Why we love Hakodate City !

by Kazu

I think the design of this St. John's Church Hakodate is very intriguing and spearheading. From May through November, the inside of the building can be seen but the reservation is required beforehand. As you recognize, the shape of the roof is "cross". 

The design fee and the cost of the construction were covered with the donation of the believers and devotees, I think but the shape of the roof might be designed to avoid carpet-bombing even in the war.

Even the pilots of B-29 could recognize that there was a church there from the air. Carpet-bombing to Japanese people had been planed decades before World War Ⅱ. Japanese people are not good at responding appropriately to the malice of the strategic people.

 

Life in Hakodate ! 2

by Kazu

Even now, some Russian people are still living in the port city Hakodate and exporting used cars to their country but I am not sure whether they are praying in the beautiful church or not.

I learned that the Unangan people in Aleutian Islands were in the belief of Russian Orthodox because the islands and Alaska had been in the reign of Russia. Even now, their style of belief is affected by Russian Orthodox. 

I suppose the beautiful church is well-maintained with the donation by the Christians and devotees. The portrait of Saint Nicholas was on the monument stood on the courtyard. 

 

Life in Hakodate !

by Kazu

Jogging around the Motomachi Park and the Bay of Hakodate City, I imagined my would-be life in the port city. The surface of the road cobbled with stones was a little bit slippery but no snow nor ice could be found  in the uptown.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

"The Russian Orthodox Church" in Motomachi Area of Hakodate City is called "Harisutosu Church" by the citizens. It is one of the most popular place to visit among the tourists from other area of Japan and overseas. 

The design of the building seems to be so sophisticated even now and the gate and approach to the building has something prestigious and exotic.Against the backdrop of the peak of Mt. Hakodateyama, the symbol of the belief was shining with the sunshine. 

 

Motomachi Public Hall in Autumn, 2025 !

by Kazu

The Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward showed us its fabulous collaboration with the beautiful autumnal foliage in 2025 too. In this sense, the refurbishment of the old building was successful. 

The  outlook naturally made me imagine the official parties thrown by the authorities, inviting the delegations from overseas. I do not think that the ordinary citizens were used to the occidental manner to enjoy the dance party and cuisine.

The trees around the old public hall and Motomachi Park seemed to have been well-trimmed and to be giving good support to the scenery. It must be expensive to keep the park including the trees well-maintained and beautiful.

 

Motomachi Park in Autumn, 2025 !2

by Kazu

The trees in the Motomachi Park was well-trimmed as usual and the leaves of the plants turned red and yellow so nicely. Hakodate Bay and the surrounding mountains could be seen from there early in the morning.

The pale blue sky changing its color to pale pink making the stunning contrast with gray clouds.  The rising sun could not be seen and the street lights were still giving nice accent in the darkness on the ground.

I imagined my life in the Port City. Watching a variety of countenances of the bay area and the surroundings and the people living there, what I can do to the people and the community ? Expanding my imagination, I remember that my father who passed away had lived there decades ago.

 

Motomachi Park in Autumn, 2025 !

by Kazu

The old warehouse near Hakodate Bay was covered with vine with colored autumnal foliage of red. I think the peak time of the beautiful autumnal foliage was comparatively later than usual in 2025.  

Thanks to the delay of turning color of the leaves, I could enjoy the beautiful countenances of the Port City Hakodate even in November, 2025 during my business jaunt.

The Motomachi Park in the uptown of the city showed me its most beautiful facet in the cold and clear air after the crack of dawn on that day. I was heading to the trail on the hillside of Mt. Hakodate to shortcut the approach to Yachigashira District on the othe side of the mountain.

 

If You Live in Hakodate City !

by Kazu

I imagined the life in Hakodate City and my regular jogging around the bay early in the morning at the crack of dawn. For the first time, I recognized the statue facing the bay was of Mr. Joseph Hardy Neejima. 

He founded "Doshisha" in Japan. I had not recognized his presence in Hakodate City before that. The statue was set by Hakodate Rotary Club in 2014. Hakodate is not so snowy even in winter. So such statue is not a obstacle to take off snow even in winter.   

The artistic objects and some statues were displayed around the bay. Living in the Port City may affect the lives of the people, particularly, in the adolescence. The mild skyline around the bay gave so nice base to the landscape.