Trappistine Convent （トラピスチヌ修道院）| Hakodate

The Trappistine Convent （トラピスチヌ修道院）, the Lady of the Angels' Convent, was founded in 1898 by eight nuns from the convent in Ubexy, France. Bishop Berlioz of the Hakodate diocese asked them to come here because he felt there was a great need to spread Christianity in this area. The nun's living conditions at the beginning were so poor, so much so, that the headquarters in France was considering to recall their nus to France.
Most of the present building was reconstructed in 1927 after a big fire in 1926.

Let's go!

First, the statues of St. Michael （聖ミカエル像） and

the Virgin Mary （聖母マリア像） welcome us to the convent!

We are now allowed to enter the building, but it's worth visiting here! The nus has mainly three jobs; praying, working in the agricultural fields, and reading every day.

We had a wonderful time in front of the Lourdes Cave （ルルドの洞窟） for a while.......

Let's go to the highest point!

I love the contrast of the blue sky, the redbrick building, and green!

 Look at the beautiful scenery from the top!

The statue of St. Teresa （聖テレシア像） always makes us happy.

We had a peaceful time here in the Trappistine Convent （トラピスチヌ修道院）.

P.S.

Are you interested in delicious vanilla ice cream? If so, let's go to the parking lot, and drop by this souvenir shop named the Forest Shop （市民の森売店）!

 

They serve very delicious vanilla ice cream with 8% of milk fat content!!! Yummy x 2!!!

■Where is "Trappistine Convent （トラピスチヌ修道院）"?

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■Tour guide information■

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Peony Festival （牡丹・芍薬まつり） from May 25th - July 5th | Former Aoyama Villa （旧青山別邸）| Otaru

The Former Aoyama Villa, designated as tangible cultural property of Japan, is a symbol of herring fishing in the early 20th century. Now the "Peony Festival （牡丹・芍薬まつり）" is held in the garden.! Let's go!

The Aoyama family was a billionaire in the 20th century due to herring fishing. This so-called herring mansion was constructed from 1917-1923 for six years. The construction cost is about 310,000 yen, 12.4 billion yen in the current value!!!

The second generation, Masakichi Aoyama, and his daughter Masae had sophisticated sense for beauty and arts, which makes this villa very special.

Are you ready?

Voila!!!!
Beautiful, aren't they?

Masae loved peonies very much, and planted about 400 peonies in this garden.

During the festival period, people wearing kimono can enter this villa free of charge. Good news, isn't it?

She loves this flower very much, and constructed a "peony room" in this villa, which was decorated with peony painting, sling doors, and so on.

After enjoying the garden, we had a grand tour of this villa.

Unfortunately, visitors are not allowed to take pictures in the villa. But I took a couple of pictures from the outside.

This is dry landscape garden. The white sand represents snow.

The primary material of this villa is zelkova wood. The tiled roof is rare in snowy Hokkaido. Everything here is gorgeous!!
The floors and pillars are all lacquered, and walls are hand-plastered. The wide ceiling is built of Japanese ceder, and the corridor was made of one-piece zelkova without joints from one end to the other!!! The traditional alcoves are built in roserood, blockwod, or Japanese ceder.
Of course, the peintings and calligraphies on the fusuma sliding doors are genuine treasure.

If you are interested in the Former Aoyama Villa （旧青山別邸）, now is the best chance to visit! Please wear kimono when you come here! You can enter this villa free of charge during the festival period!

■Where is "the Former Aoyama Villa （旧青山別邸）"?

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■Tour guide information■

Do you need a nationally-licensed English-speaking tour guide when you travel to Hokkaido?

I'll guide you! Plz click here!

Hanagokoro （花ごころ）-- Izakaya Restaurant | Former Otaru Branch of Yasuda Bank （旧安田銀行小樽支店） | Otaru

Would you like to learn the history of Otaru city, and eat lunch at the same time? Is so, how about "Hanagokoro （花ごころ）" near JR Otaru Station. It used to be a former Otaru branch of Yasuda Bank （旧安田銀行小樽支店）, and now it is used as an izakaya restaurant!

In the 20th century, this city was an economic hub in Hokkaido, and had a lot of branches of famous banks. This is one of them. The Grecian architectural style was very popular at that time, and massive columns were a primary feature!

It is designated as a historic landmark of Otary city.

We've learned its history first, and then entered this izakaya!

Wow! Wow! Wow! Cherry blossoms welcomed us!!!

Each room has a Japanese-style table and partitions like this, except a big table at the center.

This is an izakaya, but we can order lunch sets, too!

How about all-you-can-eat-style-sushi (2,520 yen/ 60 mins)? Sounds very Otaru!

We ordered a today's special.

■Grilled red fish
Hot, hot, hot!

■Tempura
Hot, hot, hot, again! Hahaha!

■Deep-fried rockfish

Otaru is famous for its fresh seafood, and we could enjoy it a lot!

■Simmered pork
Its seafood is wonderful, but don't forget meat!!! This is very tender!

We really enjoyed the lunch set in the historical building!

■Roll
Their dishes and dessert is not so special, but this atmosphere is very special, isn't it??

After lunch, we went upstairs, and enjoyed the 20th century building from the second floor!

The windows, doors, and corridors are Grecian architectural style, and we experienced "time slip" to the Showa era!

Do you have any idea what it is now? It used to be a money safe of the bank, but now it is used as a toilet!!!

We really enjoyed their lunch in the very unique atmosphere!

■Where is "Hanagokoro （花ごころ）", the Former Otaru Branch of Yasuda Bank （旧安田銀行小樽支店）?

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■Tour guide information■

Do you need a nationally-licensed English-speaking tour guide when you travel to Hokkaido?

I'll guide you! Plz click here!

Motomachi Area （元町地区）| Hakodate

The harbor of Hakodate （函館） was one of the first to be opened to foreign trade in 1854 after Japan's era of isolation had come to an end. As a result, many traders from Russia, China and Western countries moved to Hakodate. Motomachi （元町）, at the foot of Mt. Hakodate, became a district favored among the new foreign residents.
（＊A post on Mt. Hakodate→☆）

Personally I love the scenery from Nijikken slope （二十間坂）↓ Beautiful, isn't is?

Many foreign looking buildings remain in this area today, while some are very Japanese like this↓

Higashi Honganji temple is one of them. This was designated as a National Important Cultural Property in 2007.

Rebuilt after a fire in 1907, this is the first temple in Japan with reinforced concrete.

This is Motomachi Roman Catholic Church. The altar was gifted to Japan by Pope Benedict XV, and there is no other like it in the whole of Japan.

The current building, a Gothic-style Roman Catholic church, was built in 1924. 

Next to Motomachi Roman Catholic Church, there is the Hakodate Russian Orthodox Church.

It was founded as a chapel in 1859.

It is Japan's oldest Russian Orthodox Church, and was designated as a National Important Cultural Property in 1983.

The exterior of the building, in Russian Byzantine style with diverse elements, has a majestic and elegant atmosphere!

Next, I'll show you Motosaka Slope （基坂） area in Motomachi （元町）.

This is the "Former British Consulate （旧イギリス領事館）↓

There are several former consulates in this area!

Across from the consulate, there is Perry's Square （ペリー広場）.

Commander Matthew C. Perry is a person to urge Japan to open the county in 1853. He visited Hakodate one year after his first arrival in Japan.

This is Motomach Park （元町公園）.

Just a few meters away from the park, there is the Former Public Hall of Hakodate Ward （旧函館区公民館）.

This one of the most famous Western-style building in Hakodate has stood on the hill overlooking the port since it was constructed in 1910. It was designated as a national important cultural property in 1974.

■Where is Motomachi area （元町地区）?

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■Tour guide information■

Do you need a nationally-licensed English-speaking tour guide when you travel to Hokkaido?I'll guide you! Plz click here!