Transport in Hakodate

If you're thinking of traveling between cities, especially from Hakodate to Sapporo, this is a great deal. Just the round trip is almost the cost of the pass, and the remaining days are a bonus. This time, there's a bundled ticket: the "Have fun in Hokkaido Pass," which lets you choose 3 locations for 4xx baht, which is about 2000 yen. It's very cheap. You can enter participating locations and get discounts. For the first location, we chose Asahiyama Zoo, but you have to exchange the ticket at Asahikawa Station. They'll give you a package of tickets. There's an Information & Product Center on the far right side of the station (opposite AEON Mall). The entry fee is 1000 yen + a food discount ticket for 800 yen for cafes or restaurants in the zoo or around the zoo, because we also used it at a cafe outside (across from the zoo) + a 10% discount coupon for restaurants or gift shops in that area. It's worth it. The second location was Sapporo TV Tower, with an entry fee of 1000 yen. We were going to go to the third location (Mount Moiwa, the ropeway costs 2200 yen), but we didn't because we were tired and there was a snowstorm on the day we were going to go. But it was still worth the cost of the ticket.

Easy booking through Klook. Super easy redemption at the airport. Seat reservation: No problem at the machine. But not always necessary, sometimes we just rode in the unreserved car. Staff always very friendly. We used it in Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Hiroshima. Everything worked out great.

This trip's itinerary is: Day 1: Narita Airport to Tokyo Station via Narita Express (N'EX), then transfer to the Shinkansen to Yamagata Station. Day 2: Yamagata → Shinjo → Oishida → Yamagata. Originally planned to take a boat tour on the Mogami River, but due to heavy snow, we turned back and went to Ginzan Onsen. Day 3: Took the cable car to Zao in the morning, then took the Shinkansen in the afternoon from Yamagata → Fukushima → Sendai → Tazawako. Day 4: Rode the Tazawako Lake Loop Bus, then took the train from Tazawako → Morioka → Shin-Aomori (Shin-Aomori → Aomori section of the JR line was suspended due to heavy snow, so we took a bus into the city). Day 5: Sightseeing in Aomori city. Shin-Aomori → Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto → Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto → Hakodate (JR Pass, Hakodate Liner is also usable!). Took the cable car up Mount Hakodate to see the night view. Day 6: Strolled around Hakodate city. Hakodate → Toya (Hokuto Limited Express) → Toya Ekimae → Lake Toya Onsen (bus). Enjoyed the Lake Toya Winter Festival Illumination and Musical Fireworks at night, it was incredibly beautiful.

When planning your itinerary, calculate whether the JR Pass is cost-effective for taking the Shinkansen and trains. For subways, trains, and buses, you'll need a Suica card, which is also convenient! You don't have to buy tickets before each trip on the Shinkansen, and you'll also need to buy reserved seats for the Shinkansen! The JR Pass can be used as a single card, which is very convenient for visiting various remote attractions!