Hakodate Morning Market
Hakodate Morning Market
4
Flea & Street Markets
Read more
Write a review
About
Start your day with a domburi breakfast (cooked rice with another type of food on top) at a restaurant in this morning market, which features stalls with fresh seafood and produce
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.

Top ways to experience Hakodate Morning Market and nearby attractions

See what other travelers are saying
  • ZenDark30
    Portland, Oregon2,396 contributions
    Honestly Fish For Your Breakfast
    The line to catch your own squid and have it deftly sliced by a woman who feeds hundreds of tourists a day is one of the popular attractions at the market. Other proprietors use samples, hand cut machines and cat calls to lure visitors. Needless to say we were enamored by the creativity of the vendors. The pancake squid apparatus was especially intriguing. Giant squid are pancakes in a two step process and come out of a rolling machine transparently thin. It’s then ready to eat or packaged for later. The market seemed to draw mostly tour groups and other visitors. Locals probably stay clear. The wholesale market opens at 6am in the winter and then is open to the public at 7am. Since we had breakfast at the hotel we missed the wholesale action yet arrived early enough to bypass the larger tour groups. English is spoken sporadically and enough to make a sale. Compared to the Tokyo and Sapporo fish markets this has a more local atmosphere. It’s also not as overwhelming with welcoming vendors. Tourist Tip: go early and take time to stroll around. Be adventurous and buy souvenirs and snacks.
    Visited February 2020
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 13, 2020
  • Desmond
    21 contributions
    Best seafood market in Hokkaido
    This market is way better than any of the markets we went like the Nijo market and the sankaku market in the other cities. Came to eat here both mornings of our stay in Hakodate. There are 3 indoor streets to pick what you will like to eat and also a huge outdoor seafood selection and restaurant. They offer cheaper prices compared to nijo market too! Donburi alley have premium donburi at a great bargain! Live snow crabs, king crabs , hairy crabs are all available at great prices. The stall in the picture was the one we visited and the service was good and we can eat at the level 2 restaurant which we can get free flow self service hot tea or iced water. Please go earlier as most places are closed at 2pm and the crabs takes a long time to eat due to the size
    Visited December 2022
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 19, 2022
  • Getaway24786681468
    2 contributions
    Still worth the visit despite tourist trappy pricing
    Walk or sit and eat. lots of variety. Food can get slightly pricey. If you want to have a go at the dancing squid, go early, as it can get sold out real quick. I recommend at least 2 mornings to fully enjoy the experience.
    Visited December 2019
    Written April 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions

4.0
937 reviews
Excellent
303
Very good
394
Average
191
Poor
37
Terrible
12

Dexperience Undercover
Singapore, Singapore3,786 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
We love the Hakodate Asaichi Morning Market that has approximately 250 stores selling souvenirs, vegetables, fruits and seafood.

The most exciting part of the Hakodate Morning Market is the Squid Fishing experience. The chef will take your catch and prepare squid sashimi.

We also love Snaffle's Hokkaido Hakodate Maple Omelet Catchcake. Ultra Soft Melt In Your Mouth Cheesecake!

Dex Ng Mong Meiyan Dexperience
Written April 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

roy v
Traralgon, Australia4,635 contributions
Sep 2022
While staying in Hakodate we visited the market a couple of times, a interesting stroll near the port.
Being a big fishing port the market is as you would expect, ,lots of fish.
A great place to get any sea food you like.
You can buy a fish and they will cook it on the spot for you or you can have it as sashimi.
Plenty of little restaurants, good for breakfast.
Make sure you visit when in town.
Written September 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

worldwonder805
Ventura, CA861 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
This is a market specialized in seafood from fresh live crabs to dried packages of scallops and seaweeds.
There were dozens and dozens of stands - this is a place to see.
You can also find many many restaurants that offer very fresh sashimi and live king crabs, squid, etc.
they will cook it for you on the spot as you pick out the crab from the water tank !
It is an experience !
Written November 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

earlgrays
Singapore, Singapore158 contributions
Dec 2014 • Family
It is an experience to have a seafood breakfast at any morning markets in Japan. In Hokkaido, go for the king crabs or snow crabs. We had a king crab done in three different ways - cooked in soup, sashimi-style and butter-grilled. Delicious. We also tried the humongous BBQ scallops which were sweet and tasty. We had raw oysters which were humongous in size too. And raw uni (sea urchin). I would recommend to head for the restaurants in the morning market as the smaller stalls offer smaller-sized seafood (e.g. smaller-sized scallops and uni). Do visit early, as it is a morning market. We were there at 8am and there was a sizeable crowd. Although the market opens til 12pm, most stalls were sold out by 10 plus.
Written December 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

unescotravelbug
Wooster, OH4,206 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
Hakodate Asaichi (Morning Market) occupied a large open lot next to Hakodate Station and the nearby harbor. It has three large indoor buildings accommodated varieties of fresh seafood shops; sit down restaurants; cook to order small food stands and vendors sell dried seafood products. Outside open area there are many produce and seafood stands stretching along the building’s exits and the small streets. This is one of the Hakodate’s top attractions for the visitors and seafood lovers. The morning market starts as early as 5 or 6am in the morning and closes around noon and 1pm. This morning market offers daily fresh catch and an array of delectable fresh selections for the shoppers to enjoy. This place is also packed with actions and thrills for the tourists, especially in the building Ekini Ichiba (next to the building with many donburi restaurants) where operators set up a large squid tank jammed with live local specialty-the translucent purple squids. For those who want to try squid fishing just pay 900 yens and you get a rod with hook ready for you to fish live squids. For the price it guarantees you to catch one, clean it up for you and makes it a fresh squid sashimi plate for you to savor. But If you catch two on one hook you can only keep one. Children and young adults are their best customers while parents are busy videoing the entire actions. If you are not into the tasting of squid sashimi, watching squid fishing live in action and gutting the squid alive, will sure give you an eye opening experience. Outside market area a similar attraction you will not miss-watching giant octopus swimming in the large tanks with their monstrous arms stretching out, moving around the tank in a slow motion.
For the breakfast you can try Donburi, the local specialty seafood rice bowls, with assortments of seafood toppings over hot steamed rice, offered by the sit-down type restaurants in the first building called Donburi Yokocho Ichiba. There are about 20 restaurants for you to pick, some seemed to be more crowded than the other, probably by words of the mouths. But if you like to sample the varieties in the morning market, the second building Ekini Ichiba has many seafood vendors offer choices of fresh oysters in shells, scallops in shells, other shellfish, live crabs, fish for sashimi, sea urchin and variety of fish roe. You buy what please you, and vendor will then cook to order for you. There are tables and chairs in the center eating area, near the squid fish tank, available for the self-served customers. The third build is a food court and more fast foods vendors selling cooked foods. Keep in mind if you want to try the local specialty hairy crabs, be ready to pay around 60-80 USD a piece and pay even more for the crabs served sashimi style.

This morning market not only is a popular place for shopping seafood and related products, but also offers tasty sweet fruits and fresh vegetables. Among them not to miss is Yubari melon. It is an expensive melon but scrumptiously sweet and grown only in Yubari, Hokkaido. A small wedge of melon can cost 200-300 yens depends on the vendors. The one we bought at 300 yens a wedge sold out quickly. The whole melon could be priced at 2500-3000 yens! And if you still have room for more food try corn on the cobs or soft served ice cream on the cones. Basically if you love seafood, do not miss visiting this market. There is no admission fee. Enjoy while you can.
Written January 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Pipo2968
Singapore, Singapore538 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
We arrived at about 9am and parked at one of the designated parking area for the market. From the banner hanging at the parking area, we think it says in Japanese - "Free 1 hour parking if you spend JPY2000”. So off we go to take in our first experience of the Hokkaido fresh seafood market.

The streets are lined up with shops selling all kind of seafood – crabs, scallops, salmon, salmon roe, tuna, prawns, squids, etc. The place is crowded with both tourists and locals. They also sell the famous yellow honey melon, corn, and ice-cream. We ordered one Alaskan crab leg costing us JPY3800 and the shop lady BBQ it for us with salt. We also ate a very yummy slice of honey melon at JPY100 in a fruits stall. We bought lots of dried seafood and I want to share that we found that prices at this market is more reasonable compared to the Sapporo Seafood Market which we visited at the latter part of our journey.

This place is a MUST visit if you are at Hakodate and do plan to spend at least 2hours including stopping and eating. I will rate this place 10 out of 10 not only for the fresh and reasonable priced seafood but also for the experience and sights.
Written November 27, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Richard
Singapore182 contributions
Jun 2013 • Family
My family went to the market in the morning and the following were our experiences :

Pros =>
a) Many different live seafood (sashimi) to try out. Eg. sea urchins, abalone, squid and scallop.
b) Many different restaurants to try local seafood dishes, including various crabs.
c) The price is competitive. At least 30% cheaper than the Sapporo seafood market.
d) There is a local market (within the market area) selling vegetables, dried seafood, dried seaweed and fruits.
e) 3 mins walk near the JR station.
Cons =>
a) Can be crowded when tour groups arrive.
b) Many shops closes after 12.00noon.

We will definitely return to the market the next time we visit Hakodate.
Written June 25, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jazzng2015
Singapore, Singapore298 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
As usual in all Japanese morning market, u can find stalls selling with all kind of seafood and crabs.
Different was that is a particular stall for fishing octopus, many of the tourists love to join in for fun, later have it immediately as sashimi in their stomach.

That is an upper deck level ( going up from behind of the building) it is a restaurant/canteen. u just need pay a 500 yen coin, u can have a bowl of seafood rice!
Unbelievable cheap! Right! Taste quite delicious and fresh too ( refer to attached pix ) Do not miss! Opening hour I have forgotten but advise go before noon.
Written April 12, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

glynn t
Leicester, UK74 contributions
Sep 2015
While visiting Hokodate from the cruise ship we found the large morning market within walking distance of the port. It is a large colourful market boasting over 400 shops or stalls, many of which sell numerous varieties of sea food, with the rest being mainly vegetables and fruits. It can get a bit crowded but in this bustling market are small seating areas. Many people buy bowls of rice then 100 Yen tickets from vendors which they exchange at stalls for small pieces of seafood to add to their rice bowl and if you don't like seafood there is a small selection of meat stalls, where they will cook small portions of meat on the counter while you wait. Its quite an interesting way to have lunch along with local people. The huge variety of sea food and other produce along with the bustle gives this market its colour and if you like markets and are in the area, its well worth a visit. Incidentally, a tour from the cruise ship, taking in the market and the Hokodate ropeway cost $75 per person. But the market is free to enter and the ropeway toll is approx. £7( 1200 Yen). So for about 30 minutes walking you can do both from the port by yourself for just the cost of the ropeway toll, a big saving.
Written September 17, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kmquek
Singapore, Singapore941 contributions
Sep 2014 • Family
Loads of fresh seafood here. Prices seem to be pretty similar throughout the various establishments. Word of advice - take your time and sample various dishes working your way from freshly steamed giant snow crab to sushi/sashimi to Uni to corn on the cob and finally finishing off with musk melon. Another word of advice - have plenty of Yen as some do not take credit cards.
Written September 30, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 395
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Hakodate Morning Market - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about Hakodate Morning Market

We recommend booking Hakodate Morning Market tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 3 Hakodate Morning Market tours on Tripadvisor



Hakodate Morning Market Information

Excellent Reviews303
Very Good Reviews394
Hakodate Morning Market Photos1,535