HAKODATE - West Meets East- Part 2

The Motomachi area of Hakodate has some wonderful late nineteenth/early twentieth century Western style buildings. They are impressive looking and it seemed to me a little strange to see them in Japan where a few days earlier I had spent the day in Kamakura with its temples and the Daibutsu.


The Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward was built in 1910. The second floor balcony has a view of the entire port.


A closer view of this very large and commanding building.



Japanese buildings in Hakodate are a different style from those I've seen in Tokyo. It seemed to me these buildings are designed for the colder climate which Hokkaido is known for.


The striking Soma Company building was constructed in 1913 and is still in use today. It's my favorite of the Western style buildings we saw . I like its green color.



Another Western style building we saw as we walked downhill to the Red Brick Warehouse area and the bay which a local publication refers to as "the landing place of foreign culture."


We stopped here for lunch before we reached the the Red Brick Warehouses. The four beers in the top left of the menu are served as a sampler so of course we ordered one.



The beer sampler went well with our fish and chips.



The Red Brick Warehouses were built in 1907 and now house trendy shops and restaurants.



Women out for some shopping.



The warehouses are connected by walkways through small grass areas.



Some are also connected by bridges with walkways along the outsides of the warehouses.



A fun day.