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Hakodate, Hokkaidō

Hakodate
函館市
Core city
Goryokaku, Hakodate Orthodox Church, Night View from Mount Hakodate, Goryokaku Tower, Hachiman-Zaka and Hakodate Port
Goryokaku, Hakodate Orthodox Church, Night View from Mount Hakodate, Goryokaku Tower, Hachiman-Zaka and Hakodate Port
Flag of Hakodate
Flag
Official seal of Hakodate
Seal
Location of Hakodate in Oshima, Hokkaido
Location of Hakodate in Oshima, Hokkaido
Hakodate is located in Japan
Hakodate
Hakodate
 
Coordinates: 41°46′N 140°44′E / 41.767°N 140.733°E / 41.767; 140.733Coordinates: 41°46′N 140°44′E / 41.767°N 140.733°E / 41.767; 140.733
Country Japan
Region Hokkaido
Prefecture Hokkaido (Oshima Subprefecture)
Government
 • Mayor Toshiki Kudo (since May 2011)
Area
 • Total 677.89 km2 (261.73 sq mi)
Population (July 31, 2011)
 • Total 279,851
 • Density 412.83/km2 (1,069.2/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Symbols  
• Tree Onko (Japanese yew)
• Flower Azalea
• Bird Varied tit
• Fish Squid
Phone number 0138-21-3111
Address 4-13 Shinonome-chō, Hakodate-shi, Hokkaidō
040-8666
Website www.city.hakodate.hokkaido.jp

Hakodate (函館市 Hakodate-shi?) is a city and port located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture.

As of July 31, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 279,851 with 143,221 households and a population density of 412.83 persons per km2 (1,069.2 persons per sq. mi.). The total area is 677.77 km2 (261.69 sq mi). The city is now the third biggest in Hokkaido after Sapporo and Asahikawa.

Hakodate was Japan's first city whose port was opened to foreign trade in 1854 as a result of Convention of Kanagawa, and used to be the most important port in northern Japan. Also, the city had been the biggest city in Hokkaido before the Great Hakodate Fire of 1934.

Hakodate was founded in 1454, when Kono Kaganokami Masamichi constructed a large manor house in the Ainu fishing village of Usukeshi (the word for bay in Ainu).

After his death, Masamichi's son, Kono Suemichi, and family were driven out of Hakodate into nearby Kameda during Ainu rebellion in 1512 and little history was recorded for the area during the next 100 years. There was constant low level conflict in the Oshima peninsula at the time with the Ainu as armed merchants like the Kono family established bases to control trade in the region. This conflict culminated in an uprising from 1669 to 1672, led by Ainu warrior Shakushain after which the Ainu in the region were suppressed.


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