Hakodate Orthodox Church
Hakodate Orthodox Church
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.0
483 reviews
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メロパパ
Yokohama, Japan704 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
This is the Hakodate Christ Orthodox Church. It is the oldest Russian Orthodox church in Japan, which was established in 1858 as an attached church when the first Russian consulate in Japan opened in Hakodate. It is a little different from European churches. It is currently designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan, and is one of the tourist attractions in Hakodate City, attracting many tourists. The spire is a very cute building. On this day, we were not able to go inside.
Written 3 May 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, Singapore10,270 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 7 February 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.
おでかけマニア
Saitama Prefecture, Japan9,695 contributions
Aug 2023 • Solo
I also stopped by this on a morning stroll while sightseeing in Hakodate. I couldn't go inside due to the late hour, but even just the exterior is an interesting building. It has a rounded spire and exterior design. It seems to have been a church for the Russian consulate in the past. To begin with, "Hristos" is the Greek pronunciation of "Christ." It's a somewhat Russian-style building.
Written 8 October 2023
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.
オールドボーイ
Yokohama, Japan3,316 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
I only know the history of Christianity from textbooks, but I think it's a good place to understand Christianity because it seems to have inherited the traditions of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople rather than the Catholic Church of Rome. This is because a picture of Saint Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea Cappadocia, is displayed as an icon of the Holy Ghost. I lit a candle on the altar, just like the last time I came here.
Written 22 November 2023
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, AZ11,762 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 8 July 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 8 June 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, Australia437 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 8 May 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 Korea221 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 29 October 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 24 April 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 21 April 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.
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 9 August 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 10 August 2019
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