The church was originally built in 1859, making it one of the first Catholic churches in post-seclusion Japan.
The ornate altar inside was hand-carved in Italy and sent to Japan as a personal gift from Pope Benedict XV.
The church’s bell tower is a landmark often used by ships navigating the Tsugaru Strait as a visual reference point.
The interior features a unique collection of stained glass windows depicting the life of the Virgin Mary.
The current Gothic design includes a heavy use of local Japanese materials combined with imported ecclesiastical furnishings.
The Catholic Motomachi Church is a prominent Gothic-style edifice in Hakodate, originally established by the Paris Foreign Missions Society in 1859. The current structure was rebuilt in 1924 following a series of fires that destroyed previous iterations. It features a distinctive 33-meter tall bell tower topped with a gilded weathercock. The interior houses an altar gifted by Pope Benedict XV in 1921. It remains an active parish church serving the local Catholic community in Hokkaido. The building stands on the slopes of Mount Hakodate, contributing to the city's historic cityscape characterized by a blend of Japanese and Western architecture.
From the street level looking upward at the bell tower against the backdrop of the Motomachi hillside.
Visit during the early morning for the best natural light through the stained glass windows.
Be mindful that this is an active place of worship; keep noise levels low even when the building is open to the public.
Explore the surrounding Motomachi district on foot to see the concentration of other historic international architecture.
Do not attempt to enter areas marked for parish members only or offices, and avoid visiting during scheduled Sunday mass services.
Occasionally closed to the public during private religious ceremonies or weddings.
Remove hats upon entry, maintain silence, and refrain from using camera flashes inside the sanctuary.
