Hiyorizaka

Hiyorizaka, whose name means the fair-weather slope, is one of the more charming lanes among Hakodate's Motomachi slopes, running near Motomachi Park alongside a row of restored Western-style houses now used as cafes and shops. The name is a clue to its appeal: on clear, fine days the straight descent of the street frames a crisp view down to the harbour and out across Hakodate's distinctive narrow neck of land, so the slope is at its best precisely when the weather is kind. Locals and visitors alike save it for bright days when the sea view is sharpest.

The slope is part of the historic district that blossomed after Hakodate became one of Japan's first ports opened to foreign trade in the mid-19th century. Along with the neighbouring Motoizaka, Hiyorizaka is one of the slopes where old consular-era and merchant buildings have been sensitively renovated into cafes, boutiques and galleries, giving the street a lively yet historic character. Walking here you pass handsome Western-style facades with verandas and shuttered windows, interspersed with places to pause for a coffee or browse local crafts, all set against the backdrop of the hillside and the sea below.

Because it sits just below Motomachi Park, a green terrace on the hillside, Hiyorizaka enjoys a pleasant, open setting, with cherry blossom nearby in spring and easy access to the park's lawns and viewpoints. The straight-line view to the water is the slope's signature: on a clear day the buildings on either side channel the eye down to the glinting harbour and the ships, a composition that rewards both the casual stroller and the photographer. The gradient is gentle enough for a relaxed walk.

Like all the Motomachi slopes, Hiyorizaka is best enjoyed as part of a wider wander through the district. Motomachi Park, the Old Public Hall, the cluster of churches and the other named slopes, including the famous Hachiman-zaka, are all within a few minutes on foot, so the slope slots naturally into a walking tour. Its cafes and shops make it, along with Motoizaka, one of the better slopes for a break between photo stops.

Access is easy via the Hakodate tram to Suehiro-cho, a short walk from the slope, and the climb is undemanding. There is no charge and the street is open at all hours, though the whole point of the fair-weather slope is to visit when skies are clear and the sea view is at its finest.

Allow around 15 minutes to walk the slope and enjoy the view, more if you stop at its cafes or continue into Motomachi Park and on to the churches. For travellers exploring Hakodate's hillside, Hiyorizaka offers a lovely combination of heritage architecture, relaxed cafe culture and, on a good day, one of the district's cleanest views down to the sea, living up to its name as the slope to walk when the weather is fair.