Hakodate winter trip Part 2: Motomachi Area full of historical buildings

[Introduction]

I traveled to Hakodate, which is in the north of Japan, and is the largest city in southern Hokkaido, for three days and two nights. Overall I was satisfied with the trip, because I was able to take photos of winter Hakodate in both sunny and snowy conditions. In this article, I will write about Motomachi area as part of Day 1.

[Visit Places (series of articles)]
* Day 1: Hakodate Morning Market and Bay Area
* Day 1: Motomachi [This article]
* Day 1: Motomachi and Bay Area (Evening and Night View)
* Day 2: Old Fort Goryokaku
* Day 2: Tropical Botanical Garden and Trappistine Convent
* Day 2: Bay Area (Night View with Snow)
* Day 3: Kitajima Saburo Museum and Mashu-maru
* Day 3: Hachiman-Zaka Slope and Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse (Evening View)

[Travel Date]
2017.01.28-30

[Main Part]

Now I moved to Motomachi area from Bay area.

Characteristic of Motomachi area

Hakodate was one of the places along with Nagasaki and Yokohama, which opened a port to trade at the end of the Edo period (around 1860) after a closed-door policy for more than 200 years. Hakodate was designated as a foreign settlement and consular offices and churches were built around Motomachi area. Another feature of Motomachi area is that there are 19 slopes in Motomachi area. I will walk around such a Motomachi area.

Before strolling, I will have a lunch.

Gotoken Main Restaurant

I visited Gotoken Main Restaurant for a lunch.

Gotoken Main Restaurant is a western food restaurant, which was opened in 1879. Visitors are able to enjoy a variety of western cuisine from casual dishes to full course menu.

In addition, the imperial couple visited the restaurant in 1989.

Here is “Rich duck curry”, the imperial couple ordered.

As the name suggests, it had a rich atmosphere.

There was a variety of spicy for curry.

This curry was very mild and had an elegant taste.

Churches in Motomachi

After lunch, I started to walk around Motomachi area. Several churches with different religions were concentrated in a small area and I visited these churches.

Higashi Honganji Temple Hakodate Branch

To begin with, I visited Higashi Honganji Temple Hakodate Branch.

Higashi Honganji Temple Hakodate Branch was a Buddhist temple built in 1915.

This was the first Buddhist temple with reinforced concrete in Japan.

I found this reinforced concrete temple went with sunny sky and snowy ground.

A photo behind the temple.

Motomachi Roman Catholic Church

Then, I visited Motomachi Roman Catholic Church.

Motomachi Roman Catholic Church was originally founded in 1877. It was burned down in a fire and then rebuilt in 1924.

A kindergarten is also located on the site.

Hakodate St. John’s Church

After I left Motomachi Roman Catholic Church, I moved to Hakodate St. John’s Church.

This church is that of the Anglican Church founded by an English priest who visited Hakodate in 1874. The existing building was completed in 1979.

It features the impressive cross-shaped roof.

Hakodate Orthodox Church

There was Hakodate Orthodox Church near Hakodate St. John’s Church.

This church is that of the Orthodox Church in Japan founded in 1860 by the Russian Consulate.

The existing building was built in 1916.

Western-style houses in Motomachi

Then, I moved a few blocks to see western style houses in Motomachi area.

Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward

First, Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward.

Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward was built in 1910.

Now it is open to the public as a cultural facility.

Motomachi Park

I also stopped by Motomachi Park. Motomachi Park used to be a place where there were a magistrate’s office and a branch office of Hokkaido government.

The former branch office of Hokkaido government is now used as a tourist information center.

Former British Consulate of Hakodate

This is Former British Consulate of Hakodate.

The building was used as the Former British Consulate of Hakodate until 1934. Then, it was renovated and has been open to the public as a memorial hall since 1992.

Slopes in Motomachi

As I mentioned earlier, Motomachi is surrounded by 19 slopes. I will post some photos of slopes in Motomachi area.

Chacha-nobori Slope

From the top of Chacha-nobori Slope, visitors are able to see a magnificent view with Hakodate Orthodox Church (on the left side) and Hakodate St. John’s Church (on the right side).

Hachiman-Zaka Slope

Hachiman-Zaka Slope is one of the most famous tourist spots in Hakodate along with night view in Mt. Hakodate.

The best photo spot is from the top of Hachiman-Zaka Slope, from which visitors are able to see Hakodate Bay and Seikan Ferry Memorial Ship “Mashu-maru” moored at the Hakodate port.

I took another shot with a different lens.

Motoi-Zaka Slope

Motoi-Zaka Slope is another famous slope in Motomachi area.

I took photos from the bottom of Motoi-Zaka Slope.

With a city tram.

[Closing]

That’s it for the article about Motomachi area as part of Day 1.

Plase note: visitors are not allowed to enter into some chuches or some facilities are closed during winter. So, perhaps, it may be better to visit this area in su mer rather than in winter 🙂

In the next article, I will write about evening and night view in Motomachi and Bay Area.

[Map]

[Related Link]
Hakodate Official Travel Guide
Former British Consulate of Hakodate