Where should you spend the middle day of a three-day trip?

Day 1 | Clock Tower and Odori Park after arrival

Visit the Clock Tower for a look at Sapporo’s past, then walk in Odori Park. Day 2 is for Otaru Canal. Visit the TV Tower on the final day only if you have enough time before airport travel.

1. New Chitose Airport arrivals hall → JR signs in the domestic terminal

   For an international arrival, complete immigration and baggage collection, then take the 2nd-floor connecting passage to the domestic terminal. For a domestic arrival, start by following the JR signs inside your terminal.

   Official New Chitose Airport floor maps · as of 2026-09-172026-10-09

2. Domestic terminal → New Chitose Airport Station, basement level 1

   Follow JR signs down to New Chitose Airport Station on basement level 1. Travel between terminals and waiting for trains are excluded from the ride time.

   Airport guide to JR access2026-10-08

3. New Chitose Airport Station → JR Sapporo Station

   Take an Airport train towards Sapporo and get off at Sapporo Station. Choosing a reserved seat adds a seat supplement to the non-reserved fare.

   Official JR access and timetables2026-10-08Standard JR fares2026-10-09

4. Sapporo Station → Namboku Line towards Makomanai → Odori Station

   Take a Namboku Line train towards Makomanai and get off one stop later at Odori. If starting at an Odori hotel, walk from the station area to the Clock Tower.

   Subway route map2026-10-08

5. Odori Station exit towards City Hall → Clock Tower → park and dinner

   Walk about 5 minutes from Odori Station’s City Hall-side exit and visit the Clock Tower indoors first. If standard last admission at 17:00 has passed, see the outside and skip the interior. Walk through the east side of the park and eat in the city centre. Check separate official notices for hours and the areas open on evening-opening dates.

   Facility’s station exit information2026-10-08Official Clock Tower admission, fees, opening and closing times2026-10-09Sapporo tourism guide2026-10-08Fees and opening hours2026-10-09Official Sapporo Clock Tower evening-opening notice2026-10-09

6. Odori Station → Namboku Line towards Asabu → Sapporo Station hotel

   For a hotel near Sapporo Station, take the Namboku Line towards Asabu from Odori.

   Subway route map2026-10-08

Day 2 | Otaru Canal and return to Sapporo

1. Sapporo Station → JR Otaru Station → canal

   Take a JR train towards Otaru. The canal is about a 10-minute walk from Otaru Station.

   Official Hokkaido tourism guide2026-10-08Train and service information for your travel date2026-10-08

2. Otaru Canal and station area → Walk, have lunch and check your return time

   Walk along the canal and choose lunch near the canal or station. To stay into the evening, check both restaurant hours and the JR train back to Sapporo.

   Official Hokkaido tourism guide2026-10-08Train and service information for your travel date2026-10-08

3. Otaru Station → JR Sapporo Station → hotel

   For the return, board a Sapporo-bound train at Otaru Station. A paid canal cruise is not included in this itinerary.

   Train and service information for your travel date2026-10-08Official Hokkaido tourism guide2026-10-08

Day 3 | TV Tower, then New Chitose Airport

On the final day, enjoy the city view from the TV Tower before travelling to New Chitose Airport.

1. From a Sapporo Station hotel to the tower → Namboku Line Sapporo Station

   Follow your hotel’s recommended exit and walking route to Namboku Line Sapporo Station. Distinguish the subway station from JR Sapporo Station.

   Check with: your Sapporo Station hotel for the walk to the Namboku Line station

2. Namboku Line Sapporo Station → Train towards Makomanai → Odori Station

   Take a train towards Makomanai and get off one stop later at Odori. Continue with the route from Odori Station to the tower below.

   Subway route map2026-10-08

3. From an Odori hotel to the tower → Odori Station and Aurora Town

   Use an entrance near your hotel and head towards Odori Station and Aurora Town.

   Check with: your Odori hotel for the walk to Odori Station and Aurora Town

4. Odori Station and Aurora Town → Prepare your ticket on the TV Tower’s 3rd floor

   Leave through entrance 27, enter the nearby tower and go to the 3rd-floor ticket counter. Show the combined ticket bought on day 1, or buy a separate adult ticket for JPY 1,200.

   Getting there2026-10-08Fees and opening hours2026-10-09

5. TV Tower, 3rd floor → Observation deck visit, then back towards Odori Station

   Enjoy views of the city and park from the deck, then come down and return towards entrance 27. Finish the visit in time for your airport JR train.

   Fees and opening hours2026-10-09Getting there2026-10-08

6. TV Tower and Odori → Your hotel and JR Sapporo Station

   Take the Namboku Line towards Asabu from Odori, get off one stop later at Sapporo and head to JR. Collect bags stored at an Odori hotel before boarding the subway; collect bags near Sapporo Station after getting off there. Include the luggage collection trip in your airport travel time.

   Subway route map2026-10-08

7. JR Sapporo Station → Airport train to New Chitose Airport → airport station

   Take the New Chitose Airport-bound train checked for your travel date and get off at the final stop. The adult non-reserved one-way fare is JPY 1,230; check the official fare or station display for your date. Reserved seats in car 4 cost extra.

   Official JR access and timetables2026-10-08Standard JR fares2026-10-09

8. New Chitose Airport Station, basement level 1 → Domestic terminal, 2nd floor

   Follow airport signs up to the domestic terminal’s 2nd floor. For a domestic departure, follow the domestic procedures below. For an international departure, continue along the 2nd-floor connecting passage.

   Airport guide to JR access2026-10-08Official New Chitose Airport floor maps · as of 2026-09-172026-10-09

9. For domestic departures: domestic terminal, 2nd floor → Airline counter and security

   Go to your airline’s counter. Follow its guidance for your travel date on check-in, baggage drop, security and the deadline for reaching the gate.

   Check with: your airline for the domestic departure counter and formalities deadlines

10. For international departures: domestic terminal, 2nd floor → 2nd-floor connecting passage → international terminal

    Follow the 2nd-floor connecting passage to the international terminal. Allow separate time after leaving the airport station to walk between the terminals.

    Official New Chitose Airport floor maps · as of 2026-09-172026-10-09

11. International terminal, 2nd floor → Departures, 3rd floor

    Follow departures signs up to the 3rd floor. Check the airport guide for your travel date to find your airline’s counter.

    Official New Chitose Airport floor maps · as of 2026-09-172026-10-09

12. International terminal, 3rd floor → Airline counter and departure formalities

    Go to your airline’s counter. Follow its guidance for your travel date on time for check-in, baggage drop, security, departure immigration and reaching the gate.

    Check with: your airline for the international departure counter and formalities deadlines

Day 1 | Arrive in Hakodate and see the night view

See Hakodate’s night view and Goryokaku’s star-shaped fort on separate days. Plan the first day’s summit visit around ropeway operation and your arrival time.

1. Hakodate Airport arrivals hall → Airport bus stop 2

   Collect your bags, leave through an exit near arrivals and go to stop 2. Check the station-bound Rapid route 8 timetable for your travel date.

   Hakodate Bus: airport to station2026-10-08Official airport bus-stop timetable2026-10-08

2. Airport bus stop 2 → Outside Hakodate Station

   Take Rapid route 8 towards Hakodate Station and get off outside the station. The direct ride takes about 25 minutes and costs JPY 500 for an adult. Waiting and road delays are extra.

   Hakodate Bus: airport to station2026-10-08Airport guide2026-10-08

3. Outside Hakodate Station → Jujigai tram stop

   From outside the station, take a tram towards Yachigashira or Hakodate-Dock-mae and get off at Jujigai.

   Tram guide2026-10-08

4. Jujigai tram stop → Ropeway lower station

   Walk uphill for about 10 minutes to the lower ropeway station. On suspension days, choose a harbour walk without making the ascent.

   Access map2026-10-08Official service suspension notice2026-10-08

5. Lower station, 1st floor → Boarding lobby, 3rd floor

   Buy a return ticket on the 1st floor and go to the 3rd-floor boarding lobby. An adult return costs JPY 1,800; allow extra time for tickets and boarding queues.

   Lower ropeway station floor guide2026-10-08Fares and times2026-10-08

6. Lower station, 3rd floor → Summit observation deck

   Take the ropeway to the summit station and enjoy city and sea views from the deck. The ride takes about 3 minutes. Finish in time for the last descent and your return tram.

   Fares and times2026-10-08Access map2026-10-08Tram guide2026-10-08

7. Summit station → Lower station

   Take the ropeway down to the lower station. Leave time for queues rather than staying until just before the last descent.

   Fares and times2026-10-08

8. Lower station → Jujigai tram stop

   Follow the same route downhill to Jujigai tram stop.

   Access map2026-10-08

9. Jujigai tram stop → Hakodate Station and your hotel

   Take a tram towards Yunokawa, get off at Hakodate Station and return to your hotel. Use the same tram direction after a harbour walk on ropeway suspension days.

   Tram guide2026-10-08

Day 2 | Goryokaku, lunch and a park walk

1. Outside Hakodate Station → Goryokaku-koen-mae tram stop → tower’s 1st-floor tickets

   Take a tram towards Yunokawa to Goryokaku-koen-mae. Walk about 10 minutes to the tower and buy a ticket at the 1st-floor counter.

   Tram guide2026-10-08Access2026-10-08Fees and hours2026-10-08

2. Goryokaku Tower → Lunch → park walk

   After the tower views, walk towards Goryokaku Park and have lunch nearby. Return after your walk to Goryokaku-koen-mae, the tram stop used on arrival. Recheck return tram times if you spend longer at lunch and in the park.

   Fees and hours2026-10-08Access2026-10-08

3. Goryokaku-koen-mae tram stop → Tram to Hakodate Station → hotel

   From Goryokaku-koen-mae, take a tram towards Yachigashira or Hakodate-Dock-mae. This is a different location from JR Goryokaku Station. Get off at Hakodate Station and return to your hotel.

   Tram guide2026-10-08Access2026-10-08

Day 3 | Warehouses if time allows, then the airport

If your flight time allows, visit the harbour warehouses before heading to Hakodate Airport.

1. Outside Hakodate Station → Tram to Jujigai → warehouse walk and shopping

   Take a tram from Hakodate Station towards Yachigashira or Hakodate-Dock-mae, get off at Jujigai and walk towards the waterfront for about 5 minutes. Warehouse shops open from 09:30. Plan shopping and meals around the time needed for airport travel.

   Tram guide2026-10-08Hakodate City tourism guide2026-10-08Official Kanemori partial closures in November 20262026-10-08

2. Jujigai tram stop → Tram towards Yunokawa → Hakodate Station

   Return to Jujigai, take a tram towards Yunokawa and get off at Hakodate Station. Collect any bags stored at your hotel before going to airport-bound bus stop 3 outside the station.

   Tram guide2026-10-08

3. Stop 3 outside Hakodate Station → Rapid route 8 → Hakodate Airport

   Take the airport-bound Rapid route 8 service chosen for your travel date. The direct ride takes about 25 minutes and costs JPY 500 for an adult. Allow separate time for waiting, road delays and airline formalities.

   Hakodate Bus: station to airport2026-10-08Official station-front bus-stop timetable2026-10-08

4. After arriving at Hakodate Airport → Your airline’s departure counter

   Follow departures signs to your airline’s counter. Follow the airline’s guidance for your travel date on deadlines for check-in, baggage drop, security and international departure immigration.

   Check with: your airline’s airport counter and check-in deadline information