If you've walked around Hakodate, you've probably seen buildings with a traditional Japanese-style exterior on the first floor but Western-style windows on the second floor, right?

This building is a type of architecture unique to Hakodate, known as a "hybrid Japanese-Western style house."

Hakodate, like Yokohama and Kobe, was a port city opened to foreign trade during the late Edo period, but due to its limited land area, a clearly defined foreign settlement was never established. As a result, it is said that there was a great deal of interaction with foreigners.

The "Eclectic Japanese-Western style house" that was built in such an environment is truly a building that is characteristic of Hakodate.

This time, we'll introduce the characteristics of this "Japanese-Western eclectic house" and three shops where you can enjoy this architectural style both from the outside and inside.

<Table of Contents>
1. What is a Japanese-Western style house?
2. Old Tea House Tea Room
3. Japanese Goods Iroha
4. Bar Restaurant La Concha
Final thoughts

Many people associate Hakodate with its exotic and charming streetscape.

While it's true that the area at the foot of Mount Hakodate has many buildings that directly utilize overseas architectural styles, such as churches and the former Hakodate Public Hall, you often see buildings like this one when walking around the residential areas of the western district and the bay area.

This architectural style is called a "Japanese-Western hybrid house," and it is unique to Hakodate. As the name suggests, it is a fusion of Japanese and Western architectural styles.

There are various theories as to why this style of architecture became widespread, including the idea that it was driven by admiration for or rivalry with foreign countries, or that it was created so that by simply making the second floor Western-style, it would appear as if Western-style buildings lined the foot of Mount Hakodate when viewed from a ship entering Hakodate Port.

The basic principle of this architectural style is to create a Japanese atmosphere on the first floor, as seen in this building, using sliding doors for the entrance and lattice windows, while the second floor has tall, narrow windows that open and close using Western architectural techniques.

These hybrid Japanese-Western style houses were commonly built from the Meiji to Taisho periods, and they make extensive use of the skills of local carpenters who painstakingly constructed these Western-style buildings.

Even within the category of Japanese-Western style houses, there are many unique buildings, each with its own distinct features such as different exterior wall colors and window shapes.

While hybrid Japanese-Western style houses still remain in various locations throughout Hakodate, they are particularly numerous in the western district and the bay area.

Moreover, the Bay Area has many shops housed in old Japanese-Western style buildings, so you can enjoy the blend of Japanese and Western architectural styles both from the outside and the inside.

This is the former tea house, Kyu-Chaya-tei, located a short walk towards Mount Hakodate from the road in front of the Meiji-kan, which is made of red brick.

This popular café has been operating since 1922, using a building constructed in the late Meiji period.

Upon entering through the traditional Japanese sliding door, you find yourself in a space furnished with furniture that perfectly embodies the phrase "exotic atmosphere." Each seat has a different feel, with its own unique chairs and sofas.

When it's not crowded, you can choose your favorite seat, so if you like furniture, try going when it's less busy, such as right after opening.

The windows are traditional Japanese sliding windows, but they use stained glass-like colored glass, creating a blend of Japanese and Western styles.

As the name suggests, the shop has several sets on the menu that allow you to fully enjoy matcha.

The image shows a cold matcha set that includes cold matcha tea and dessert. The matcha is carefully prepared one cup at a time by the staff upon order.

The menu also includes a "Matcha Tea Ceremony Play Set" where you can prepare your own matcha, so if you're interested, please check it out.

If you walk a little further towards Mount Hakodate from the former tea house, Kyu-Chaya-tei, and take the road to the left, you will come across Iroha, a Japanese general goods store.

Unlike the former Chaya-tei tea house, the first floor has a completely Japanese atmosphere, but the second floor has a Western feel with its white walls and chic green and blue vertical windows. This building was also constructed in the late Meiji period.

While many houses feature a blend of Japanese and Western styles only on the side facing the main street, this house has a unified style across all sides.

Outside the shop, there are retro items such as old baby carriages and buckets, creating an atmosphere that makes you feel as if you've traveled back in time to the Taisho or Showa era.

The shop mainly sells Japanese goods, but also features a wide variety of items such as nostalgic toys, carefully crafted baskets, and enamelware.

Some of the items are quite unique, such as sake warming containers made of anodized aluminum. For souvenirs, we recommend the tenugui (Japanese hand towels) with their popular and distinctive patterns.

If you head left from the front of the Japanese goods store Iroha, you can reach the sea, and just before that is the bar restaurant La Concha.

The sliding front door separates the two sides of the house, with a lattice bay window on one side and a door and a large sliding window on the other, creating an atmosphere that blends old and modern elements.

As the name "Bar Restaurant" suggests, this is a place where you can enjoy delicious drinks, snacks, and dishes, mainly Spanish cuisine.

This restaurant is popular with tourists because it features many dishes made with ingredients from the Hakodate area and Hokkaido. For those who want to enjoy snacks and drinks, we recommend the daily special pintxos. Enjoy them with our wide selection of wines and Spanish beers.

In summary, we've introduced the characteristics of Hakodate's unique architectural style, "Japanese-Western hybrid housing," and three shops where you can fully appreciate this architectural style.

When walking around the western district and the Bay Area, you'll see many houses that blend Japanese and Western architectural styles. Many are still inhabited, so you'll often only be able to admire their exteriors, but try to take a look at the differences in their construction and the skills of the carpenters of the past as you walk around.

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