Hakodate Orthodox Church
Hakodate Orthodox Church
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
483 reviews
Excellent
117
Very good
250
Average
111
Poor
3
Terrible
2
Alan C
Pasadena, MD177 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
This church is very concise but has beautiful icons and is wonderfully and recently restored. It is in the 'church' or former foreigner's neighborhood of the town up a reasonable hill - we recommend a taxi up and walk down. The neighborhood itself is quiet and pleasant. We visited after seeing it from our cruise ship and after the usual (and also nice) star-fort and city tower tour. After enjoying it, we walked back to the cruise ship, going right by the Red Brick Warehouse shops and restaurants which are close to the pier. On a pretty day, this is a nice walk, and if you are already visiting the cable car up the nearby mountain, this is easy to add to your itinerary. It is free but a small donation is suggested.
Written September 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dynamic14
Singapore, Singapore10,296 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Beautiful architecture built in 1860, this is accessible from the Daikan Zaka slope. This church was originally built as a chapel attached to the first Russian Consulate.
The original church was destroyed by the Great Fire of Hakodate in 1907 and rebuilt in 1916.
The original church was destroyed by the Great Fire of Hakodate in 1907 and rebuilt in 1916.
Written February 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rumples
Tucson, AZ11,718 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
I knew we were getting close to this small Orthodox church, built in the Russian Byzantine style. That's because we came across one artist after another, selling their excellent paintings of this Western structure in the Motomachi area. Though we walked along a street high on a hill, we climbed yet another hill at the entrance to the church property.
The oldest Russian church in Japan, it was founded in 1859 and rebuilt in 1916, a few years after a major fire. The church displays a green copper roof and an octagonal bell tower. The sound of the bell symbolizes Hakodate's encounter with Western culture. Inside, the church features the traditional orthodox altar at the back of the room. The interior proved to be quiet and cool on the hot, humid day when we visited. Shoes must be removed to enter, and no photos may be taken inside.
Both the interior and exterior appeared to be well maintained. The grounds have been kept in immaculate condition and show off tall trees, shrubs and colorful flowers. Signs in English and Japanese provided information about the church, which has been designated an important cultural asset by the Japanese government.
The Orthodox church is close to the two other churches (Episcopal and Roman Catholic) in the Motomachi area. It is free to enter all three. The closest tram stop is Jujigai.
The oldest Russian church in Japan, it was founded in 1859 and rebuilt in 1916, a few years after a major fire. The church displays a green copper roof and an octagonal bell tower. The sound of the bell symbolizes Hakodate's encounter with Western culture. Inside, the church features the traditional orthodox altar at the back of the room. The interior proved to be quiet and cool on the hot, humid day when we visited. Shoes must be removed to enter, and no photos may be taken inside.
Both the interior and exterior appeared to be well maintained. The grounds have been kept in immaculate condition and show off tall trees, shrubs and colorful flowers. Signs in English and Japanese provided information about the church, which has been designated an important cultural asset by the Japanese government.
The Orthodox church is close to the two other churches (Episcopal and Roman Catholic) in the Motomachi area. It is free to enter all three. The closest tram stop is Jujigai.
Written July 8, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MicchaG
Minneapolis, MN3 contributions
Oct 2013 • Friends
This church is a landmark of Hakodate. Its image is used for many different things to promote tourism in Hakodate. The church has its real name "Holy Resurrection Church of Hakodate." I hope everyone learns that it is a Japanese Orthodox church, neither Russian nor Greek. It belongs to the local Japanese faithful. It's a place of worship. Of course, everyone is welcome to join the service. Saturday evening service starts at 5pm, and Sunday liturgy starts at 10am. In order to preserve and maintain the church building, visitors are expected to make some donation. It's not a fee. I hope everyone respects that it's a place where people pray quietly.
Written June 8, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wangary
Port Lincoln, Australia438 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
There are many other more spectacular Russian Orthodox Churches around the world, but this little church is quaint and has an interesting history. It contains a very nice large carved wooden altarpiece and has a number of lovely old icons on its walls. Worth a visit
Written May 8, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David J
Seoul, South Korea222 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
You do not have to spend time to visit a church in Japan. I can understand Westerners spending time in Japan missing their home and questioning meaning of their life among Japanese. However, no time to visit a church.
Written October 29, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fls2016
Hong Kong, China86 contributions
Feb 2016 • Couples
After visiting Motomachi Park, I went to the Russian Orthodox Church. I walked straight along the road from the Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward, passed some residences and I found the entrance. Then I walked up to the stairs and went inside the church. The church is small and you need to pay 200yen for the admission. I went there in the winter and the outside was full of snow. It looked like a small western castle more than a church.
Written April 24, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pikachu_ichooseyou
2 contributions
Apr 2016
The outside of this church is beautiful but I made the mistake of going inside. I did not see any signage to pay a fee to visit this church and I wish I had read some of the reviews beforehand. The interior of the church is tiny and there was an old lady selling books and other items relating to the church. I thanked her as I made my way out and she started to curse me in Japanese. I can speak a little Japanese and so asked her what she wanted and she kept demanding for money. I was completely shocked by this and the way she demanded did NOT feel like it is a donation. I apologized in Japanese and told her I had no idea and cannot read Japanese if it said it anywhere, then I gave a "donation". After that she did not even say thank you and still kept ranting on and on about how I should have known to give her money. This really ruined my experience in Hakodate as I have never come across such a rude Japanese person in my ENTIRE life. Seeing as it is a church, donations should be given from the heart not because you are forced to. If they want to set a fee, fine but signage should be displayed properly as there is no need for such poor attitude.
Just awful.
Just awful.
Written April 21, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChanML
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia450 contributions
May 2015 • Friends
We walked around and took some pics. Nice stroll as the weather was beautiful. The surrounding area was good for pictures. As we had some time on our hands, we really enjoyed the other buildings around there too, scouting for good pic shots
Written May 23, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arun714
Hokkaido, Japan103 contributions
Jul 2017
If you visit Hakodate you must visit this church. Not only is it a rare building built in 1916 by the Russian Consulate, it is located near churches and temples and shrines of many other religions. This is a rare opportunity to see at first hand the religious freedom and open-hearted acceptance by the Japanese.
Written January 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is it possible to get a taxi and / or tour guide at the cruise port arriving on Mon. Aug. 26 to visit the Hakodate Orthodox Church. Our Holland America "Maasdam" ship is scheduled to be in port 9 am - 10 pm Mon. Aug. 26.
Written August 9, 2019
Yes, there will be taxis waiting at the port. Suggest you get or print a map (in Japanese) of where your destination is and show the taxi driver. There are some tours you can get from the Information center which is housed at the Main railway station. There should be a bus which the cruise line organizes which goes to the station. Near the station (past the fish markets) are the old docks/ warehouses which are now an array of tourist trinket shops. If you go there, you can then walk up the hill to the church but I warn you its not for those who aren't too fit! Better take a taxi there and walk down (Hachiman Zaka Slope) back to the docks and you will see some interesting western style houses from the early western settlement time.
Hope this helps a little.
Written August 10, 2019
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