Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses

The Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses are a row of handsome brick storehouses along Hakodate's Bay Area that have been converted into one of the city's most popular shopping and dining destinations. Their story begins in the late nineteenth century, when Hakodate was a booming international trading port and Watanabe Kumashiro founded the Kanemori trading business, building sturdy brick warehouses near the water to hold imported and exported goods. The original structures date from the 1880s; after fire damage they were rebuilt, and the robust red-brick buildings standing today capture the confident commercial spirit of Meiji-era Hakodate.

As shipping patterns changed and the warehouses lost their industrial purpose, the complex was thoughtfully repurposed rather than demolished. Today it is divided into several sections: a bay-side shopping hall, a history plaza, a hall of halls, and a beer hall. Inside the thick brick walls you will find dozens of boutiques selling Hokkaido crafts, glassware, sweets and souvenirs, alongside restaurants, cafés and a music box and Christmas-goods shop that operates year-round. The Hakodate Beer Hall pours local brews beneath exposed timber beams, and there is even a small chapel used for weddings.

What to see and do centres on atmosphere and shopping. Wandering between the buildings you cross open plazas facing the harbour, where fishing and pleasure boats bob at the quay. Sightseeing cruises depart from the adjacent pier, offering a short trip out onto Hakodate Bay for views back at the city and Mount Hakodate. Numerous confectioners let you sample famous Hokkaido treats like cheese tarts, soft-serve ice cream and buttery baked goods.

A nice detail of the place is how it anchors the wider Bay Area walk. The warehouses sit at the seaward end of a district full of converted brick and stone buildings, and strolling here connects naturally with the Motomachi slopes just uphill and the morning market a short distance along the shore. The brick canals and cobbled lanes are especially atmospheric in the evening, when the buildings are gently floodlit and, in the colder months, the waterfront trees are strung with illuminations that mirror in the still water of the bay.

The visiting experience is easy and comfortable, well suited to families, couples and anyone wanting a relaxed break between historical sightseeing. Everything is flat and paved, interiors are heated and accessible, and there are plenty of restrooms, free Wi-Fi and places to sit and eat. Entry to the complex and its shops is free; you only pay for what you buy or for optional extras like the harbour cruise. Allow an hour or two to browse, longer if you settle in for a meal.

All seasons work well. Summer brings breezy harbour walks, autumn mild strolling weather, and winter a romantic, illuminated wonderland that ties into Hakodate's December light events. Spring is pleasant and quieter.

Getting there could hardly be simpler. From JR Hakodate Station take the historic city tram one or two stops to Jujigai, then walk about five minutes toward the water; the brick buildings are unmistakable along the quay. IC cards are accepted on the tram. The warehouses pair perfectly with a Bay Area and Motomachi itinerary, and many visitors end the day here before heading uphill for the Mount Hakodate night view.