Hakodate Hachimangu Shrine !

by Kazu

The shrine "Hakodate Hachimangu" is backed by Mt. Hakodate and is surrounded by the residential area "Yachigashira". Cidar trees were around the shrine as if they were the shield for the shrine.  

Each shrine tends to have this kind of small Inari shrine on the premises. They are colored red. The symbol of the shrine is foxes.

The main sacred house of the shrine had its unique design like a bird with full-fledged wings. Some citizens were worshiped in front of the main  sacred house.

 

Hakodate Hachimangu !

by Kazu

This is the Shinto shrine "Hakodate Hachimangu" at the foot of Mt. Hakodate. It was the first time for me to visit there from Motomachi Area through the hillside of the mountain. 

My father had lived near the shrine thirty years ago. I visited there a few times and enjoyed my stay and Yachigashira Hot Spring Spa that was and is loved by the residents and tourists.

The main sacred house of the shrine seemed to be so old but well-maintained. The forest around the shrine was also well-maintained and trimmed.

 

Hakodate Bay to Yachigashira !

by Kazu

Before Hokkaido Island had been developed by the pioneers, this port city was the entrance from the main island Honshu, Japan. This residential area was so calm in the morning.

The rising sun seemed to be much bigger than usual. The ropeway station was not open yet. I've never used the ropeway before.

The facility seemed to be comparatively new. The color of green fits the mountain and the blue sky to a T. So many tourists had visited there before the pandemic of covid-19. 

 

The Uptown of Hakodate City!

by Kazu

This is one of my favorite places in Hakodate City. It is on the hillside of Mt. Hakodate. So many buildings and houses that have exotic atmosphere.  

Edible flowers seemed to be used to make the cakes provided in this cafe of Motomachi Area. I have not visited this area in business hours in this decade.  

Old houses had been refurbished and are now used as souvenir shops and cafes. The ropeway is available from the hillside to the peak of Mt. Hakodate.

 

Hakodate Public Hall !

by Kazu

The Old Public Hall of Hakodate City had refurbished some years ago. It had regained the original beauty that had when established at the beginning of the international port many years ago.  

Dance parties had been held frequently in this facility many years ago. The port city had fully flourished with trade, fishery and tourism.

The symbolic buildings, shrines, and residences can be seen around the bay area even now. This is one of such symbolic buildings in the port city.

 

Jogging around in Hakodate!

by Kazu

This is my routine jogging course 1 in Hakodate City. Beautiful cherry blossoms would bloom at  the end of coming April. The flowers of Azalea would do after that.

The statue of Perry stood at the foot of Mt. Hakodate. We Japanese had been brain-washed by a certain parties that rule the world but anyway, we Japanese have transformed and absorbed the upside of the culture of other countries. 

The exotic port city Hakodate swallowed a variety of culture of other countries and the memorial signs are here and there in the city, particularly around the bay area. 

 

Mt. Hakodate !

by Kazu

Almost all the ships of fishermen were staying at  the piers of the Port of Hakodate. I ate sushi-grade cut raw squid just after our arrival in the city in the evening on the day before. Most of these ships were for squid fishing.  

Even early in the morning, many tourists had been walking around the bay area before the pandemic of covid-19 because the eateries in the morning market called "Asaichi" around the railway station provides top-grade fresh seafood for breakfast. 

 

Hakodate Bay in the morning 2!

by Kazu

Mt. Hakodate could be seen so clearly from the bay area early in the morning on that day. No foreign tourists could be seen around the area. It was different from two years ago.

The hotels were not full. It must be so tough for the tourism industry to have few tourists in this season. I hope the pandemic of infectious disease will be kicked away from the world and the diligent and hospitable people will be busy having many tourists from the other parts on this globe.  

It was very calm in the morning. It might be a precious moment in this decades. We should do what we can do now and mot later.

 

Hakodate Bay in the morning !

by Kazu

I make a point of jogging around the Port of Hakodate City every time I visit the exotic area. This ship had connected the city and Aomori City at  the northern end of the main island of Japan.

Mashu-maru is the name of the ship. It is not in service any more as a method of the public transportation between the cities with TsugaruStrait in between.  

It was so fine early in the morning on that day but it would be cloudy and raining on the next day. I love the scenery of the port and the surroundings. 

 

Hakodate night in spring!

by Kazu

After the business on weekdays, my wife and I drove to the Port City Hakodate and arrived in the hotel JR Inn Hakodate at around nine o'clock in the evening. At the entrance of the hotel,  some emblems of the trains were displayed.

The emblems were used for the trains that had been in service some years ago. Elm, Cassiopeia,  Kaikyo(Strait) and　Hokutosei (The Great Dipper, Charles's Wain) were the names of the trains. 

Affected by the pandemic of Covid-19 and SARS-2, almost no tourists could be seen around the railway station in Hakodate in the night. It had been almost a year since our last visit to the port city.