(Above) On board the Airport Limousine bus, leaving Narita airport Hakodate was our first stop. It is port city which has a thriving fishing industry and that was the main reason why we were there, to get a taste of perhaps the freshest and value for money Japanese seafood. We made a comparison of prices and found that indeed, the quality and price for far better than those in the other cities we visited in Japan. As JAL doesn't have a direct flight to Hakodate from Tokyo Narita International airport, we had to take an airport limousine bus shuttle service from Tokyo Narita to Tokyo Haneda Domestic terminal, about an hour plus away. 
(Above) On the road to Haneda airport from Narita.
One thing about travelling is that the small sums do add up to an amount as transport in Japan free and easy is not cheap. Of course, we could have taken a cheaper way by transferring via train from Narita to Haneda but in terms of time, ease of convenience, we felt the money was well spent, especially if you are lugging your luggage around. Another thing about their buses, public ones included is that the ride is so smooth and quiet, unlike buses in Singapore which are noisy and jerky.
(Above ) Taking a shot in front of Haneda airport's Christmas tree At Haneda, we had a few hours to kill so we walked around and explored their shopping area and took some photographs. One thing though if you are taking domestic flights within Japan is to check in early so that you know whether the flight has been cancelled due to winter weather conditions and allow yourself ample time to get replacement seats on a earlier or later connecting flight. This happened to us once when flying in from Chitose airport in Hokkaido to Haneda airport in Tokyo.
Reaching Hakodate airport at around 2pm, we took the Hakodate airport limousine bus from the airport to Hakodate central where our hotel is located. One thing that we noted in Hakodate is that life is more leisurely and there are much less people around the streets. Another thing is that small kei cars are in abundance, probably as the Japanese people there are very environmentally conscious based on the local news we watched there where local citizens confront their government officials over waste dumps etc. 
(Above) In front of our hotel - Hotel Royal Hakodate, which is about 10 minutes walk from the JR train station and bus interchange and 15 minutes walk from the fresh seafood market.
(Above)Reaching the JR Hakodate Train station. It's only 4.36pm in the afternoon as Gayle points to the clock in the background but it's already a chilly dark night.
(Above) In front of our hotel - Hotel Royal Hakodate, which is about 10 minutes walk from the JR train station and bus interchange and 15 minutes walk from the fresh seafood market.(Above)Reaching the JR Hakodate Train station. It's only 4.36pm in the afternoon as Gayle points to the clock in the background but it's already a chilly dark night.
(Above) At Bus stop No 4 at the main bus interchange checking to see what time the bus to Mt.Hakodate is coming. It's about 8 degrees.
(Above) Us in the chilly winter night on Mt Hakodate. It was a challenge to take out my glove within the fastest time to operate our camera before my hands freeze. The cold is very biting.
(Above) Us in the chilly winter night on Mt Hakodate. It was a challenge to take out my glove within the fastest time to operate our camera before my hands freeze. The cold is very biting.
(Above) The view from the highest point in Hakodate- Mt Hakodate. At this time it was about 5.50pm in the evening. We took a cable tram up. A good time to go would be to reach there just before 4pm and watch the sky turn from noon to dark and you can get good shots of both day and night. The skies turn dark by 4.15 - 4.30pm.
(Above) Their Christmas shopping area, a kilometre away from the train station. Lots of souvenirs and chocolates, biscuits with the Hakodate , Hokkaido theme on sale there. The place seems empty but don't be fooled because everyone is inside the shops taking shelter from the chilly winds. 
(Above) Along the seafront area where they have their Christmas lightup and pushcarts, foodstalls. At this point, my hands are freezing but I need my bare hands to adjust the camera and stand. 
(Above) Having a hot vegetable soup never felt so good in the chilly weather. They have a row of booths selling different types of hot soup. You have to purchase a ticket from the main booth and then exchange it at the booth of your choice which sells the soup that you want.
(Above ) Our first dinner in Hakodate - Pork belly Ramen with soy sauce soup base. Notice that their soup spoon has a jagged edge to 'hook' onto the bowl to prevent it from sliding into the soup. Cost about 500 yen. 
(Above) Early morning view from our hotel shows that Hakodate has a low lying buildup area. 
(Above ) Gayle in front of the morning Hakodate seafood market. It's about 7 in the morning. 
(Above ) Hokkaido Crabs galore on sale (Below) Roasting our crabs
We spent some time looking through the rows of seafood inns at the market over the next few days in Hakodate and what helps is that they display the dried food items in glass panels with the pricing(above). We finally settled on one inn which had more people eating in it and the waitress was very friendly and helpful, patiently diciphering our hand signals what we wanted to order.
(Above) Gayle posing in front of the inn that we frequented for our daily dose of Hokkaido seafood.(Below) Our seafood meals over the next few days in Hakodate - fresh sashimi prawns with prawn roe, sea urchin, crab legs, scallop, salmon and roe
(Above ) Crab leg with scallops and sea urchin
(Above) Crab legs with shreds of crab meat.
(Above) Salmon belly, prawns with roe, scallops and sea urchin
(Above) Salmon roe and scallops (Below) Scallop and prawn miso based soup ramen
(Below) Our smiling and happy faces just show how much we enjoyed eating in Hakodate.
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