night view outside concert hall, hakodate

Didn't take a picture of the motomachi area, so I decided to paste the text on this photo which doesn't has much to do with the text (but it is inside that area)

THE IMPORTANT PRESERVATION DISTRICT FOR A GROUP OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN HAKODATE MOTO-MACHI AND SUEHIRO-CHO AREA: Hakodate was opened as Japan's first international trading port along with Nagasaki and Yokohama in 1859. Since its opening, Hakodate has been prospering as a trading and fishery base and also the gateway of Hokkaido.

This Preservation District has been of the greatest importance in the city development There still remain old foreign diplomatic establishments, many kinds of religious buildings, public facilities, a cluster of red brick warehouses and many other such buildings. In addition, they are mingled with the townhouses built In a unique semi-Western style besides those built in Japanese and Western styles. All of them contribute to the exotic atmosphere of Hakodate's streets.

The area of the Preservation District is approximately 14.5ha and Includes parts of Yayoi-cho, O-machi, Suehiro-cho Moto-machl and Toyokawa-cho. The designated Historic Buildings still have traces of the old days creating a historical atmosphere In the District.

The City of Hakodate decided to hand down these buildings to posterity and designated the "Preservation District for a Group of Historic Buildings~ based on the "Hakodate City Townscape Ordinance." Only this District was selected as an "Important Preservation District for a Group of Buildings" in Hokkaido by the National Government. It will be preserved for good

Text by Hakodate City Board of Education Useful resource: [[http://www.city.hakodate.hokkaido.jp/english/$sight/guide/area/default.htm,hakodate city]]