Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses: A Piece of Hakodate History

Hakodate is full of old, Western-style architecture, and the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses (constructed in 1909), are some of the most famous examples. Lined up along the coast of a headland that hangs southward from Hakodate into the Pacific Ocean, the classic red brick warehouses are symbols of the city and its former status as a center of international trade. They have since been renovated inside, however, and are now used as shopping centers. The buildings now carry the names BAY Hakodate, Hakodate History Plaza, Kanemori Yobutsukan, and Kanemori Hall respectively. Alongside shops, there are cafés, beer halls, restaurants, and omiyage (souvenir) stores. Plus, the warehouses are lit up at night, making for a romantic after-dark stroll.