Where should you spend an extra night on a five-day trip?
For an evening by the canal, stay one night in Otaru, then move to Sapporo for three nights. For Hakodate's night view too, choose two nights in each city. The two-city trip arrives at New Chitose Airport and departs from Hakodate Airport. The Otaru–Sapporo itinerary's garden visit requires an outdoor opening day from April 29 through November 3.
Choose an itinerary for 5 days, 4 nights
One night in Otaru, three in Sapporo
Walk around Otaru Canal into the evening and stay there on the first night. Move to Sapporo the next day, then visit the botanical garden and park during the rest of your stay.
One night in Otaru, three in Sapporo →5 days, 4 nights BTwo nights in Sapporo, two in Hakodate
Arrive through New Chitose Airport, stay 2 nights in Sapporo, and take Hokuto to Hakodate for 2 nights. Combine city sights and the canal with ship exhibits, fort views, and a night view, then depart from Hakodate Airport.
Two nights in Sapporo, two in Hakodate →One night in Otaru, three in Sapporo
Walk around Otaru Canal into the evening and stay there on the first night. Move to Sapporo the next day, then visit the botanical garden and park during the rest of your stay.
Day 1: arrive in Otaru, walk by the canal, and stay overnight
Arrive in Otaru, walk along the canal, and stay the night. If arrival timing allows, see the evening scene with gas lamps and illuminated warehouses. For a late arrival, move the walk to the next morning.
- 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 Otaru Station
Choose an Airport train running directly to Otaru and get off at Otaru Station. If it is not direct, transfer at Sapporo to an Otaru-bound train. Check JR services and stops for your travel date.
Official JR access and timetablesTrain service for your travel dateRegular 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 accommodations
You won’t be taking an evening train to Sapporo, but still finish dinner within your chosen restaurant’s opening hours.
Official Hokkaido tourism informationTrain service for your travel date
For a late arrival, move the canal walk to the next morning.
Day 2: move to Sapporo and explore downtown
Take a morning canal walk if you missed it the previous day.
- Otaru Station → Sapporo-bound JR train → Sapporo Station
After a morning walk, return to Otaru Station and take a Sapporo-bound JR train. From today onward, stay in Sapporo.
- Sapporo Station → Namboku Line to Odori → TV Tower 3rd-floor tickets
Take the Namboku Line toward Makomanai to Odori and head toward exit 27. Walk through the park’s east end and buy tickets on the TV Tower’s 3rd floor. Visit the observation deck for city views, then return downstairs.
Subway route mapGetting thereFares and hoursSapporo tourism information
- Odori Station → Namboku Line toward Asabu → Sapporo Station accommodations
For station-area accommodations, take the Namboku Line one stop toward Asabu from Odori.
From day 2, stay 3 nights at the same Sapporo accommodations. This itinerary does not return to your Otaru accommodations.
Day 3: botanical garden on an open day, then lunch downtown
- Sapporo Station or Odori accommodations → Botanical garden main gate
The botanical garden’s main gate is about a 10-minute walk from JR Sapporo Station’s south exit. From an Odori base, walk about 10 minutes from Odori Station exit 2.
- Botanical garden → Main gate → lunch downtown
Take a morning walk on an outdoor-garden opening day. Leave through the main gate for lunch and a break downtown south of Sapporo Station. There is no restaurant inside the garden.
- Downtown south of Sapporo Station → Your Sapporo accommodations
Return to your booked accommodations after lunch for a break. Follow the exit and walking directions they provide.
Visit the outdoor botanical garden on an open day between April 29 and November 3. The outdoor garden closes in winter, and the glasshouse is currently closed to visitors. Visit the Clock Tower separately on the final morning. If the garden is closed, swap this day with day 4’s park visit.
Day 4: Shiroi Koibito Park’s paid exhibits
- Sapporo Station or Odori accommodations → Tozai Line to Miyanosawa → ticket center
From a Sapporo Station base, take the Namboku Line toward Makomanai to Odori, then transfer to the Tozai Line toward Miyanosawa. Get off at the last stop, walk about 7 minutes to the park, and buy paid-area admission at the ticket center.
- Park’s paid area → Factory tour, exhibits, optional activity, and lunch
Explore the confectionery factory tour and exhibits in the paid area, then have lunch. If you booked a confectionery-making activity, arrange the visit around its time.
Admission and ticketsVisitor information in KoreanOfficial Shiroi Koibito Park facilities and factory viewing
- Shiroi Koibito Park → Miyanosawa Station
After your visit, retrace the roughly 7-minute walk to Miyanosawa Station.
- Miyanosawa Station → Odori Station / your accommodations
Take the Tozai Line toward Shin-Sapporo and get off at Odori. Return to your accommodations here, or take the Namboku Line one more stop toward Asabu for a Sapporo Station base.
Day 5: Clock Tower → New Chitose Airport
Visit the Clock Tower, then travel to New Chitose Airport on the final day.
- Sapporo Station or Odori accommodations → Odori Station City Hall-side exit → Clock Tower
From a Sapporo Station base, take the Namboku Line one stop toward Makomanai to Odori. Walk about 5 minutes from the City Hall-side exit to the Clock Tower and see the interior exhibits after the 08:45 opening.
Subway route mapFacility guide to station exitsOfficial Clock Tower admission, hours, and last entry
- Clock Tower → JR Sapporo Station
After your visit, go to JR Sapporo Station, collecting stored bags at your accommodations first. From Odori, take the Namboku Line one stop toward Asabu; from accommodations near Sapporo Station, walk to the JR station.
- JR Sapporo Station → New Chitose Airport Station / your terminal
Take an Airport train to New Chitose Airport and get off at the last stop. Go up from basement level 1 to the domestic terminal. For an international departure, follow the 2nd-floor connecting walkway to international departures on the 3rd floor.
Official JR access and timetablesAirport guide to JR accessOfficial New Chitose Airport floor map · as of 2026-09-17
The Clock Tower opens at 08:45. Visit on the final morning only if there is enough time for airport travel.
Included: Clock Tower, TV Tower, park paid area, and botanical garden: JPY 3,170 + airport to Otaru: JPY 2,040 + Otaru to Sapporo: JPY 800 + airport-bound train: JPY 1,230
Extra: Flights, accommodations, meals, bag storage, confectionery-making activities, shopping, and Sapporo subway fares. Check final JR prices for your visit date and seat choice on the booking screen. Airport JR costs use nonreserved seating; reserved seating in Airport train car 4 is extra. Attraction costs use standard individual admission.
Changing accommodations does not necessarily lower JR fares. Visit the garden on its spring-to-fall opening days. In winter, skipping it removes JPY 420 admission but leaves less sightseeing on day 3. The glasshouse is currently closed to visitors too. For a 5-day/4-night winter trip, choose another place for day 3 before selecting this itinerary.
Official Clock Tower admission, hours, and last entryFares and hoursAdmission and ticketsHours and admissionOfficial JR access and timetablesRegular JR fares
Two nights in Sapporo, two in Hakodate
Arrive through New Chitose Airport, stay 2 nights in Sapporo, and take Hokuto to Hakodate for 2 nights. Combine city sights and the canal with ship exhibits, fort views, and a night view, then depart from Hakodate Airport.
Day 1: arrive in Sapporo, visit the Clock Tower and TV Tower
Visit the Clock Tower exhibits and TV Tower observation deck on day 1, then Otaru Canal on day 2. Move your base to Hakodate on day 3 and explore Mashu-maru’s interior. See Goryokaku and the night view on day 4.
- 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 to Odori → City Hall-side exit and Clock Tower
Take the Namboku Line toward Makomanai to Odori. Use the City Hall-side exit and walk about 5 minutes to the Clock Tower. Arrive before regular last entry at 17:00. Check official notices separately for evening-opening dates, hours, and access.
Subway route mapFacility guide to station exitsOfficial Clock Tower admission, hours, and last entryOfficial Sapporo Clock Tower evening-opening notice
- Clock Tower and Odori Park → TV Tower 3rd-floor tickets and visit
Walk through the park’s east end, then buy an observation-deck ticket on the TV Tower’s 3rd floor and visit the deck.
- Odori Station → Namboku Line toward Asabu → Sapporo Station accommodations
Take the Namboku Line toward Asabu from Odori back to your Sapporo Station accommodations. A station-area base makes it easier to board the limited express on day 3.
If you arrive too late for Clock Tower last entry, skip its interior on day 1. Day 2 is for Otaru, so don’t add sightseeing in both cities to that day.
Day 2: Otaru Canal walk and lunch → Sapporo
- Sapporo Station → JR Otaru Station
Take an Otaru-bound JR train and get off at Otaru Station.
- 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 excluded.
- Otaru Station → JR Sapporo Station → station-area accommodations
As you’ll take a limited express to Hakodate the next day, return from Otaru by a Sapporo-bound JR train and rest at your accommodations rather than staying late.
Day 3: Hokuto to Hakodate, then Mashu-maru
Take Hokuto to Hakodate and visit Mashu-maru. Choose a train that leaves enough time to arrive and explore before last entry.
- Sapporo accommodations → JR Sapporo Station
Go to Sapporo Station and check the time and platform of your booked Hakodate-bound Hokuto. Allow time to walk from your accommodations and reach the platform.
- Sapporo Station → Your reserved Hokuto → Hakodate Station
Board your reserved Hakodate-bound Hokuto and get off at Hakodate. The standard adult fare for an ordinary-class reserved seat is JPY 9,770. All Hokuto seats require reservations; choose a service and seat for your date before boarding.
JR timetable · revised 2026-03-14Train service for your travel dateRegular 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. A stop at your accommodations first takes extra time.
- Building beside Mashu-maru → Stairs → 2nd-floor boarding entrance and visit
In the building beside the ivory-and-blue hull, take the stairs to the 2nd-floor boarding entrance and buy a ticket. Adult admission is JPY 500. Last entry is 17:00 in April–October and 16:00 in November–March. There is no elevator, so this visit is unsuitable for companions who cannot use stairs.
From the station to the boarding entranceAdmission, last entry, and closures
- Inside Mashu-maru → Boarding stairs → waterfront northwest of the station
Explore the ship exhibits and wheelhouse, then descend the stairs used to board. Look at the hull from the waterfront as you walk toward the station.
Same-day facility noticesFrom the station to the boarding entrance
- Waterfront northwest of the station → Dinner near Hakodate Station → accommodations
Have dinner near Hakodate Station and return to your booked accommodations. With Goryokaku and the night view planned for tomorrow, finish today near the station.
Same-day facility noticesFrom the station to the boarding entrance
Boarding Mashu-maru requires stairs. Skip the visit if stairs are difficult or you cannot arrive with enough time before last entry. Check ship-inspection and temporary-closure notices too.
Day 4: Goryokaku, then Hakodate’s night view
- Hakodate Station → Goryokaku-Koen-Mae tram stop → tower 1st-floor tickets
Standard tram fares for the three rides—station to Goryokaku-Koen-Mae, then Jujigai, then the station—total JPY 810. If using the JPY 800 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 1st-floor counter. Visit the deck for the star-shaped fort view, then return downstairs.
Tram informationAccessAdmission and hoursTram fares · revised 2025-12-01One-day pass
- Goryokaku area → Lunch → tram to Jujigai
Have lunch nearby, then take a tram toward Yachigashira or Hakodate Dock to 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 5: warehouses if time allows, then the airport
Decide whether to visit Hakodate’s harbor warehouses before heading to the airport.
- Station-area accommodations → Jujigai → warehouses
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: Clock Tower, TV Tower, Mashu-maru, Goryokaku Tower, and round-trip ropeway: JPY 5,050 + three JR journeys: JPY 12,600 + one-way rapid route 8: JPY 500 + tram day pass: JPY 800 + departure-day tram round trip: JPY 500
Extra: Flights, accommodations, meals, bag storage, shopping, and Sapporo subway fares. Check final JR prices for your travel date and seat choice on the booking screen. Airport JR uses nonreserved seating; reserved seating in Airport train car 4 costs extra. Attraction costs use standard individual admission.
JR costs combine airport to Sapporo JPY 1,230, Otaru round trip JPY 1,600, and one-way Hokuto JPY 9,770. Keeping the listed transportation but skipping the ropeway gives a subtotal of JPY 17,650 per adult. The subtotal uses rapid route 8. Switching to a shuttle after checking the actual service, stop, and applicable date adds JPY 200 for each one-way ride replaced.
Official Clock Tower admission, hours, and last entryFares and hoursAdmission, last entry, and closuresAdmission and hoursFares and hoursOfficial JR access and timetablesRegular JR faresTrain service for your travel dateAirport access informationOne-day passTram fares · revised 2025-12-01Official service-suspension noticeHakodate Bus: station to airport
Frequently asked questions
Where should I stay to visit both Sapporo and Hakodate?
The two-city itinerary has two nights in Sapporo, followed by a Hokuto train to Hakodate for two nights. A flight departing from Hakodate Airport avoids backtracking to New Chitose. Choose your travel-date Hokuto departure and reserve your seat before boarding. These itineraries do not include a same-day round trip from Sapporo for Hakodate's night view.
Official JR access and timetablesTrain service for your travel dateAirport access informationHakodate Bus: station to airportOfficial station bus-stop timetable
Is a Hakodate tram day pass always cheaper?
An adult day pass costs JPY 800. A round trip between the station and Jujigai costs JPY 500, and a round trip between the station and Goryokaku-koen-mae costs JPY 540, so regular fares are cheaper for either trip alone. On the itinerary combining Goryokaku and the night view, the three rides—station to Goryokaku-koen-mae, then Jujigai, then the station—total JPY 810, making the pass JPY 10 cheaper.
Is a JR pass cheaper for the Sapporo–Hakodate itinerary?
The itinerary with two nights each in Sapporo and Hakodate has a JR subtotal of JPY 12,600. Without extra JR travel, regular tickets cost less than the advance-purchase JPY 22,000 five-day Hokkaido Rail Pass. Check both whether a pass covers Hokuto and whether it saves money. Reserve your Hokuto seat before boarding. City subway and tram fares, airport buses, the ropeway, and attraction admission are separate. Recheck regular fares and seat conditions for your travel date.
Official JR Hokkaido informationRegular JR faresTrain service for your travel dateOne-day passAirport access information
Official sources and dates checked
- Official service-suspension notice ·
- Sapporo tourism information ·
- Fares and hours ·
- Getting there ·
- Facility guide to station exits ·
- Admission and tickets ·
- Visitor information in Korean ·
- Access ·
- Hours and admission ·
- Main gate and access ·
- 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 ·
- Admission, last entry, and closures ·
- From the station to the boarding entrance ·
- Same-day facility notices ·
- Official JR access and timetables ·
- Airport guide to JR access ·
- Subway route map ·
- Airport access information ·
- Tram information ·
- JR timetable · revised 2026-03-14 ·
- Train service for your travel date ·
- Official JR Hokkaido information ·
- One-day pass ·
- Official Clock Tower admission, hours, and last entry ·
- Official Kanemori partial closure in November 2026 ·
- Hakodate Bus: station to airport ·
- Official station bus-stop timetable ·
- Official New Chitose Airport floor map · as of 2026-09-17 ·
- Official Shiroi Koibito Park facilities and factory viewing ·
- Official Sapporo Clock Tower evening-opening notice ·