel. Staying near the station makes it easier to board the limited express on day 3.
If you arrive too late for Clock Tower last admission, skip the indoor visit on day 1. Day 2 is for Otaru, so do not add sightseeing in both cities to that day.
Day 2 | Otaru Canal walk, lunch and return to Sapporo
- Sapporo Station → JR Otaru Station
Take an Otaru-bound JR train and get off at Otaru.
- Otaru Station → Canal walk and lunch
Walk about 10 minutes to the canal, then have lunch near the canal or station. A paid cruise is not included.
- Otaru Station → JR Sapporo Station → station-area hotel
You will take the Hakodate limited express the next day. Rather than staying late, return from Otaru on a Sapporo-bound JR train and rest at your hotel.
Day 3 | Hokuto to Hakodate and a Mashu Maru visit
Travel to Hakodate on Hokuto and visit Mashu Maru. Choose a train that leaves enough time to arrive and look around before last admission.
- Sapporo hotel → JR Sapporo Station
Go to Sapporo Station and check the departure time and platform for your reserved Hakodate-bound Hokuto. Allow for the hotel-to-station walk and reaching the platform.
- Sapporo Station → Reserved Hokuto service → Hakodate Station
Board your reserved Hakodate-bound Hokuto and get off at Hakodate. The standard adult ordinary-car reserved-seat fare is 9,770 yen. All Hokuto seats are reserved; choose the service and seat for your date before boarding.
JR timetable · revised 2026-03-14Trains and operations for your travel dateStandard JR fares
- Hakodate Station → Waterfront northwest of the station → Mashu Maru
Walk along the waterfront northwest of the station to Mashu Maru. The visitor entrance is about 4 minutes from the station. Allow extra time if you visit your hotel first.
- Building beside Mashu Maru → Stairs → floor 2 boarding entrance and visit
Use the stairs in the building beside the ivory and blue ship to reach the floor 2 boarding entrance and buy a ticket. Adult admission is 500 yen; last admission is 17:00 in April–October and 16:00 in November–March. There is no lift, so this visit does not suit companions who cannot use stairs.
Station-to-boarding-entrance directionsAdmission, last entry and closures
- Inside Mashu Maru → Boarding stairs → waterfront northwest of the station
After the ship exhibitions and wheelhouse, use the boarding stairs to come down. Walk towards the station along the waterfront, with a view of the ship.
Facility notices for the dayStation-to-boarding-entrance directions
- Waterfront northwest of the station → Meal near Hakodate Station → hotel
Have dinner near Hakodate Station and return to your booked hotel. Keep the evening around the station, as Goryokaku and the night view are planned for the next day.
Facility notices for the dayStation-to-boarding-entrance directions
Mashu Maru is boarded by stairs. Skip it if stairs are difficult or you cannot arrive with enough viewing time before last admission. Check ship-inspection and temporary-closure notices too.
Day 4 | Goryokaku, then Hakodate's night view
- Outside Hakodate Station → Goryokaku-koen-mae tram stop → tower floor 1 tickets
The three standard tram fares for station → Goryokaku-koen-mae → Jujigai → station total 810 yen. To use the 800-yen one-day pass, buy it on your first ride. In the morning, take a Yunokawa-bound tram to Goryokaku-koen-mae, walk about 10 minutes and buy a ticket at the tower's floor 1 counter. See the star-shaped fortress from the deck before coming down.
Tram guideAccessAdmission and hoursTram fares · revised 2025-12-01One-day pass
- Around Goryokaku → Lunch → tram to Jujigai
After lunch nearby, take a tram towards Yachigashira or Hakodate Dock to Jujigai.
- Jujigai tram stop → Ropeway lower station
Walk uphill for about 10 minutes to the lower station. On suspension dates, choose a harbour walk rather than going up.
- Lower station, floor 1 → Floor 3 boarding lobby
Buy a return ticket on floor 1 and go to the floor 3 boarding lobby. An adult return costs 1,800 yen; ticketing and boarding waits are extra.
- Lower station, floor 3 → Summit observation deck
Take the ropeway to the summit station and see the city and sea from the deck. The ride takes about 3 minutes. Finish in time for the last descent and your return tram.
- Summit station → Lower station
Take the ropeway down to the lower station. Leave time for local queues rather than viewing until just before the last descent.
- Lower station → Jujigai tram stop
Retrace your route downhill to Jujigai tram stop.
- Jujigai tram stop → Hakodate-ekimae and your hotel
Take a Yunokawa-bound tram to Hakodate-ekimae and return to your hotel. Use the same tram direction after a harbour walk if the ropeway is suspended.
Check ropeway maintenance suspensions in the attraction information below and official notices. During suspension, skip the summit and walk about 5 minutes from Jujigai towards the coast to explore the harbour. Return on a Yunokawa-bound tram from Jujigai.
Day 5 | Warehouses if time allows, then the airport
Decide whether you have time for Hakodate's harbour warehouses before travelling to the airport.
- Station-area hotel → Jujigai → warehouses
Take a tram from Hakodate-ekimae towards Yachigashira or Hakodate Dock, get off at Jujigai and walk about 5 minutes towards the waterfront. Warehouse shops open from 09:30, so visit after that. Fit shopping or a meal around the time needed for airport travel.
Tram guideHakodate City tourism guideKanemori: official partial closure in November 2026
- Jujigai tram stop → Yunokawa-bound tram → Hakodate-ekimae
Return to Jujigai and take a Yunokawa-bound tram to Hakodate-ekimae. Collect any hotel-stored luggage first, then go to airport-bound stop 3 outside the station.
- Hakodate Station, stop 3 → Rapid route 8 → Hakodate Airport
Take the airport-bound rapid route 8 bus selected for your date. The direct journey takes about 25 minutes and costs adults 500 yen. Waits, road delays and airline procedures need extra time.
Hakodate Bus: station-to-airport guideOfficial timetable at the station stop
- After arrival at Hakodate Airport → Your airline's departure counter
Follow departure signs to your booked airline's counter. Use the airline's guidance for your date for check-in, baggage drop, security and international departure immigration deadlines.
Check with your airline: airport counter and departure deadlines
Warehouse shops open from 09:30. Skip the visit if you cannot make the return trip before your airport bus. Removing that day's return tram journey reduces the subtotal by 500 yen.
Included: Clock Tower, TV Tower, Mashu Maru, Goryokaku Tower and return ropeway: 5,050 yen + three JR journeys: 12,600 yen + one-way rapid route 8: 500 yen + tram one-day pass: 800 yen + departure-day return tram: 500 yen
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, luggage storage, shopping and Sapporo subway travel are excluded. Confirm final JR prices for your date and seat type on the booking screen. Airport JR uses unreserved seats; the Airport car 4 reserved-seat supplement is excluded. Attraction costs use standard individual admission.
JR costs combine airport to Sapporo 1,230 yen, return Otaru travel 1,600 yen and one-way Hokuto 9,770 yen. Without the ropeway but with the same transport above, the subtotal is 17,650 yen per adult. The displayed subtotal uses rapid route 8. If you switch to the shuttle after checking the actual service, stop and applicable date, add 200 yen for each one-way journey you change.
Clock Tower: official admission, opening and last-entry informationAdmission and hoursAdmission, last entry and closuresAdmission and hoursFares and hoursJR: official access and timetablesStandard JR faresTrains and operations for your travel dateAirport guideOne-day passTram fares · revised 2025-12-01Official service-suspension noticeHakodate Bus: station-to-airport guide
Frequently asked questions
Where should I stay to combine Sapporo and Hakodate?
The combined route has 2 nights in Sapporo, a Hokuto journey to Hakodate and 2 nights there. A flight out of Hakodate Airport avoids returning to New Chitose. Choose your Hokuto service and reserved seat before boarding. A same-day return from Sapporo for Hakodate's night view is not included.
JR: official access and timetablesTrains and operations for your travel dateAirport guideHakodate Bus: station-to-airport guideOfficial timetable at the station stop
Is the Hakodate tram one-day pass always cheaper?
The adult one-day pass costs 800 yen. A return between the station and Jujigai costs 500 yen; a return to Goryokaku-koen-mae costs 540 yen. For either return alone, standard fares are lower. On the route combining Goryokaku and the night view, station → Goryokaku-koen-mae → Jujigai → station costs 810 yen, so the pass saves 10 yen.
Is a JR pass cheaper for the Sapporo–Hakodate route?
The JR total for the 2-night Sapporo and 2-night Hakodate route is 12,600 yen. Without extra JR journeys, individual tickets cost less than the advance-purchase 5-day Hokkaido Rail Pass at 22,000 yen. Distinguish whether a pass covers Hokuto from whether buying it saves money. Secure a Hokuto reserved seat before boarding. City subway, trams, airport buses, ropeway and attraction tickets cost separately. Recheck standard fares and seat conditions for your date.
JR Hokkaido official informationStandard JR faresTrains and operations for your travel dateOne-day passAirport guide
Official sources and dates checked
- Official service-suspension notice ·
- Sapporo tourism guide ·
- Admission and hours ·
- Directions ·
- Facility directions from station exits ·
- Admission and tickets ·
- Korean visitor information ·
- Access ·
- Hours and admission ·
- Main gate and access ·
- Hokkaido official tourism guide ·
- Standard JR fares ·
- Admission and hours ·
- Access ·
- Tram fares · revised 2025-12-01 ·
- Fares and hours ·
- Access map ·
- Lower station floor guide ·
- Hakodate City tourism guide ·
- Admission, last entry and closures ·
- Station-to-boarding-entrance directions ·
- Facility notices for the day ·
- JR: official access and timetables ·
- Airport: JR access guide ·
- Subway route map ·
- Airport guide ·
- Tram guide ·
- JR timetable · revised 2026-03-14 ·
- Trains and operations for your travel date ·
- JR Hokkaido official information ·
- One-day pass ·
- Clock Tower: official admission, opening and last-entry information ·
- Kanemori: official partial closure in November 2026 ·
- Hakodate Bus: station-to-airport guide ·
- Official timetable at the station stop ·
- New Chitose Airport: official floor map dated 2026-09-17 ·
- Shiroi Koibito Park: official facilities and factory visit ·
- Sapporo Clock Tower: official evening-opening notice ·