Hakodate morning market is a fun place to explore, especially if you enjoy seafood. It was just a short walk from our hotel, making it an easy stop in the morning. The market is filled with seafood vendors, small restaurants, and local specialties. Even if you’re not planning to have a full meal, it’s worth wandering through to soak up the atmosphere and see the incredible variety of fresh seafood on display.
The downside is that it felt very tourist-focused, and the prices were noticeably higher than what we found elsewhere in the city. I still think it’s worth visiting to soak in the atmosphere and see the impressive seafood displays, but I’d recommend treating it more as a sightseeing stop than a dining destination. Fun to explore, but not the best value.
A must visit when in Hakodate to experience the fresh seafood. There is squid fishing available in the centre of the market with many stalls selling fresh Hokkaido seafood and produce. Bring cash! Some merchants may take card but many do not.
In the back there are food stalls where you can order fresh cooked seafood and other dishes (rice, noodle soups, other hot foods)
We ordered food from a stall (Araki Store) with a touch screen with credit card payment available. Everything was delicious and fresh. Crab croquette was a bit loose in texture but stuffed with crab meat. Sashimi set was fresh and had lots of variety, this was the best value for your money. Grilled scallops were also hot, huge, juicy and delicious.
Hakodate Morning Market is one of the city’s best-known markets and sits directly next to Hakodate Station, which makes it extremely convenient to visit. It is lively, well-organized, and offers a broad overview of southern Hokkaido’s seafood culture.
The market is clearly tourist-oriented, especially when it comes to ready-made dishes such as kaisendon or seafood grilled on the spot. Prices for these items are often higher than elsewhere in the city. However, this does not mean the market is only a tourist trap. Many stalls sell high-quality regional products—kombu seaweed, salmon roe (ikura), cod roe (mentaiko), dried fish, marinated seafood, and sauces—that are also purchased by locals.
Prices vary from stall to stall. Some products are expensive for what they are, while others are reasonably priced considering the quality and freshness. Vendors are used to visitors, often helpful, and willing to explain unfamiliar products, which makes the market approachable even for first-time visitors to Japan.
Just a five minute walk from Hakodate Station, Hakodate Morning Market offers a wide range of fresh seafood, fruits and Japanese snacks for sale. Try the Kegani (Hokkaido Hairy Crab) from one of the stalls, and steamed for its sweet flavour, fresh taste and firm texture. The freshly grilled squid is another speciality at the market. Outside the morning market are many restaurants offering fresh sashimi and grilled seafood, making this a good place to start off the morning in Hakodate.
In this market, there’s a stall that sells dorayaki, and it is simply the best dorayaki. I came here two days in a row, and had the red bean with butter version. The butter goes so well with red bean. It is diagonally opposite the coffee stall. Order one to go while having a cup of coffee at the nearby coffee stall!
