Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse Guide: Enjoy Historic Scenery and Hakodate's Local Specialties

It began in 1887, when the founder, Kumashiro Watanabe I, purchased an existing building and started a warehouse business.
As the shipping industry flourished and the volume of cargo handled increased year by year, more warehouses were added and the business expanded.
In 1907, a fire destroyed six warehouse buildings.
The current red brick warehouse complex was built in 1909 as fireproof replacement warehouses.
Later, with the diversification of distribution and the decline of the northern ocean fishing industry, the site was transformed in 1988 into a complex with restaurants and souvenir shops, becoming a tourist attraction.
Even today, several of the buildings are still used as active commercial warehouses.

This facility reuses red brick warehouses once owned by Nippon Yusen, and one of its most striking features is the canal built in 1882 that flows between the two buildings connected by a bridge.
A wide range of shops can be found here, including stores selling distinctive accessories, fashion, and miscellaneous goods, as well as souvenir shops and cafés.
You can also enjoy craft experiences such as making music boxes and leather goods, as well as a bay cruise around Hakodate Port.

The facility takes its name from Kanemori Yohinten, a store founded around 160 years ago by Kumashiro Watanabe, the founder of Kanemori Warehouse. Known as a place that “sold dreams from foreign lands,” the store marked the beginning of what would later become Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse.
Kanemori Youbutsukan occupies two beautifully preserved red brick warehouses built during the Meiji period using English bond brickwork.
Its spacious interior is home to nearly 20 distinctive shops. Visitors can browse popular Hokkaido sweets and charming goods that make perfect souvenirs, jewelry ranging from affordable pieces to unique one-of-a-kind creations, and high-quality Japanese-made shoes and bags that showcase exceptional craftsmanship.

Hakodate History Plaza is a valuable facility that still preserves features from the time it was built, including its beautiful exterior of English bond red brick and hinoki cypress pillars supporting the high ceiling.
Its main feature is Hakodate Beer Hall, a large venue with 220 seats that occupies most of the building.
In an interior that carries on the atmosphere of Hakodate’s first beer hall, which opened in the Meiji period, you can enjoy fresh draft beer delivered directly from the Sapporo Beer factory and locally sourced dishes made with plenty of local ingredients.

Kanemori Hall is a multipurpose hall opened to further develop Hakodate’s culture.
Various events such as concerts, theater performances, and film screenings are held here, and the facility can also be used for weddings and parties.

In 1988, it was revived at Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse in the bay area, preserving the atmosphere that had long been loved by the people of Hakodate.
Surrounded by red brick walls, the spacious interior features a retro-modern atmosphere with a wood-burning fireplace and a stately counter, while giant hinoki cypress pillars support the 13-meter-high ceiling.
It can also accommodate a variety of occasions, with banquet rooms for parties and dinners as well as wedding plans.

This popular hamburger chain has 17 locations in Hakodate and is known as a pioneer of local burgers.
The Suehiro branch, located across from Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, is built so that it juts out into Hakodate Bay, and from its old American-style interior you can enjoy a panoramic view of the harbor, including sightseeing boats at anchor.
Its main hamburgers include many original menu items, led by the most popular No. 1 Chinese Chicken Burger.

Ajidokoro Kikuyo Shokudo Main Branch was founded in 1956.
At the time it opened, it was a small restaurant with only about 10 seats, but today it has grown into a restaurant with 30 seats.
It has also expanded to include a branch about a 30-second walk from the main branch, the Bay Area branch, and a New Chitose Airport branch in response to its popularity.
It continues to delight not only locals but also many travelers with dishes that make the most of Hakodate’s fresh ingredients.

A conveyor belt sushi restaurant directly operated by a fish shop, located inside Hakodate Bay Bishoku Club, a dining complex in the bay area.
Run by the long-established fish store Marukatsu Uocho Shokuhin, it prides itself on toppings chosen for both freshness and variety. Its main appeal is the freshness that comes from being directly operated by a fish shop, with a focus on local fish from nearby waters delivered directly from neighboring markets.
Since the menu changes depending on the day’s catch, one of its attractions is that you can always enjoy seasonal flavors. Recommended items include tuna selections such as lean tuna, medium-fatty tuna, and fatty tuna, as well as Hokkaido-style local fish and unusual toppings.

Located just behind Kanemori Youbutsukan, this café is the perfect place to take a break while exploring the area.
Housed in a renovated brick warehouse dating back to the early Showa era, the café preserves the building's original character while adding a modern touch. Jazz and soul music create a relaxing atmosphere, and one of the private rooms features a DJ booth where local DJs occasionally spin records.
From 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the lunch menu offers dishes such as pasta and omurice. No matter what time you visit, be sure to try the homemade desserts, especially the popular parfaits and cakes.

The select shop Aoi Mori sells Hakodate souvenirs, mainly sweets and food products.
In addition to popular Hokkaido items, it also carries many original Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse products, making it perfect for finding souvenirs unique to Hakodate. One especially popular original item is the Kanemori Warehouse Cookie, which comes in cute packaging modeled after the red brick warehouses.

The name snaffle's comes from the phrase "I snaffle therefore I am," expressing the idea, "I am because I eat delicious things."
Its signature Cheese Omelet was created from a desire to make sweets using the finest local ingredients. This soufflé-style cheesecake is made with Hokkaido-produced cream cheese, eggs, and fresh milk.
Each one is carefully handmade to achieve an incredibly light, delicate texture that melts in your mouth.

Hachimanzaka Slope takes its name from Hakodate Hachimangu Shrine, which once stood at the top of the hill.
The beautifully paved stone road stretches straight toward the sea, with neatly maintained trees lining both sides. From here, you can enjoy a picturesque view of Hakodate Bay along with the Seikan Ferry Memorial Ship Mashu-maru moored in the harbor.
In winter, the annual Hakodate Illumination transforms the slope into a magical scene, with the trees and stone pavement beautifully illuminated.
Many visitors also come after dark to admire the stunning night view from Hachimanzaka Slope, often said to rival the famous panorama from Mount Hakodate.

Motomachi Roman Catholic Church is a reconstruction built in 1910 of the church originally established when the French missionary Mermet de Cachon arrived in Hakodate in 1859.
It features a 12th-century Gothic architectural style and is characterized by its pointed large bell tower rising to a height of 33 meters.
It has one of the longest histories in Japan, alongside Catholic churches established in Yokohama and Nagasaki.

Opened in 1859, Hakodate Port has long been at the heart of the city's development.
As one of the first ports in Japan to open to international trade, it played a key role in shaping Hakodate into the popular tourist destination it is today.
The Hakodate Port Ferry Terminal features a waterfront wooden deck that's perfect for a stroll, as well as a heart-shaped monument that has become a popular photo spot.