List of Seven Must-Visit Spots in Hakodate
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The building was used as the British Consulate from 1913 to 1934, and now is a memorial hall commemorating the opening of Hakodate and open to the public to this day. It is characterized by white walls and blue window frames.

On the first floor of the building, there is a space for drink tea or coffee and British-made sundry goods are also offered. The courtyard is planted with 146 roses in 60 varieties, which are pleasing to the eye when they are in full bloom between late June and early August.

If you get off at the stand of Suehiro-cho and walk along the Motoi-zaka, you’ll find Motomachi Park at the end of the road, which used to be the administrative center of Hakodate. As the observation deck of the Park commands a scenic view of Port of Hakodate, the Park is also a nice place for a date. ♡

On the first floor of the Former Hakodate Branch Office of Hokkaido Government in the Park is the tourist information center, which offers free brochures on the tourist attractions around Motomachi. On the second floor was a photo history museum, which has closed since March 31, 2016.

The Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward established in 1910 is acclaimed as the most splendid building among many western-style buildings around Motomachi, and also designated as an important cultural property in Hakodate. The whole building is bilaterally symmetrical, and its exterior in bluish grey and golden looks very noble.

It has a magnificent hall and rooms for distinguished guests, where some members of Japan’s imperial family have stayed during their visit to Hakodate.

In the Haikara Studio (Haikara Isho-kan), you can wear a princess-like dress, strike any pose you like, and take photos with your own camera. Costumes for men and children are also available. (※ payment is required)

The Old Soma Residence was a private residence built by Soma Teppei, a wealthy merchant in Hakodate, in 1908; and the construction of the nearby Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward was also funded by his generous donation. The Residence is a lavish mansion representative of Japan’s architectural style. It is established with an art gallery called History Gallery, where such Japanese drawings as those of Ainu are on display.

This Orthodox church is built on a hill and once used as the Russian Consulate. The existing building, built in 1916, is praised as representative of western-style buildings in Hakodate. It is characterized by an onion-shaped dome. Tourists can visit the church decorated with beautiful icons.

The Motomachi Roman Catholic Church was founded in 1877 and the existing building was rebuilt in 1924. Being one of the three most ancient Catholic churches in Japan, it enjoys the same fame as those in Nagahama and Yokohama. The building features a triangular clock tower and a magnificent altar that was presented by the Pope.

The Hakodate St John Church is above all the other churches at Motomachi. It was a St John Church founded by an English priest who visited Hakodate in 1874, but destroyed in two huge fires. The existing building was completed in 1979. It features milky-white outer walls and an impressive cross-shaped roof when looked from a height.

At the foot of Mt. Hakodate, there are 19 sloping streets running straight to the Port of Hakodate, which are called “zaka” in Japanese. Many of those slopes are well worth a visit. Hachiman-zaka, Motoi-zaka and Daisan-zaka are most famous.