This guided tour of Hakodate begins at the historic Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses, a lively waterfront complex of shops and cafes dating to the late 19th century, before heading up Mount Hakodate by ropeway for a sweeping daytime panorama of the city's distinctive shape between two seas.

From there, continue to the Hakodate Morning Market area to browse the Ekini Fish Market, sample fresh seafood, and try squid fishing with your catch served as sashimi. Both versions of the tour then move to the Motomachi district, a hillside neighborhood of Western-style architecture including the Russian Orthodox Church, the Old Public Hall, and the photogenic Hachiman-zaka Slope.

With the private-vehicle option, the itinerary is extended with one further stop — Goryokaku Fort, Japan's first Western-style star fort, completed in 1864 and the site of the Boshin War's final battle in 1869. Located about 4–5km from the Motomachi/Ekini Market area, the adjacent Goryokaku Tower offers an aerial view of its five-pointed star design.

This extra stop isn't included in the near-stops public-transport routing. The public-transport version instead keeps to the same four waterfront and hillside sights via local buses and streetcars, at a similar overall pace. Your guide can tailor the plan further within the tour's allotted time, and hotel pickup can be discussed at booking.