From the top of Mt. Hakodate, you can see a distinctive church with a green roof overlooking the harbor. The roof is covered with copper plates, and the patina on the copper gives it a beautiful green color. The Hakodate Orthodox Church is one of Hakodate’s most iconic historical buildings, attracting visitors both in the past and present.
There are many other historical buildings in the area, making it ideal for a walking tour.
Hakodate Orthodox Church is the first Orthodox Church in Japan, founded in 1859 by the Russian Consulate. The original church burned down in 1907, and the current building, constructed in 1916, is a notable example of western-style architecture in Hakodate. It was designated an important cultural property in 1983. Locals affectionately call the church ‘Gan Gan Dera’ because of the sound of its bells, which you can hear on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings.
Access
Neighborhood
- Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward
- Old British Consulate
- Motomachi Roman Catholic Church
- Hakodate Episcopal Church of Japan
- Hakodate Church (United Church of Christ in Japan)
- Higashihonganji-Temple Hakodate Branch
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