Where should you spend the middle day of a three-day trip?
With two nights in Sapporo, visit Otaru Canal on day two. With two nights in Hakodate, give the night view and Goryokaku separate days. Choose your airport train or bus first on the last day, then use any remaining time for nearby attractions.
Choose an itinerary for 3 days, 2 nights
Stay in Sapporo, spend a day in Otaru
Visit Otaru Canal for a day without changing your Sapporo accommodations. See Sapporo’s TV Tower on departure day.
Stay in Sapporo, spend a day in Otaru →3 days, 2 nights BHakodate harbor and Goryokaku
Stay 2 nights near Hakodate Station and see the night view and Goryokaku on separate days. Choose this for time to have lunch near Goryokaku and walk in the park. Visit the warehouses on the final day only if airport travel allows.
Hakodate harbor and Goryokaku →Stay in Sapporo, spend a day in Otaru
Visit Otaru Canal for a day without changing your Sapporo accommodations. See Sapporo’s TV Tower on departure day.
Day 1: Clock Tower and Odori Park after arrival
Start with a look at Sapporo’s past inside the Clock Tower, then walk through Odori Park. Visit Otaru Canal on day 2. Save the TV Tower for the final day only if there is enough time before the airport journey.
- New Chitose Airport arrivals → JR signs in the domestic terminal
For international arrivals, complete immigration and baggage collection, then use the 2nd-floor connecting walkway to the domestic terminal. For a domestic arrival, follow the terminal’s JR signs.
- 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 a train are extra to the train ride.
- New Chitose Airport Station → JR Sapporo Station
Take an Airport train toward Sapporo and get off at Sapporo Station. Reserved seating adds a seat charge to the nonreserved fare.
- Sapporo Station → Namboku Line toward Makomanai → Odori
Take the Namboku Line toward Makomanai and get off one stop later at Odori. If starting from Odori accommodations, walk from the station area to the Clock Tower.
- Odori Station exit toward City Hall → Clock Tower → park and dinner
Walk about 5 minutes from Odori Station’s City Hall-side exit and visit the Clock Tower’s interior first. If you miss regular last entry at 17:00, view the exterior and skip the interior. Walk through the park’s east end and have dinner downtown. Check official notices separately for evening-opening dates, hours, and access.
Facility guide to station exitsOfficial Clock Tower admission, hours, and last entrySapporo tourism informationFares and hoursOfficial Sapporo Clock Tower evening-opening notice
- Odori Station → Namboku Line toward Asabu → Sapporo Station accommodations
For accommodations near Sapporo Station, take the Namboku Line toward Asabu from Odori.
Regular Clock Tower hours are 08:45–17:10, with last entry at 17:00. It closes January 1–3. Skip the interior if you arrive after last entry. The final day is for the TV Tower followed by the airport, so don’t add the Clock Tower then.
Ticket choice: if you can visit the Clock Tower’s interior on day 1 and the TV Tower on day 3, compare the JPY 1,300 adult combined ticket at the Clock Tower counter. Check date-specific opening arrangements and time for departure procedures first. Don’t buy it if you will skip either attraction. The cost notes below give sale and validity periods and the combined-ticket subtotal.
Day 2: Otaru Canal walk → return to Sapporo
- Sapporo Station → JR Otaru Station → canal
Take a JR train toward Otaru. The canal is about a 10-minute walk from Otaru Station.
Official Hokkaido tourism informationTrain service for your travel date
- Otaru Canal and station area → Walk, lunch, and check the return time
Walk along the canal and choose lunch near the canal or station. If staying into the evening, check restaurant hours alongside your return JR service to Sapporo.
Official Hokkaido tourism informationTrain service for your travel date
- Otaru Station → JR Sapporo Station → accommodations
For the return, take a Sapporo-bound train from Otaru. A paid canal cruise is not included in this itinerary.
Train service for your travel dateOfficial Hokkaido tourism information
Day 3: TV Tower → New Chitose Airport
View the city from the TV Tower, then travel to New Chitose Airport on the final day.
- From Sapporo Station accommodations to the tower → Namboku Line Sapporo Station
Follow your accommodations’ exit and walking directions to Sapporo Station on the Namboku Line. Distinguish the subway station from JR Sapporo Station.
Confirm with your booked Sapporo Station accommodations: walking directions to the Namboku Line station
- Namboku Line Sapporo Station → Toward Makomanai → Odori
Take a train toward Makomanai and get off one stop later at Odori. Continue with the station-to-tower directions below.
- From Odori accommodations to the tower → Odori Station and Aurora Town
Enter through the entrance nearest your accommodations and head toward Odori Station and Aurora Town.
Confirm with your booked Odori accommodations: walking directions to Odori Station and Aurora Town
- Odori Station and Aurora Town → Prepare tickets on the TV Tower’s 3rd floor
Use exit 27, enter the nearby tower, and go to the 3rd-floor ticket counter. Show the combined ticket bought on day 1, or buy an adult individual ticket for JPY 1,200.
- TV Tower, 3rd floor → Visit the deck, then head toward Odori Station
View the city and park from the observation deck, return downstairs, and head back toward exit 27. Finish in time for your airport JR train.
- TV Tower and Odori → Your accommodations / JR Sapporo Station
From Odori, take the Namboku Line one stop toward Asabu, get off at Sapporo, and go to the JR station. Collect bags stored in Odori before boarding the subway; collect bags stored near Sapporo Station after getting off there. Include the bag-pickup trip in your airport travel time.
- JR Sapporo Station → Airport train to New Chitose Airport → airport station
Take the New Chitose Airport-bound train checked for your date and get off at the last stop. The adult one-way nonreserved fare is listed as JPY 1,230; check the official fare or on-site display for your date. Airport train reserved seating in car 4 costs extra.
- 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 flight, follow the domestic departure steps below. For an international flight, continue along the 2nd-floor connecting walkway.
Airport guide to JR accessOfficial New Chitose Airport floor map · as of 2026-09-17
- Domestic departure: domestic terminal, 2nd floor → Airline counter and security
Go to your booked airline’s counter. Follow its date-specific deadlines for check-in, baggage drop, security, and arrival at the gate.
Confirm with your booked airline: domestic departure counter and procedure deadlines
- International departure: domestic terminal, 2nd floor → 2nd-floor connecting walkway → international terminal
Follow the 2nd-floor walkway toward the international terminal. After leaving the airport station, allow separate time to walk between terminals.
- International terminal, 2nd floor → 3rd-floor departures
Follow departure signs up to the 3rd floor. Check the airport guide for your travel date to locate your airline’s counter.
- International terminal, 3rd floor → Airline counter and international departure procedures
Go to your booked airline’s counter. Allow time for check-in, baggage drop, security, departure immigration, and reaching the gate according to the airline’s date-specific instructions.
Confirm with your booked airline: international departure counter and procedure deadlines
The TV Tower opens at 09:00. Don’t move Otaru to departure day. Costs change if you skip an attraction or choose different tickets.
Included: Clock Tower and TV Tower: JPY 1,550 + round-trip airport JR: JPY 2,460 + round-trip Otaru JR: JPY 1,600
Extra: Flights, accommodations, meals, bag storage, shopping, and Sapporo subway fares. Check the date-specific nonreserved fares for airport and Otaru JR journeys on official fare tables or on-site displays. Airport train reserved seating in car 4 requires an extra seat charge; check reservation conditions too. Standard attraction costs use individual admission.
If you can use the combined ticket, the subtotal is JPY 5,360 per adult: Clock Tower and TV Tower combined ticket JPY 1,300 + round-trip airport JR JPY 2,460 + round-trip Otaru JR JPY 1,600. The same exclusions, including city subways, apply.
The combined ticket is sold on the TV Tower’s 3rd floor and at the Clock Tower. Sales run April 1, 2026–March 31, 2027; validity runs from purchase through March 31, 2027. You can show a ticket bought at the Clock Tower on day 1 at the TV Tower on day 3.
Use this alternative subtotal only if you can visit both within that period. An individual ticket already bought on day 1 cannot later be counted at the combined-ticket price. If you skip a place or it is closed, recalculate using the tickets and journeys actually used.
Official Clock Tower admission, hours, and last entryFares and hoursOfficial JR access and timetablesRegular JR fares
Hakodate harbor and Goryokaku
Stay 2 nights near Hakodate Station and see the night view and Goryokaku on separate days. Choose this for time to have lunch near Goryokaku and walk in the park. Visit the warehouses on the final day only if airport travel allows.
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 evening’s summit visit around ropeway operating dates and your arrival time.
- Hakodate Airport arrivals → Airport bus stop 2
After baggage collection, use an exit near arrivals and go to stop 2. Check the station-bound rapid route 8 timetable for your date.
Hakodate Bus: airport to stationOfficial airport bus-stop timetable
- Airport bus stop 2 → Hakodate Station
Take rapid route 8 toward Hakodate Station and get off outside the station. The direct ride takes about 25 minutes and costs JPY 500 per adult; waiting and road delays are extra.
- Hakodate Station → Jujigai tram stop
Take a tram from the station toward Yachigashira or Hakodate Dock and get off at Jujigai.
- Jujigai tram stop → Ropeway lower station
Walk uphill about 10 minutes to the lower station. On suspension days, choose a harbor walk instead of going up.
- Lower station, 1st floor → 3rd-floor boarding lobby
Buy a round-trip ticket on the 1st floor and go to the 3rd-floor boarding lobby. Adult round-trip admission is JPY 1,800; ticketing and boarding waits are extra.
- Lower station, 3rd floor → Summit observation area
Take the ropeway to the summit station and view the city and sea from the observation area. The ride takes about 3 minutes. Finish in time for the last downhill ride and return tram.
- Summit station → Lower station
Take the downhill ropeway to the lower station. Leave time for on-site waiting rather than staying until just before the last ride.
- Lower station → Jujigai tram stop
Retrace your route downhill to Jujigai tram stop.
- Jujigai tram stop → Hakodate Station / your accommodations
Take a Yunokawa-bound tram to Hakodate Station and return to your accommodations. Use the same tram direction after a harbor walk on a suspension day.
Check ropeway maintenance suspensions in the attraction information below and official notices. On suspension days, walk about 5 minutes from Jujigai toward the waterfront instead of visiting the summit. Return on a Yunokawa-bound tram from Jujigai.
Day 2: Goryokaku, lunch, and a park walk
- Hakodate Station → Goryokaku-Koen-Mae tram stop → tower 1st-floor tickets
Take a Yunokawa-bound tram to Goryokaku-Koen-Mae. Walk about 10 minutes to the tower and buy your ticket at the 1st-floor counter.
- Goryokaku Tower → Lunch → park walk
After enjoying the tower view, walk toward Goryokaku Park and have lunch nearby. Return after your walk to the Goryokaku-Koen-Mae tram stop used on arrival. If lunch and walking take longer, recheck your return tram time.
- Goryokaku-Koen-Mae tram stop → Hakodate Station tram stop → accommodations
From Goryokaku-Koen-Mae, take a tram toward Yachigashira or Hakodate Dock. This stop is different from JR Goryokaku Station. Get off at Hakodate Station and return to your accommodations.
Day 3: warehouses if time allows, then the airport
If there is time before your flight, visit the harbor warehouses and then head to Hakodate Airport.
- Hakodate Station → Jujigai tram stop → warehouse walks and shopping
From Hakodate Station, take a tram toward Yachigashira or Hakodate Dock to Jujigai, then walk about 5 minutes toward the waterfront. Warehouse shops open at 09:30, so visit after that time. Plan shopping or meals around the time needed to reach the airport.
Tram informationHakodate city tourism informationOfficial Kanemori partial closure in November 2026
- Jujigai tram stop → Yunokawa-bound tram → Hakodate Station
Return to Jujigai and take a Yunokawa-bound tram to Hakodate Station. Collect stored bags at your accommodations first, then go to airport-bound bus stop 3 outside the station.
- Hakodate Station bus stop 3 → Rapid route 8 → Hakodate Airport
Take the airport-bound rapid route 8 checked for your date. The direct ride takes about 25 minutes and costs JPY 500 per adult. Waiting, road delays, and airline procedures need extra time.
Hakodate Bus: station to airportOfficial station bus-stop timetable
- After arriving at Hakodate Airport → Your booked airline’s departure counter
Follow airport departure signs to your airline’s counter. Check-in, baggage-drop, security, and international departure-immigration deadlines follow your airline’s instructions for your travel date.
Confirm with your booked airline: airport counter and departure-procedure deadlines
Warehouse shops open at 09:30. Skip the visit if the round trip will not fit before your airport bus. Omitting that day’s tram round trip reduces the subtotal by JPY 500.
Included: Goryokaku Tower and round-trip ropeway: JPY 3,000 + round-trip rapid route 8: JPY 1,000 + tram round trips over three days: JPY 1,540
Extra: Flights, accommodations, meals, bag storage, and shopping. Transportation costs change if you alter the visit order or journey sections. Attraction costs use standard individual admission.
The tram total adds JPY 500 for a departure-day Jujigai round trip to JPY 1,040 for the first two days. If the ropeway is suspended, switch to a harbor walk; the only attraction admission is JPY 1,200 for the tower. Keeping the listed transportation gives a subtotal of JPY 3,740 per adult. The listed subtotal uses rapid route 8. Switching to a shuttle after checking the actual service, stop, and applicable date adds JPY 200 per one-way ride replaced.
Admission and hoursFares and hoursAirport access informationTram fares · revised 2025-12-01Official service-suspension noticeHakodate Bus: airport to stationHakodate Bus: station to airport
Frequently asked questions
Does a Sapporo subway day pass cover Otaru or the airport?
No. The subway day pass and Donichika ticket cover only the Sapporo subway. These itineraries use JR trains for the airport and Otaru, with separate fares.
Official subway day passesOfficial JR access and timetablesRegular JR fares
Do I change hotels on the Otaru day-trip day?
No. Keep the same Sapporo hotel for the Otaru day trip. Take JR to Otaru Station, walk about 10 minutes to the canal, and return from the same station toward Sapporo. To stay through dinner, check restaurant hours alongside the return trains for your date.
Official Hokkaido tourism informationOfficial JR access and timetablesTrain service for your travel date
Official sources and dates checked
- Official service-suspension notice ·
- Sapporo tourism information ·
- Fares and hours ·
- Getting there ·
- Facility guide to station exits ·
- Official Hokkaido tourism information ·
- Regular JR fares ·
- Admission and hours ·
- Access ·
- Tram fares · revised 2025-12-01 ·
- Fares and hours ·
- Access map ·
- Lower-station floor guide ·
- Hakodate city tourism information ·
- Official JR access and timetables ·
- Airport guide to JR access ·
- Subway route map ·
- Airport access information ·
- Tram information ·
- Train service for your travel date ·
- Official subway day passes ·
- Official Clock Tower admission, hours, and last entry ·
- Official Kanemori partial closure in November 2026 ·
- Hakodate Bus: airport to station ·
- Hakodate Bus: station to airport ·
- Official airport bus-stop timetable ·
- Official station bus-stop timetable ·
- Official New Chitose Airport floor map · as of 2026-09-17 ·
- Official Sapporo Clock Tower evening-opening notice ·