Hakodate Morning Market Ekini Market

Tucked alongside Hakodate Station, the Ekini Market is one of the city's most approachable corners of the celebrated morning market district. Vendors here deal in the honest business of Hokkaido's seas: crab, sea urchin, salmon, and squid hauled in overnight and laid out before the day has properly begun. The atmosphere is unhurried compared to the market's busier stretches, making it easier to browse, ask questions, and eat well without feeling swept along by the crowd.

When to go

The market opens at 05:00 from May through December, and at 06:00 during the January–April winter months, closing at 14:00 year-round (individual shop hours vary). Arriving close to opening gives you the fullest selection and the most peaceful experience. Summer and autumn bring the widest seasonal spread of produce.

“Hakodate Morning Market is one of the city’s best-known markets and sits directly next to Hakodate Station, which makes it extremely convenient to visit. It is lively, well-organized, and offers a broad overview of southern Hokkaido’s seafood culture. The market is clearly tourist-oriented, especially when it comes to ready-made dishes such as kaisendon or seafood grilled on the spot. Prices for t”— Anna Krzak, Google review