Shadow ran a complimentary "Morning Market Tour with Chef Brisland" But you could do this in your own easily. Only real issue is that the "downtown" is quite a ways from the dock (Shadow ran a free shuttle bus). After walking through the Market we took the tram to the Museum of the Northern Peoples. This museum is focused on the early inhabitants of northern Japan (similar to Alaskan Aleuts and Tlingets). After that we walked up the hill (we just used the city map from the excursion Desk) towards the old British Consulate. Beautiful grounds everywhere. There is a square commemorating Perry's visit to Hakodate. At the top of the hill there is a visitor's center where we got a better map showing the old churches and such in this old area of town. We walked past the Gondola that goes up to the top of Mt. Hakodate (some folks that took it said the views were wonderful). From the base of the Gondola we walked down hill past a large Buddhist Temple to the "old warehouse" district which has been renovated to a large shopping mall are (sort of like Baltimore's inner harbor area). This is near the Market and where our shuttle bus stop was located. All in all a VERY pleasant walk in great weather. One of the hits of our visit was the school children (middle school and High school age) who were our "escorts" through the market place. They provided some translation services and guidance towards where we wanted to go. They greeted our ship on arrival and did the Ika Dance at the dock as we sailed away that evening.

Greg