The Motomachi Bay Area, spread out at the foot of Mount Hakodate, is one of Hakodate's most popular tourist areas. In addition to the night view from Mount Hakodate, visitors can enjoy the retro and exotic scenery, including churches, Western-style buildings, old houses, and Hakodate Port, as well as local cuisine.

One place you should definitely visit in the Motomachi/Bay Area is the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses in Hakodate Port. These warehouses were built in 20 as commercial warehouses for trade, and were designated as an Important Cultural Property in 21.

The former trading warehouses have now been transformed into shopping malls and become popular tourist attractions. This article will provide an overview of the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses and recommend some shops.

<Table of Contents>
1. The History of the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses
2. BAY Hakodate
3. Kanamori Western-style Museum
4. Hakodate History Plaza
Final thoughts

About a 15-minute walk from Hakodate Station towards the bay area, you'll find the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses, a group of warehouses with triangular roofs standing against the backdrop of Hakodate Port.

The origins of the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses can be traced back to the "Kanamori Western Goods Store," which was opened in 2 by Kumashiro Watanabe I, a businessman from Oita Prefecture. The carpenter's square and the Kanemori family name depicted on the warehouses date back to the time of the Kanemori Western Goods Store's opening.

Later, Kumashiro, realizing he needed a warehouse for his business, purchased an unused warehouse in Hakodate Port and started a commercial warehouse business for trade in 20 as "Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse."

Six warehouses were destroyed in the Great Hakodate Fire of 40, but they were rebuilt in 42.

Although it continued to play a central role in Hakodate City's warehousing industry, in the late Showa period, the warehousing business declined due to various factors such as the shift in transportation from ships to airplanes and the decline of the North Pacific fisheries.

On the other hand, the imposing and charming appearance of the red brick warehouses has attracted attention as architectural structures, and their popularity among tourists has increased after being featured on television and in commercials.

Against this backdrop, in 63, it reopened as the "Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse," reborn as a tourist facility featuring exhibition halls, restaurants, and a shopping center.

Heading from Hakodate Station towards the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses, the first thing you'll see is "BAY Hakodate." Surrounding Hakodate's only canal, built in 15, are various facilities including restaurants, shops, and a chapel.

In the square in front of the canal stands the Bell of Happiness, modeled after the Kanamori family's name. It's a recommended photo spot, so after ringing the bell, why not take a commemorative photo with the canal and warehouses in the background?

Hakodate Music Box Museum

Located across a pier spanning the canal is the "Hakodate Music Box Museum." It features a wide variety of music boxes, including glass music boxes and jewelry box-shaped music boxes.

Among them are unique music boxes featuring squid, a specialty of Hakodate. At the hands-on corner, you can even create your own original music box.

The Kanamori Western Goods Museum recreates the exotic, retro atmosphere of the Kanamori Western Goods Store, founded by the first generation owner, Kumashiro Watanabe. It features a variety of unique shops themed around the "rich lifestyle and culture of Western Europe" that the founder admired.

Kanemori Brick Lab

"Kanemori Brick Lab" is a place where children can freely play with building blocks, including LEGO blocks.

With blocks to freely create works of art and giant block walls to play on, both children and adults are likely to lose track of time and become completely absorbed in the activity.

The shop also displays works created by builders from all over Japan, allowing you to see the masterful skills up close.

Pastry Snuffles

Pastry Snuffles is a company that produces many sweets made with ingredients sourced from Hokkaido, including the popular cheese omelet, a favorite souvenir from Hakodate.

The attached cafe offers not only sweets such as cakes and parfaits, but also light meals such as sandwiches.

Additionally, our stand-style cake catch bar offers popular cheese omelets and coffee for 200 yen.

Located in the heart of the Red Brick Warehouses, across from the West Wharf, is the "Hakodate History Plaza." Inside, the beams and ceilings remain as they were when the warehouses were in operation, making it the most historically significant space.

Hakodate Beer Hall

If you visit the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses, one place you should definitely stop by is the "Hakodate Beer Hall" located in the Hakodate History Plaza.

In a retro space reminiscent of a Meiji-era factory, you can enjoy delicious beer delivered directly from the factory and a wide variety of other dishes.

You can enjoy local Hokkaido specialties such as Jingisukan (grilled lamb) and Chanchan-yaki (grilled chanchan), as well as sushi made by chefs right in front of you at the counter.

So, in this article, we introduced the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses, one of Hakodate's most representative tourist spots.

The Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses, lined with numerous shops and restaurants, are a convenient base for sightseeing in the Motomachi and Bay Area. Their stunning views of Hakodate Port and exotic atmosphere are also very appealing.

Whether you're a couple, friends, or family, be sure to visit the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses!

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