The Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church of Hakodate traces its origins to a chapel built in 1860 within the Russian Consulate. In 1861, Saint Nicholas was assigned here and began his missionary work, later spreading Orthodox Christianity throughout Japan.
The original church was destroyed in a major fire in 1907. The current structure, completed in 1916, is the second building and is officially known as the “Church of the Resurrection of the Lord.”
With its distinctive onion-shaped domes and octagonal bell tower, the church is designed in the Russian-Byzantine style. In 1983, it was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
The bells in the tower are rung during prayers on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as at the beginning and end of weekday services. Their resonant tones echo across the area at the foot of Mount Hakodate and have been selected as one of the “100 Soundscapes of Japan.”
Affectionately known by locals as “Gangan-dera,” the church is cherished for the sound of its six bells—large and small—ringing together as they are pulled by hand, a sound deeply woven into the daily life of the community.