Guide
Hakodate Catholic Motomachi Church is a Catholic church located in the historic Motomachi area of Hakodate, Hokkaido. Since the first chapel was established in 1859, the church has undergone several cycles of destruction by fire and subsequent reconstruction. The current structure, completed in 1924, is a striking example of Gothic architecture, characterized by its elegant 33-meter spire. As a vital part of the historic Motomachi cityscape, the church holds immense religious and historical value, housing a magnificent altar gifted by the Pope.
The history of this church dates back to a temporary chapel established in 1859 by Father Hermas Cation of the Paris Foreign Missions Society. Following this, the first wooden cathedral was built in 1877 by French priests. However, the church faced significant hardships, including a fire that destroyed the building in 1907. A second brick structure was completed in 1910, but it too was lost to a fire in 1921. The current Gothic-style cathedral was rebuilt in 1924 using the surviving brick exterior walls. In June of that same year, the dedication ceremony was held by the Apostolic Delegate, Jules Cardinal.