This time we're visiting Hakodate City in Hokkaido! Okay, I'm going to skip the part where we had a late flight from Haneda (Tokyo) to Hakodate Airport and we rode a bus from the airport to the front of JR Hakodate Train Station. From the station we walked to our hotel that was located next to the station, we checked in, went to our room, had a nightcap; and then went to bed. Yes, I'm going to skip that stuff!
We're going to start with the first morning in Hakodate City. It's early morning and this is the view from our hotel room on the 10th floor. It's a view of the bus and taxi terminal in front of the JR Hakodate train station.
We stayed at the La'gent hotel (very nice) and in the morning we used the hotel's spacious public hot bath on the 2nd floor and then we enjoyed a wonderful buffet breakfast in the hotel's dining room. The buffet really was fantastic!
After breakfast we went out to explore the Hakodate Morning Market.
This is the front of the JR Hakodate Train Station. The Morning Market is right next to it.
Per the internet: The Hakodate Morning Market (Asaichi) is held daily from 5am (6am from January to April) to noon, just a few steps away from JR Hakodate Station. The market area spans about four city blocks.
Products on sale include various types of fresh seafood, such as crabs, salmon eggs and sea urchin, as well as fresh produce such as melons. Many restaurants can be found in the market area, offering fresh seafood breakfasts, such as uni-ikura domburi.
Somebody was buying a fresh crab.
The morning market is a popular spot for tourist and locals.
The next place on our list to visit was the Red Brick Warehouse area. It's not the far away so we decided to walk there. On our way there I saw my first streetcar! Hakodate is one of the few cities in Japan that still has an active streetcar system. This is one of the reasons I wanted to visit Hakodate.
I'm so excited!
And, here's another one coming from the opposite direction! I'm looking forward to riding one.
We have arrived at the Red Brick Warehouse area
Per the internet: Hakodate Port was among the first Japanese ports to be opened to international trade towards the end of the feudal era. Several red brick warehouses from past trading days survive along the waterfront in the bay area of Hakodate and have been redeveloped into an atmospheric shopping, dining and entertainment complex.
Besides a typical range of trendy souvenir, fashion, interior and sweets shops, the complex also features a restaurant, a beer hall, a chapel for weddings and sightseeing cruises of the bay.
There are quite a few rickshaw operators offering tours of the Red Brick area. I don't know how much it costs but they did seem to be doing pretty good business.
Emi standing next to the Jo Niijima Bronze Statue.
Now it's my turn.
In the distance we can see Midori no Shima (Green Island) and beyond that the ship and boat repair area cranes. We'll visit there another day.
From the Red Brick waterfront area we walk up the Hachiman Zaka Slope to visit the Motomachi district. This slope is steeper and longer than it looks
At the top of the slope we arrive in the historical Motomachi district. The first place to visit is the Hakodate Orthodox Church.
It's a Circa-19th-century Russian Orthodox church. Photography was prohibited inside the church. Entry is free but they do except donations!
Next door the the Russian church is the Hakodatesei John Church.
And across the street from the John church is the Catholic Church Hakodate Motomachi. A Small, historic Roman Catholic church featuring Gothic architecture & a bell tower. That church was covered with scaffolding and tarps because it was under a major renovation so I didn't take a picture. Instead I took a picture of a group of seniors taking a break across the street.
And, now it's time for the highlight of the hill top historical district! It's the Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward.
It's a renovated civic building from 1910, with a period interior & harbor views from its balcony.
This place is amazing!
Many of the furniture and furnishings are original.
Admission is 300 yen and it's worth it!
So impressive.
The view of the harbor from the second floor balcony.
A lot of people come here to have their picture taken.
A view of the main entrance.
Another view of the harbor from in front of the Old Public Hall.
Well, as impressed as I am with the Old Public Hall, it's time to move on.
This is the Former Hakodate Branch Office of Hokkaido Government; now it's a restaurant.
This is the Former British Consulate of Hakodate.
Inside the Former British Consulate of Hakodate.
Is it tea-time? Actually, there is a nice little cafe inside the Former British Consulate of Hakodate for people that would like a cup of tea.
We headed back down the slope to the waterfront and now it's time to find a place to eat lunch. All this sightseeing has made us hungry!
The best place to eat and shop is "Hakodate Factory" website
We ate lunch here and it was cheap and delicious.
After lunch we did some more walking around and we also visited the Hakodate City Museum of Northern Peoples website Then, it was time to ride a streetcar!!! We rode a street car from the museum back to the JR Hakodate train station. This is the streetcar stop in front of the train station.
Before returning to our hotel we stopped by the Hakodate Tourist Information Center (inside the train station) so that Emi could get some information for tomorrows adventures!
This is a view of our hotel.
Part 2 is coming soon!
Thanks for stopping by!
Mike
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