Motomachi Historical District in Hakodate

Hakodate is the third largest city in Hokkaido, located at the south end of the Oshima Peninsula. Hakodate has had a suitable port for trading from the middle age and was one of three major ports in the southern Hokkaido Area (It used to be named "Ezo" until the end of the Edo Age (1603 - 1868) .

Tokugawa Bakufu, the government during the Edo Age in Japan, opened Hakodate Port for the United States, Canada, Netherland, Russia, United Kingdom and France, when the Ansei Treaties were concluded among these five countries and Japan in 1859. The Hakodate magistrate's office was located in Motomachi, Hakodate. Also, consulates of foreign countries and churches are located in this area.

Motomachi is located to the north of Mt.Hakodate. If you walk up a hill from "Suehirocho" Station of Hakodate Street Car, you will see the site of the former Consulate of the United Kingdom.

The consulate of the United Kingdom moved to this place in 1913, after a couple of damages by fire. Across the street, the Hakodate magistrate's office was located. The site of the Hakodate magistrate's office is now the Motomachi Park. There is a statue of Commodore Perry (1794 - 1858) in the park.

The view from the Motomachi Park is shown in the below picture. At the bottom of the slop, street cars run and you will see the port of Hakodate, behind the street car. This view was impressive.

On the other side, the former Hakodate branch office of the Hokkaido government is located, shown in the below-left picture. This building was built in 1909. The Corinthian columns at the entrance feature the building.

Behind the former Hakodate branch office of the Hokkaido government, the former Public Hall of Hakodate Ward building is located, shown in the above-right picture. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1907 and rebuilt in 1910. Most of the cost for rebuilding was covered by donations from SOMA Teppei (1833 - 1921) , who was a very wealthy merchant lived in Hakodate.

Emperor TAISHO stayed in this building when he was a prince in 1911. The building is designated an important property of Japan.

Walk to the south-east from Motomachi Park, there are a couple of western churches. First, you will see Hakodate Orthodox Church, shown in the below picture.

Originally, the church was built as an annex of the Russian Consulate. Unfortunately, the first Orthodox church was destroyed by fire in 1840. The current church was rebuilt in 1916. Hakodate Orthodox Church was the origin of Orthodox churches in Japan. The architecture of the church is Byzantine style and is very impressive. The church is also designated as an important property of Japan.

After sunset, white walls of Hakodate Orthodox Church were shown in darkness. This view was also impressive.

Near to Hakodate Orthodox Church, Hakodate St. John’s Church, shown in the below-left, and Motomachi Roman Catholic Church, shown in the below-right, are located.

Hakodate St. John’s Church was founded in 1874 and the current church building was rebuilt in 1979. The church has very modern architecture. Motomachi Roman Catholic Church was founded in 1868 and rebuilt in 1924.

Because of these churches, this area looks like a western style town and has an exotic atmosphere. The "Daisan-Saka" Slope from Hakodate Orthodox Church to Hakodate port through in front of Motomachi Roman Catholic Church is a stone-paved slope and has also an exotic atmosphere.

Mountain ash trees along the slope turn to Autumn color in November. If you walk down the "Daisan-Saka" Slope from Hakodate Orthodox Church, you will arrive at Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses.

These warehouses were built in 1909. These buildings were completely renovated to include a shopping mall, restaurants and souvenir shops. These warehouses are now one of one of the typical tourist facilities in Hakodate.

How to get there
To go to Hakodate, Take a Tohoku and Hokkaido Shinkansen,"Hayabusa" from Tokyo Station to Hakodate-Hokuto. And change to a local train to Hakodate. It takes approximately four and a half hours. Eleven trains run from Tokyo to Hakodate-Hokuto a day. Also, you can fly to Hakodate from Haneda Airport. Eight flights are available every day.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Cape Tachimachi
Mt. Hakodate
Place of HIJIKATA's Death
Ruins of Goryokaku Castle