Built in 1916, the Hakodate Orthodox Church’s dreamy white and turquoise building pulls you even from a distance.  The church is the oldest Russian Orthodox church in Japan and is currently listed in the most important cultural buildings in the city.

Start from the gorgeous Russian Byzantine styled exterior and the beautiful domes (6 to be precise) that have individual crosses on them. The bell tower has its own charm- so much so that the locals call the church ‘Gan Gan Dera’ (Ding dong church) with love and you can hear it on weekends during prayers. The sound of this bell is listed in “Japan’s top 100 beautiful sounds”!

The interior of the church welcomes you with breath-taking frescoes at the main altar, beautiful chandeliers that add a golden hue to the whole place and tranquillity that completes the ambience. Don’t miss out on the mass held here- it’s a treat to see the historic church especially during prayer times.

• Admission fee: Yen 200 per person.

General Hours:

• On December 24: citizen Christmas is held form 600 pm to 7.00 pm.
• Late Main Lord: Saturday from 5.00 pm

For other timings, please visit the official website.

• Bus stop: Nishikokomae Bus Stop (Nishi high school front) (bus)
• Light Rail stop: Suehirocho Station (Suehirocho Station)
• By taking a Street Car.
• By renting a Bike.
• On foot

Love this? Explore the entire list of places to visit in Hakodate before you plan your trip.

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