A ladder — a device with rungs used for climbing up and down.
屋根に上がるときははしごを使ってください。
Please use a ladder when going up onto the roof.
古い家のはしごは少しぐらついている。
The ladder in the old house wobbles a bit.
脚立がないと高い場所に手が届かないので、はしごを出した。
Without a stepladder I couldn't reach the high spot, so I brought out a ladder.
Stairs — a stairlike structure for moving between levels (in some contexts used as はしご).
船内の狭いはしごを降りて地下に行った。
I went down into the hold using the narrow ladder inside the ship.
民家の二階へは外側のはしごで上がる構造だ。
This house has a structure where you go up to the second floor via an outside ladder.
Going to several places in succession (e.g., bar-hopping: visiting multiple bars one after another).
金曜は友達と居酒屋を三軒はしごした。
On Friday I bar-hopped across three izakayas with friends.
取材で街のカフェをはしごして回った。
On an assignment I went around visiting several cafés in succession.
飲み会の後でバーをすこしはしごした。
After the party we hopped between a few bars.