Hakodate Morning Market

Hakodate Morning Market opens as early as 5 AM right next to the train station, with around 250 shops spread across several city blocks. The local specialty is live squid: many restaurants let you fish one from a tank yourself, and it arrives on your plate as sashimi within minutes. Hairy crab, sea urchin, and scallops are other regulars. The Donburi Yokocho area has around 20 restaurants focused on kaisendon seafood rice bowls, making this one of Japan's most satisfying early-morning eating stops. Arrive between 6 and 8 AM for the best variety; many shops close by early afternoon.