Hokkaido by Train in March: Limited Express Hokuto, Ramen & Seafood

Six days in Hokkaido in late March, with snow still on the ground in Sapporo: three ramen shops, a snowy shrine, fresh Sapporo beer and a preseason baseball game. Then we ride the Limited Express Hokuto from Sapporo to Hakodate, just under four hours, past the Pacific coast, Uchiura Bay and snowy Mount Komagatake, for live squid and hairy crab at our favourite izakaya of the trip. In Sapporo we stay at Via Inn Prime Sapporo Odori and eat our way through Shin Ramen Yokocho. At Mogura, the chashu is huge and the miso is lighter and less oily than Sumire's — great if rich ramen isn't your thing — and the shio ramen with scallops is packed with seafood flavour. Later we try Tsubasa at the very back of the alley, and Sumire's famous miso, where a layer of oil keeps the soup piping hot. We also visit Sapporo TV Tower, Sapporo Clock Tower, Katsu Issen conveyor-belt sushi, Nama Northman from Daimaru Sapporo, Hokkaido Shrine with Hangan-sama at Rokkatei Jingu Chaya, gyoza curry from Miyoshino, Sapporo Beer Museum and ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO. Day 4 starts with standing soba on the platform at Sapporo Station. Then it's the 9:45 Hokuto to Hakodate — just under four hours, with a jingisukan ekiben and views of the Pacific coast, Uchiura Bay and Mount Komagatake. In Hakodate: Century Marina Hakodate, the Mashu Maru ferry museum, streetcars, the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses and a Lucky Pierrot hamburg yakisoba. Uosanko tip: it's often full, so book ahead. Great sake selection, too. PRICES (paid in March 2025 — they may have changed since) Rapid Airport, New Chitose Airport → Sapporo: ¥1,150 Mogura: miso, shoyu or shio ramen ¥1,000 / butter corn ramen ¥1,300 / scallop ramen ¥1,800 / gyoza ¥600 Nama Northman, box of 4: ¥980 Limited Express Hokuto, Sapporo → Hakodate, reserved seat: ¥9,440 Sapporo Beer Museum: free entry at the time of our visit JR Hokkaido fares went up on 1 April 2025, so today's train fares are higher. CHAPTERS 00:00 Highlights 00:30 The route: Osaka to Hokkaido 00:42 Day 1: Arriving in Sapporo & ramen at Mogura 02:02 Day 2: Clock Tower, sushi, Nama Northman & Sumire 04:32 Day 3: Sapporo Beer Museum, ES CON FIELD & Tsubasa 06:47 Day 4: Limited Express Hokuto to Hakodate 08:27 Uosanko: live squid in Hakodate 09:20 Day 5: Mashu Maru ferry museum 10:20 Uosanko again: hairy crab 11:07 Hakodate at night & Lucky Pierrot 11:43 Flying home Filmed 19–24 March 2025. English on-screen captions, local sounds and music. Which would you try first: Sapporo ramen, live squid or hairy crab? #JapanTravel #Hokkaido #Sapporo #Hakodate #SapporoRamen