HAKODATE - West Meets East- Part 1

Hakodate in southern Hokkaido, Japan was one of the first ports open to foreign traders in the mid 1850's. Americans, British and Russians settled in Hakodate and built western style buildings and churches in the hilly Motomachi section. Today they are one of the city's tourist attractions.



One of the many slopes (streets) up to the churches of Hakodate. We turned around half way up and looked back down the slope.


Entrance to the Hakodate Russian Orthodox Church (1919) also called Gan-gan dera. Inside were paintings of Orthodox saints and religious figures and an elaborate altar with carved icons. No photos allowed inside.


Another view of the church.


A closer view of the green onion domes and spires.




Just down the street is the modern looking Hakodate Episcopal Church. Also in this area is a Roman Catholic Church and a United Church of Christ in Japan.


At the corner of another slope (street) is the Hakodate branch of the Higashi-Hongan Buddhist Temple. The main temple is in Kyoto. Also you can see the lookout area on the top of Mount Hakodate.


A closer view of the Temple.


Below is a Shinto Shrine I spotted in this area of Hakodate.





It's interesting that Rough Guide Japan and an informative Japanese & English publication, Romantic Hakodate, we were given at the Hakodate Tourist Information Çenter mention the Christian Churches but not the Buddhist Temple or Shinto Shrine. Part 2 of this photo essay will be the non religious western style buildings.