After spending three wonderful nights in Furano, it was time for the longest drive of our entire Hokkaido itinerary — the journey from Furano to Hakodate.
→ Read: Our 3-Day Furano & Biei Itinerary with Kids
Depending on traffic and stops, the drive can easily take 6.5 to 7 hours, and honestly, attempting it in one go with young kids and elderly parents sounds like a recipe for disaster. Our philosophy for Hokkaido road trips quickly became:
More pit stops = happier kids and saner adults.
Stop 1: Shimukappu Rest Area (~40 minutes from Furano)
Our first stop came surprisingly quickly — just around 40 minutes after leaving Furano.
The Shimukappu Rest Area was exactly what we needed:
- Clean toilets
- Coffee and snack options
- A small indoor kids corner
- Plenty of parking
- Space for everyone to stretch their legs
The boys immediately made a beeline for the play area while the adults grabbed coffee and snacks for the long drive ahead.
Sometimes these roadside stops become the unsung heroes of Japanese road trips.
Stop 2: Yubari Melon Dome 🍈
Our next stop was the famous Yubari Melon Dome, dedicated to Hokkaido’s most famous fruit — the legendary Yubari King Melon.
Even if you’re not a huge melon fan, this place is worth stopping for.
What you’ll find:
- Fresh cut Yubari melon slices
- Yubari melon soft serve
- Melon jelly and souvenirs
- Local produce and snacks
- Plenty of seating areas
The melon itself was incredibly sweet and juicy, get the whole melon and request for the staff to slice it, it’s more value for money this way!
Best time for Yubari Melons
- Mid June to early August
- Peak sweetness is usually during July
You can also visit their on site melon patch! The boys were excited to see how the melons were grown!
If you’re visiting Hokkaido during summer, this is almost a mandatory stop.
Stop 3: Sobetsu Fruit Village 🍒🍑🍇
This was meant to be one of the highlights of our drive.
Sobetsu is famous for its fruit farms where visitors can pick seasonal fruits directly from the orchards.
Unfortunately, we made one rookie mistake.
Most fruit picking sessions close by 2pm.
We arrived slightly too late and missed the final entry timings.
Learn from our mistake if you’re planning your own Hokkaido itinerary!
Fruit Seasons at Sobetsu Fruit Village
| Fruit | Season |
|---|---|
| Cherries | Late June to Mid July |
| Blueberries | July to August |
| Plums | July to August |
| Peaches | August |
| Grapes | September |
| Apples | September to October |
Even though we missed the picking, we still enjoyed browsing the farm shops and buying fresh fruits to snack on in the car.
Stop 4: Morimachi Park
By this stage everyone was ready for another break.
Morimachi Park turned out to be the perfect final stop before Hakodate.
The park features:
- Large open grass fields
- Walking paths
- Playground areas
- Toilets and vending machines
- Beautiful views towards the surrounding greenery
After several hours in the car, this stop probably saved the adults as much as it saved the kids.
Hakodate Port Festival Fireworks
Instead of heading straight to our hotel, we drove directly into Hakodate city centre.
The reason?
1 August is the Hakodate Port Festival fireworks night.
The city was buzzing.
Locals dressed in yukatas filled the streets while food stalls lined the waterfront. There was a genuine summer festival atmosphere that reminded us why Japan does festivals better than almost anywhere else.
The fireworks began at 7:30pm and continued for approximately one hour over Hakodate Bay.
Watching fireworks explode over the harbour while boats floated quietly in the background was honestly one of our favourite memories from the trip.
If your Hokkaido itinerary can be planned around this festival, do it.
It was absolutely worth it.
Planning to catch the Hakodate Port Festival fireworks? 🎆
Read our full guide for tips on how to plan your evening, where to grab festival food, and which areas offer the best views of the fireworks.
Our Hotel: Hakodate Yunokawa Onsen Umi to Akari Hewitt Resort
By the time we arrived at our hotel, it was already late evening.
We had booked the half-board package but unfortunately missed the included buffet dinner because of the fireworks.
Would we do it again?
Absolutely.
The fireworks were worth every missed crab leg.
The hotel itself was fantastic for families and multi-generational travel.
Highlights included:
- Spacious rooms
- Modern Japanese design
- Onsen facilities
- Ocean views
- Family-friendly atmosphere
- Convenient parking
The Yunokawa Onsen location also makes it a great base for exploring Hakodate without staying directly in the city centre.
➡️ Read our hotel review here
➡️ Check hotel rates and availability. Use “HengXAgoda” for up to 10% off booking !
Day 2: Exploring Hakodate
Hakodate Morning Market 🦀
No trip to Hakodate is complete without visiting the famous morning market.
The atmosphere was lively and energetic, with seafood vendors calling out to visitors and tanks filled with fresh seafood everywhere you looked.
Our highlight was stopping by Inaba Seafood Shop.
We tried:
- King crab
- Grilled squid
- Fresh scallops
- Hokkaido melon
The grilled squid in particular was incredible — sweet, smoky and perfectly tender.
Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse
Next up was one of Hakodate’s most iconic attractions.
The Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses combine:
- Shopping
- Cafés
- Souvenirs
- Local crafts
- Scenic waterfront views
It feels slightly touristy, but in a charming way.
This was also where we picked up some Hokkaido souvenirs before continuing our day.
Lunch at Lucky Pierrot 🍔
You simply cannot visit Hakodate without trying Lucky Pierrot.
This quirky local burger chain has achieved cult status in Hokkaido.
Our recommendation?
The famous:
- Chinese Chicken Burger
- Lucky Potato
- Omurice
The portions were generous and prices were surprisingly affordable.
Other dining recommendations in Hakodate:
- Uni Murakami for sea urchin bowls
- Ajisai Ramen for Hakodate shio ramen
- Kikuyo Shokudo for seafood bowls
- Kantaro Sushi for family-friendly conveyor belt sushi
Coffee Break at Starbucks
After lunch we slowed things down.
The boys fell asleep during an afternoon coffee stop at Starbucks overlooking the bay while the adults enjoyed some much-needed downtime.
Honestly, these slower moments often become our favourite travel memories.
Parking in Hakodate is Expensive
One thing that genuinely surprised us was parking prices around the bay area and warehouses.
Parking can add up quickly if you’re hopping between attractions.
If you’re staying centrally, consider:
- Parking once and walking
- Using the tram system
- Combining nearby attractions together
We Skipped Mount Hakodate Ropeway
Originally, the plan was to end the day with the famous Mount Hakodate night view.
Unfortunately, the weather had other ideas.
The mountain was completely covered in mist and visibility was poor.
Rather than forcing the schedule, we decided to skip it.
Travelling with kids and elderly parents has taught us one important lesson:
Flexibility beats ticking boxes every single time.
Instead, we headed back to the hotel early and enjoyed the onsen.
No regrets whatsoever.
Next Stop: Lake Toya
After two nights in Hakodate, we continued onwards to Lake Toya for two nights of volcano views, fruit farms, lakeside fireworks and relaxing onsen stays.
And honestly?
It turned out to be one of the highlights of our entire Hokkaido trip.
