Hakodate, Japan, Jun.9, 2023

Histrical area, Hachiman-Zaka Slope and Seafood Breakfasts

Hakodate is a compact city. You could visit most of tourist-must-see places by walk, tram or bus.  The city was developed as one of the five treaty ports in the modern history of Japan, when they were forced Japan to open its door to Western countries. Hakodate is a strategically important port in the northern Japan. It thrived through trade with Russia and fishery. Based on this historical background, Hakodate is an exotic town with buildings and places built during the early period of the port opening like churches, western style modern buildings, the foreign cemeteries, the warehouses, to name a few. They are kept in a good condition to this days. Many of them are located around the foot of the Mount Hakodate and the dock area. Trams are an important way of transportation. West side of the town is a ship builder’s dock. All of them remind me of Yokohama of around 1970s, the good old days. Yokohama was developed as one of the five treaty ports at the same time as Hakodate. We have historical buildings and places related to the history, many of which are around Yamate area on the hill near the port. Trams once crisscrossed the town as an important way of transportation. The ship builder’s dock used to occupy the large part of west side of the dock area, now Minato Mirai area. I would tell Hakodate is a place I would like to live as a resident if I were asked.

One of my favorite places is western area of the town near Hakodate yama. Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church of Hakodate, known as Hakodate Russian Orthodox Church is located on the hill near Hachiman-Zaka slope. The church was erected on the current site on the Russian consulate in 1860. The church is listed as an important cultural property of Japan. The church has come out from the renovation this Spring. It is shining in beautiful white and water color. I was able to enter the church and see the beautiful icons inside. Motomachi Catholic Church has the history of over 100 years. The father of the church is an advocate of “Pilgrimage tourism” and they welcome tourists in belief to come.

There are fish markets near Hakodate station. Shops are selling seafood harvested in all over Hokkaido as well as here. (Large amount of squid are landed at the port. ) Restaurants in the markets offer seafood dishes like Sashimi, Sushi, Rice bowl…. On my second day, I entered in a local restaurant for breakfast. I ordered a set of grilled Salmon with miso soup and rice. Typical breakfast for Japanese. It was not cheap but acceptable for the delicious taste. During my stay of three days, I tried Yakitori Bento at Hasegawa store, it is not chicken but pork; Shio ramen or ramen in salt based soup, which is popular in Hakodate area; Chinese chiken burger at Lucky Pierrot, signature dish which won nation’s street food competition so called “B”-kyu groumet; and Hotdog at Carl Raymon’s sausage shop.  Around the south part of Hokkaido, it means pork belly BBQ when people say Yakitori, or Chiken BBQ on a stick.  I ate, walked around, and slept like a baby during my visit.  I want to visit the town again.