Seafood bowl at Hakodate morning market! A marine product theme park in front of Hakodate Station, where you can enjoy sightseeing and gourmet cuisine

Located in front of Hakodate Station, the Hakodate Morning Market is a renowned gourmet spot that attracts many tourists and locals from early in the morning. Hokkaido is known for its delicious food, and among them, the must-try Hokkaido gourmet is its fresh seafood.

The lively Hakodate Morning Market is packed with a wide variety of seafood! To address common questions about morning market sightseeing, we’ll clearly introduce the layout of the Hakodate Morning Market, what’s located where, recommended restaurants for seafood bowls, and more. From classic spots to hidden gems, we’ll provide information on the best of Hakodate Morning Market.

1. The Appeal of Hakodate Morning Market

Approximately 250 shops! With about 2 million tourists visiting annually, the Hakodate Morning Market is no longer just a market—it's one of Hakodate's most popular sightseeing spots.

A parade of fresh seafood like squid, crab, and scallops—specialties of Hakodate! The lively market atmosphere alone is enough to make you feel excited just by being there.

Another appeal of the Hakodate Morning Market is that you can enjoy fresh seafood such as squid, sea urchin, salmon roe, and shrimp at reasonable prices, right on the spot! If you go to the Hakodate Morning Market, you can pretty much complete your seafood bucket list for Hokkaido.

2. Until What Time Is the Morning Market Open?

At the Hakodate Morning Market, you can buy ultra-fresh seafood and enjoy seafood bowls. As the name "Morning Market" suggests, it's bustling from early morning—but what time should you aim to get there?

With about 250 shops gathered in the market, hours vary by store, but generally it’s open from around 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. From May to December, some stores open as early as 5:00 a.m. If you go early in the morning, it's less crowded and easier to explore at your own pace—so getting up a little early is recommended.

*Generally open year-round, but hours and closing days vary by shop.
*If you plan to go later in the day or have specific stores in mind, it's a good idea to check in advance by phone, etc.

3. Location of Hakodate Morning Market

The Hakodate Morning Market is located right by JR Hakodate Station and the Hakodate Ekimae stop of the city tram, making it easily accessible and a favorite among tourists. When you exit JR Hakodate Station and face south, you'll see the entire market area beyond the parking lot.

First, take a look at the layout of the Hakodate Morning Market with this color-coded map of the main areas:
[Green] Donburi Yokocho Plaza
[Pink] Ekini Market
[Orange] Hakodate Morning Market Plaza

The outer market areas are marked with street names in [blue text].
The [red numbers] ① to ⑤ indicate the locations of recommended seafood bowl restaurants. We’ll highlight what makes each restaurant special in the following sections, so stay tuned!

4. Introduction to Market Areas

◆ Donburi Yokocho Market

As the name suggests, Donburi Yokocho Market is an area lined with eateries where you can enjoy delicious seafood rice bowls. There are 19 establishments in total, including seafood bowl restaurants and retail shops selling souvenirs. Every shop offers top-quality seafood bowls with no disappointments.

Even if someone in your group doesn’t like seafood or is simply tired of it, no problem—there are also restaurants serving tasty ramen.

◆ Ekini Market

Located just south of Donburi Yokocho Market is "Ekini Market" (Station No. 2 Market), an indoor market situated at the heart of Hakodate Morning Market.

At Ekini Market, you’ll find a full range of fresh seafood, salted and dried fish, sweets, and even clothing.

The "live squid fishing" experience, where you can catch squid freshly caught in the waters near Hakodate, is guaranteed to be a fun time whether you're with friends, a partner, or family! Watching your freshly caught squid get prepared for eating—and then tasting its sweet flavor and chewy texture—is an unforgettable experience.

Another specialty of Ekini Market is the “500 Yen Bowl.” There are six types of rice bowls—including seafood bowls, squid sashimi bowls, and jingisukan (grilled mutton) bowls—all for just 500 yen, which is hard to believe given the quality! Each comes with miso soup and pickles, making it an amazing deal. Definitely give it a try!

◆ Hakodate Morning Market Plaza

The Hakodate Morning Market Plaza, renovated in 2014, features a spacious food court as well as a variety of shops.

The area has a festive atmosphere reminiscent of a food-themed amusement park, offering crabs, salted and dried seafood, locally grown fresh vegetables and fruits, flowers, dried goods, and pickles.

In spring, you’ll find white asparagus and mountain wasabi. In summer, there’s “Pure White” white corn and rich tokishirazu salmon. Fall brings local potatoes like “Kita Akari” and “Inca no Mezame,” along with various beans. Heading into winter, the male shishamo fish—found only along Hokkaido’s Pacific coast—is a rare catch. King crab and hairy crab also come into season in winter.

◆ "Asaichi Nakadori" and "Tomoe Street"

Asaichi Nakadori and Tomoe Street are outdoor areas, essentially the outer market. Rows of seafood shops and eateries line both sides of the street, perfectly capturing the classic morning market scenery and creating an uplifting vibe.

These streets are usually less crowded than the indoor markets, making them ideal for visitors who want to take their time shopping. And just like the indoor sections, they’re packed with delicious food! Ask staff for recommendations, enjoy samples, and fully immerse yourself in the market experience.

5. Recommended Kaisendon Restaurant

Hakodate Morning Market is a favorite among tourists who say, "I want to eat delicious seafood bowls!" To answer that request, we've selected especially recommended eateries among the many popular shops. Here are three restaurants from Donburi Yokocho and two more located on Nakadori and Tomoe Street.

① Ebisu Shokudo

“I can’t decide what to order!” is a common sentiment at “Ebisu Shokudo,” a well-known restaurant with over 50 seafood bowl menu options. From shrimp, sea urchin, salmon roe, scallops, to salmon, a wide variety of seafood can be enjoyed in large, medium, or small sizes. In addition to seafood bowls, there are also set meals and seasonal à la carte dishes. Loved by both tourists and locals alike, this is a long-standing, popular dining spot.

② Ikka-tei Tabiji

Ikka-tei Tabiji is known for its eye-catching “Dancing Live Squid Bowl,” made by preparing a live squid from the tank inside the restaurant right before your eyes. Not only is it visually stunning, but the freshly prepared squid is sweet and incredibly delicious! This menu item often sells out quickly, so visiting early is recommended.

③ Mako to Yasube

Mako to Yasube is another eatery in Donburi Yokocho. Its most popular dish is the “Morning Market Five-Color Bowl,” a luxurious seafood bowl topped with sea urchin, salmon roe, salmon, scallops, and sweet shrimp!

④ Kikuyo Shokudo Main Store & Branch

Known as the first eatery in Hakodate Morning Market to serve seafood bowls, “Kikuyo Shokudo” offers the superb “Original Hakodate Tomoe Bowl” topped with sea urchin, salmon roe, and scallops. The fresh salmon roe glistens beautifully, and the sea urchin and scallops look radiant—making this a must-eat dish at Hakodate Morning Market.

There are two Kikuyo Shokudo locations in the market: the main store on Nakadori and a branch on Tomoe Street, both within walking distance. Since the menus are the same, feel free to choose the less crowded one.

6. A hidden gem of a restaurant that's famous among locals!

While we've introduced some popular eateries, there are many other restaurants at Hakodate Morning Market where you can enjoy delicious seafood bowls. Take a leisurely walk around the market, enjoying the sightseeing while you decide which place to enter. Discovering hidden gems not featured on TV or social media is one of the true pleasures here.

At the far end of Hakodate Morning Market, at the end of Asaichi Nakadori, right at the entrance of “AL ROAD,” there's a restaurant where you can savor an exquisite, additive-free raw sea urchin bowl.

⑤ Uni Murakami

Uni Murakami Hakodate Main Store is a directly managed restaurant operated by a sea urchin processing company. You can enjoy the “Additive-Free Raw Sea Urchin Bowl,” lavishly topped with incredibly fresh, alum-free sea urchin. If you’re a fan of uni, this is the “real uni bowl” you must try at least once. Though a bit pricey, it’s perfect as a special treat to commemorate your trip to Hakodate.

◎ Access and Parking

Located right in front of JR Hakodate Station, Hakodate Morning Market offers excellent access! There’s a shuttle bus from Hakodate Airport to Hakodate Station. If you're coming by car or rental car, it’s recommended to use the Hakodate Morning Market Daiichi Parking Lot or a partnered parking lot. If you spend 2,200 yen or more at any store affiliated with the Hakodate Morning Market Cooperative Association, you can receive a 60-minute parking discount.

Please note that the above information is current as of April 2024 and may be subject to change. Be sure to check the latest information before your visit.

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Seafood bowl at Hakodate morning market! A marine product theme park in front of Hakodate Station, where you can enjoy sightseeing and gourmet cuisine