Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, Hokkaido

Meiji-era red brick warehouses that tell the story of Hakodate's port. Now full of shops and restaurants, with brick glowing on the water at dusk and night.

Canal running between two red brick warehouse buildings in Hakodate's bay area — Photo: 663highland, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Kanemori brick warehouses outlined with lights at night — Photo: くろふね, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Brick warehouses built after the great fire

The Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse is a row of red brick warehouses in Hakodate's Bay Area, the district along the harbour. It all began with Watanabe Kumashiro, who came to Hakodate in 1863 and in 1869 opened a shop selling imported goods. In 1887 he bought another company's warehouse buildings and land and went into the warehousing business.

In 1907 a great fire swept through Hakodate, destroying more than 12,000 buildings, and Kanemori lost six warehouses. They were rebuilt in brick, which does not burn easily, and the buildings you see today were completed in 1909.

From warehouses to shopping and dining

Towards the end of the Showa era (1926-1989), changes in the way goods were transported meant less and less warehouse work. So in 1988 the warehouses were reborn as a shopping complex. Today it is split across several buildings housing shops, restaurants, a beer hall and an event hall. Some of the buildings are still used as warehouses.

Some shops offer hands-on workshops in glasswork or making music boxes, and harbour cruise boats leave from here too. Entry is free, and simply wandering between the buildings gives you a feel for a Meiji-era (1868-1912) port town.

Evening, night and the winter event

In the evening the brick turns amber and the buildings are reflected in the water in front of the warehouses. At night the warehouses are lit up and take on a completely different look from the daytime.

In winter the area in front of the warehouses hosts the Hakodate Christmas Fantasy, one of the city's signature winter events.

Getting there

Take a Hakodate tram (streetcar) to the Jujigai stop, then walk about 5 minutes. From Hakodate Airport it is about 30 minutes by car. Opening hours and the parking discount you get when you shop can change, so check the official site.

Tips

For photos, come at dusk: the brick turns amber and the buildings are mirrored in the water.
The dates of the winter Hakodate Christmas Fantasy change from year to year, so check Hakobura, the city of Hakodate's tourism site.
Entry is free, so it is an easy stop on a walk around Hakodate's Bay Area.

Sources

Updated 30 September 2026. Opening hours and prices change, so check the official site before you go.

Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse