The Former Russian Consulate in Hakodate is not just an interesting historic building, but also an important symbol of early international relations in Japan. The first Russian consulate in the country was established here in 1860, shortly after Japan opened to foreign trade. The current building dates back to 1908 (after reconstruction following a fire) and is a great example of European-style architecture introduced to Hokkaido at the time. Its red brick exterior, contrasting details, and elevated location on Saiwaizaka slope make it stand out in the cityscape. The location itself is not accidental — Hakodate was one of Japan’s key treaty ports, and this area developed as a hub of foreign presence, which is still visible in the surrounding architecture. Over the years, the building served multiple roles — from an Imperial Russian and later Soviet consulate until 1944, to a public facility after World War II. Today, it has been carefully preserved and recently given a new life as a hotel, which adds another interesting layer to its history. Overall, it’s a place that combines architecture, history, and international context in a very tangible way. Even just seeing it from the outside gives a strong sense of Hakodate’s unique past. It’s worth noting that the building is currently private property and can only be viewed from the street, as access to the grounds is not permitted.

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This is going to be the finest hotel in the city when it is completed next month. Every room looks perfect and each room has its own Sauna. It will be called Biaclyn Hotel. It will be amazing!

It's far from the Red Brick Warehouse area, so it's a bit hard to just swing by. On my previous trip to Hakodate it was under renovation, so I didn't visit. The nearest streetcar stop is "Hakodate Dokku-mae," but I'd heard it's uphill all the way from there and tough, so I took the bus. From Hakodate Station, take route 43A (I think) bound for Funamicho/Foreign Cemetery, get off at "Shomyoji-dori," and follow Google Maps; it's a really steep climb, but since you start partway up, it was manageable. However, buses are quite infrequent, so be careful. After renovation it's apparently become a hotel, and the exterior is very beautiful. Non-guests can enter the interior only from 12:00〜15:00 (shop hours), and many people come by taxi timed to that. Maybe as a Golden Kamuy pilgrimage, people seem to keep the taxi waiting and pop inside briefly. A place that will hit hard for fans of Second Lieutenant Koito. The exterior will make you go "ooh," and the staircase inside will make you go "ooohh~." There seems to be a basement too, but apparently only guests can view it. The impressive Former Russian Consulate standing partway up the slope, and the almost frighteningly steep road you look down from there, is a place worth visiting once even if you're not a Golden Kamuy fan.

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・History… In Ansei 6 (1858), Hakodate was opened as an international port. Since Perry's arrival in the Edo period, numerous foreign ships from the United States, Britain, France, Spain, and others came demanding that Japan end its isolation. The Russian Empire also sought trade with the Edo shogunate and opened consulates in Hakodate and Nagasaki. After the Meiji Restoration, it was temporarily closed in Meiji 5 (1872), but in Meiji 39 (1906) the consulate was reopened at its original location. After the Russian Revolution, the Russian Empire became the Soviet Union, and with the conclusion of the Soviet–Japanese Basic Convention, it became the Soviet consulate. Then, near the end of World War II (the Pacific War), which lasted from Showa 16 (1941) to Showa 20 (1945), it was closed in Showa 19 (1944); in Showa 27 (1952) it came under the management of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In Showa 39 (1964) Hakodate City purchased it from the national government and it became the Hakodate Municipal Donan Youth House, but it was abolished just 2 years later in Showa 41 (1966). After being sold in Reiwa 3 (2021) to Sovereign, a company from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, construction to revive it as a hotel began in Reiwa 5 (2023), and in Reiwa 7 (2025) it opened as HOTEL Byakurin HAKODATE. An ultra-luxury hotel at about 300,000 yen per night. By the way, non-guests can only see the exterior and enter as far as the lobby. Access 20-minute walk from the Hakodate Dokku streetcar stop

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I went because I wanted to see the Former Russian Consulate. Since July 2025 it has become a hotel, and entry to the grounds is prohibited except for guests and authorized people, but while I was looking at the exterior, a staff member came out of the building and kindly showed me inside. There's a gallery next to the entrance where you can learn about the history and the current hotel. The staff member explained things carefully, and I learned a lot. The staff member was from Russia and researches history, so they were very knowledgeable. Their way of speaking was polite and pleasant too. People who've read Golden Kamuy will probably recognize it right away when they see this building's exterior.

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