The town of Hakodate, which opened as a port during the late Edo period, flourished mainly at the foot of Mount Hakodate, which stretches out to the left when viewed from Hakodate Port.

Therefore, many tourist attractions, such as the magnificent Western-style building "Former Hakodate Public Hall" and the "Motomachi Church Group" with its rows of churches of various denominations, are located on slopes. Many people probably remember their Hakodate sightseeing as enjoyable, but also as being challenged by the uphill and downhill climbs.

These slopes can be a bit of a hassle for tourists, but did you know that every single slope in the Motomachi district has a name? Learning about the origins of each name might make exploring the Motomachi area even more enjoyable.

This time, we'll introduce the origins of the three slopes and some cafes perfect for resting your tired feet.

<Table of Contents>
1. Hachimanzaka
・select coffee shop peacepiece
2. Motosaka
- Former British Consulate (Tea Room Victorian Rose)
3. Daisanzaka
Motomachi Saryo
Final thoughts

Hachimanzaka is one of the most famous slopes in Hakodate. From the top of the slope, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Hakodate Port, making it a popular spot for photography.

Straight down the hill is the Seikan Ferry Memorial Museum Mashu Maru, which is lit up at night. In winter, the street trees are also lit up, making it a spot where you can enjoy illuminations.

The name Hachiman-zaka (Hachiman Slope) comes from the fact that the Hakodate Hachiman Shrine used to be located on this slope. The shrine was destroyed in a great fire during the Meiji era and was later moved to Yachigashira-cho, but the name remained the same.

A recommended cafe on Hachimanzaka is select coffee shop peacepiece. As the name suggests, this shop is well-known for its in-house roasted coffee.

The shop isn't particularly spacious, but its calm atmosphere allows you to relax and rest your feet.

The shop has a wide selection of cups and saucers on display, and apparently, if you tell them your preference, they'll put your drink in your favorite cup.

Here, you can not only drink coffee but also buy some to take home, so please consider purchasing some as a souvenir or a memento of your trip.

This is Motoi-zaka, a slope that stretches from the Old Hakodate Public Hall towards Hakodate Port. Since it's the path leading up to Motomachi Park, where the Old Hakodate Public Hall is located, some of you may have walked it before.

This slope is said to have gotten its name because a "mileage marker" used for measuring distances during the Meiji era was placed here, making it a starting point slope.

Midway up the slope of Motosaka Hill is the former British Consulate, a famous tourist spot.

Although it underwent restoration in 1992 and renovation in 2009, its basic structure remains the same as when it was originally built in 1913.

The building not only contains furniture from the time of its construction, but also a museum exhibiting the spots that Commodore Perry visited when the port was opened to foreign trade.

If you're tired from visiting the Old Hakodate Public Hall or the museum inside the consulate, we recommend the Victorian Rose tearoom located on the first floor of the consulate.

It's renowned for offering an authentic afternoon tea experience surrounded by antique furnishings such as large mantelpieces and tapestries.

Next to the tearoom, there's a shop selling British goods, so it's fun to stop by and take a look.

The slopes I've introduced so far are among the widest in Motomachi, but the next one I'll introduce, Daisanzaka, has a more intimate atmosphere.

Some of the slopes in Motomachi have been widened to prevent fires from easily spreading, a result of repeated major fires. However, narrow slopes like Daisanzaka retain the atmosphere of an older era.

On this slope is the Catholic Motomachi Church, one of the "Motomachi Church Group." With its towering spire, solid Gothic architecture, and benevolent statue of the Virgin Mary, it's a building that fully evokes the atmosphere of a church abroad.

The name of Daisanzaka is said to have originated from the name of a local inn (goyado: an inn exclusively for people coming to the magistrate's office on official business from the provinces) that was located at the bottom of the slope. At one time, a man named Kinoshita lived at the top of the slope, so it was also called "Kinoshita's Slope."

Located diagonally across from the Catholic Motomachi Church is Motomachi Saryo. While it appears to be a modern cafe at first glance, the building retains the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese-Western style house that has been around in Hakodate for a long time. There's a terrace outside, perfect for summer.

The shop's interior features abundant use of wood, creating a calm atmosphere where you can enjoy coffee and sweets. The view of Daisanzaka from the lattice windows is like a painting. You can enjoy the slope and the surrounding scenery without worrying about being seen by others.

The sweets and coffee offered by the owner, who is also a big fan of cafes, are said to be delicious. Although it's a cafe, you can also enjoy nostalgic, old-fashioned sweets here.

They offer a variety of drinks and sweets, but we recommend their outdoor coffee set. The strong espresso is frothed using a bamboo whisk, resulting in a smooth and mellow flavor. It pairs perfectly with the seasonal Japanese sweets!

That concludes our introduction to Motomachi Hill, an area in Hakodate with many tourist attractions.

Even for those of us who live in Hakodate, going up and down the hills of Motomachi can be tough, but the exhilarating walk through the town and the delicious time spent at a cafe more than make up for the effort. Please do enjoy it!

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