Hakodate: Three Christian churches and a temple coexisting

Take the tram from Hakodate Station for about 10 minutes, get off at Motomachi Station, and walk up the hill to see a group of churches. Russian, French, and British churches line up opposite Japanese temples, creating a mysterious world that goes beyond exoticism and feels almost otherworldly. Hakodate Christ Orthodox Church is a Greek Orthodox church brought to Japan by Russian missionary Father St. Nicholas. The Catholic Motomachi Church, where French missionaries began their missionary work in 1859 (Ansei 6), houses the only precious altar in Japan, a gift from Pope Benedict XV. Hakodate St. John's Church, where British missionaries began their missionary work in 1874 (Meiji 7), is Hokkaido's first Anglican church. All are worth seeing. Next door, the Shingon sect's Higashi Honganji Hakodate Betsuin is also located. These are very distinctive tourist spots that are typical of Hakodate.

Post by HIYOKO traveler | Oct 13, 2025