Things to do in Hakodate：Motomachi Church Group

A mysterious space lined with churches of different denominations

Minatogaoka Street, which goes from the former Hakodate Ward Public Hall to the churches, intersects with Daisanzaka, which has been selected as one of Japan’s 100 best roads, where the rowan berries of the roadside trees dye the street bright red in autumn. At this point, churches from Russia, France, and England and Japanese temples are lined up facing each other, creating a mysterious world that goes beyond exotic and feels otherworldly.

 

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Hakodate Orthodox Church

Hakodate Orthodox Church is a representative example of the Western-style architecture that makes up the exotic townscape. In addition to its white walls and green roof exterior, it is also famous for having a bell that plays a beautiful tone on weekends, and is affectionately known by local residents as “Gangan Temple.” The sound of the bell has been certified as one of Japan’s top 100 soundscapes.
In 1859, Goshkevich, the first Russian consul, secured a site for the Russian consulate on the current site of the church. The first church was built the following year in 1860 as a church attached to the consulate. Saint Nicholas, a young priest who came to Japan in 1861, was the first to propagate the Orthodox Church in Japan using this church as his base. The building was destroyed in a huge fire in 1907, but the current second church was rebuilt in 1916, and was designated as a national important cultural property in 1983.

 

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The walls of the brick building are finished with white plaster, and the roof is made of green copper sheets. There are six crown-shaped cupoles (small dome-shaped towers) on the roof, each with a cross on it.
The bell currently installed in the octagonal bell tower above the main entrance is the fifth generation. In 1996, it was recognized as one of Japan’s top 100 soundscapes by the Environment Agency. The sound of this bell reverberates throughout the foothills of Mt. Hakodate for 3 to 5 minutes each time, including the vigil at 5pm on Saturdays and the Divine Liturgy on Sunday mornings.

 

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Catholic Motomachi Church

Motomachi Catholic Church, which stands before entering Chacha Nobori (Chacha means “grandfather” in Ainu language) at the end of Daisanzaka, is built in the Gothic architectural style of the 12th century and features a large bell tower with a soaring peak. It is one of the oldest churches in Japan, along with the Catholic churches built in Yokohama and Nagasaki, as a symbol of the resumption of Christian missionary work prior to the abolition of the ban on Christianity issued by the Tokugawa Shogunate.

 

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In 1859 (Ansei 6), a French missionary, Mr. Merme de Cachon, moved to Hakodate, set up a residence within Shomyoji Temple, held mass for foreigners in the church hall, taught foreign languages ​​to samurai, and also worked as a learned Japanese and Ainu language. In 1867 (Keio 3), priests Messrs. Municou and Ambrustel, who came to Hakodate, built the second church, and in 1877 (Meiji 10), priest Maren built the third, larger cathedral.
This wooden cathedral was completely burnt down in a big fire in 1907 (Meiji 40), and the brick structure that was later rebuilt was also damaged in a big fire in 1921 (Taisho 10), but the remaining brick walls were covered with mortar. The building was repaired while being painted, and a large bell tower 33 meters in height was added, and the current building was completed in 1923 (Taisho 12). Traditional building.

The central altar, side altars, and 14 Stations of the Cross on both walls of the church were gifts from Pope Benedict XV as a sympathy gift after the fire. In addition, behind the cathedral, there is the “Cave of Lourdes”, which enshrines a 1.5m-tall statue of the Virgin Mary, where believers offer prayers every May and October.

 

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Hakodate St. John’s Church

The building has crosses on its four white walls, and its brown cross-shaped roof is impressive when viewed from the summit of Mt. Hakodate or from the ropeway.
In 1874 (Meiji 7), British Bishop Denning landed in Hakodate and began missionary work, becoming the first Anglican church in Hokkaido. Successive pastors established schools and hospitals in the city, and made great achievements in the fields of education and welfare.

 

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The first church was built under Motosaka in 1878 (Meiji 11). Like other buildings, it was subsequently destroyed by repeated large fires and had to be relocated, and the current church was completed in November 1979, using construction methods modeled on European churches of the middle century. It has a modern design. You can tour the interior by making a reservation from April 29th to November 3rd. Sunday services and concerts are also held here.
The parsonage, which was built next to the church in 2006, has been highly praised for its tasteful structure that blends in with Hakodate’s exotic townscape, including its gable roof, clapboard-style exterior walls, and vertical windows with picture frames. It has won the City Urban Landscape Award.

Link：Hakodate Southern Hokkaido tourist guide