Japan > Hokkaido region > Hakodate city

	Hakodate city Hokkaido ( Achi-Kochi Japan )

Hakodate city, Hokkaido Hakodate ( above ) is the third largest city in Hokkaido. While 250 thousands people live in Hakodate, almost five million tourists visit the city every year. There are a few dozens of popular sightseeing spots in the city. In addition, Hakodate is one of the best places to enjoy eating fresh seafood dishes in Japan.

Port City Hakodate ( above ) used to be a fishing village where Ainu ( native people of Hokkaido ) lived. It had developed as a regional trading centre in the 18th century after the Ainu people were oppressed. After a few centuries of the national seclusion, Tokugawa Shogunate opened two ports, Shimoda and Hakodate to foreign ships just for provisioning in A.D.1855.

Former British Consulate In A.D.1859, Hakodate port was opened not only for provisioning but completely for foreign trade to foreign ships. Since then on, foreign countries established their consulates in Motomachi District in Hakodate. The British Consulate was established in A.D.1859. Though its buildings were burnt down twice in fires, the Former British Consulate ( above ), reconstructed in A.D.1913, remains in Hakodate. While the British Consulate of Hakodate was closed in A.D.1934, the building is now open to the public as the Opening-Port Memorial Hall. On its ground floor, exhibited are many items related to the opening of Hakodate port. There on its first floor is "Victorian Rose", a tea room. Also tourists could enjoy walking around the gardens.

Russian Orthodox Church Russian Consulate was establishes in Hakodate in A.D.1858 and in the following year, the Russian Orthodox Church was constructed attached to the consulate. It was the first Russian Orthodox Church built in Japan. In Hakodate remains the Russian Orthodox Church ( above ) reconstructed in A.D.1908. There in Motomachi District of Hakodate are not only Russian Orthodox Church, but also Episcopal Church, which was established in A.D.1874. Its current building was reconstructed in A.D.1979. Also there is Roman Catholic Church in the district, which was established in A.D.1859. Its current building was reconstructed in A.D.1924.

Hakodate-yama ( Mount Hakodate ) Many tourists take the ropeway service ( above ) to go up to the top of Hakodate-yama ( Mount Hakodate - 334m high ), where they could enjoy viewing the city and the bay. The ropeway service connects the summit of the mountain and the submontane station located in Motomachi District in three minutes.

Night View Tourists could be surprised after sunset to see so many people being on the top of Mount Hakodate, where they enjoy the night view of Hakodate ( above ). The night view was provided by Michelin Green Guide with three star rating and is so famous and popular among tourists. It is said that the night view of Hakodate is one of the greatest night views in Japan.

Goryo-kaku, Western-style Fort Hakodate port was opened to foreign ships by Tokugawa Shogunate, which constructed Goryo-kaku, a Western-style fort, in Hakodate in A.D.1866 to defend Hokkaido from foreign powers. " Goryo " in Japanese means " five point " while " kaku " means "fort". So " Goryo-kaku " means " five-point fort ". The above shows the site of Goryo-kaku, which is one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Hakodate. In A.D.1868, two years after the completion of the five-point fort, Tokugawa Shogunate was overthrown ( see A History of Japan vol.3 After Samurai ). Then Boshin War started between Meiji Government and the supporters of Tokugawa, who occupied Goryo-kaku. It was in A.D.1869 that the fort was surrendered to Meiji Government. Now the site of Goryo-kaku is one of National Historic Sites of Japan. Next to the site stands Goryo-kaku Tower ( 107m high ), whose observatory helps tourists overlook the five-pointed star shape of the fort. Also there are almost 1,600 cherry trees in the site of the fort, where so many people enjoy Hanami ( Sakura Viewing ) in the season of cherry blossoms.

Asa-ichi ( Morning Market ) Asa-ichi ( Morning Market ) is one of the best tourist spots in Hakodate city. There in and around Asa-ichi are a few hundreds of stores and stalls selling various kinds of fresh seafood including squid, sea urchin, salmon eggs, scallop, crabs ( above ) and many more. Asa-ichi, located near Hakodate station, is open basically from 6:00 am ( from 5:00 am in summer ) to noon.

Ika ( squid ) Asa-ichi ( Morning Market ) is surrounded by many restaurants serving various kinds of seafood dishes, among which Ika ( squid ) sashimi ( above ) could be one of the most recommended. Ika ( squid ) is the city fish of Hakodate.

Kaisen-don In restaurants surrounding Asa-ichi, tourists could enjoy eating much more kinds of seafood dishes such as Kaisen-don ( above ) which is a bowl of rice topped with various fresh seafoods. Hakodate Asa-ichi is one of the best places to enjoy eating seafood dishes for breakfast and/or lunch in Japan.

Onuma Koen ( Park ) Tourists, staying in Hakodate city, could easily visit Onuma Koen, a quasi national park located 16km north of Hakodate. Onuma Koen Station is connected by railway with Hakodate Station. There in the park, tourists could enjoy viewing landscapes of Koma-ga-take mountain, Onuma pond ( above ), Konuma pond and Junsai-numa pond.

Forests surrounding Onuma pond Many people enjoy walking around Onuma pond ( circumference 14km ), island dotted and surrounded by forests ( above ). Also a cycling course around Onuma pond could be helpful while there is a bicycle rental shop near Onuma Koen Station. Other people enjoy fishing, camping, canoeing and some more in Onuma Perk.