As one of modern Japan’s first international ports, Hakodate has always blended Japanese and Western cultures. Modes of transportation are one aspect of everyday life that transformed in the early 20th century, and the Haikara-Go historical tram is a perfect example.
Hakodate was a city always reinventing itself. At the turn of the 20th century, the city acquired several new features which exemplified its position as an international port. Hakodate Park opened in 1879 under the supervision of a British consul, while the Seikan Railway ferry connected Honshu and Hokkaido. With frequent fires due to cramped streets and high winds off the sea, the urban layout began to change as well during this time, with wider streets to prevent the spread of fires.
Haikara-Go Historical Tram
Photo by: PIXTA/ Camellia The tram interiors.
Tram services in Hakodate began in 1913 and were the first to begin operating in Hokkaido. The Haikara-Go Historical Tram captures the mood of the era with its wooden construction and bold white and red colors. The name references the high collars that fashionable people wore in the early 20th century. These people were likely trying to project a sense of modernity with their Western fashion choices. The inside of the tram car is also a trip back in time as its simple wood paneling and unadorned seats signal an old-fashioned aesthetic. The original models of this tram car were used for about half a century, first to transport passengers from one part of the city to another and also as a way to remove snow from the streets. After discontinuing its use, this tram was reintroduced to Hakodate streets in the 1990s as a tourist attraction.
Locations
Photo by: PIXTA/ yhori Get to know Hakodate while riding a piece of history.
The Haikara-Go operates like any other tram you’ll find in the city. However, it runs on weekends and holidays and outside of the winter months. There are two routes. Both start at Yunokawa and end at either Hakodate Dock-mae or Yachigashira. Along the way, you’ll come across the Old Hall of Hakodate Ward.
