Cherry blossoms in Hakodate and Sapporo are expected to bloom on the 18th, while Wakkanai and Kushiro will see blooms on the 3rd of next month, all earlier than usual.

Mount Hakodate is a 334-meter-high volcanic mountain located at the southern tip of Hokkaido, Japan, famous for its spectacular panoramic night views of Hakodate city. Historically, it was the site of the Goryōkaku star fort during the 1868-1869 Boshin War and later opened to the public as a scenic attraction. Today, visitors can reach the summit via a ropeway or road to enjoy the renowned vista, often ranked among Japan’s best nightscapes.

Goryōkaku is a star-shaped fort located in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan. It was constructed in the final years of the Edo period (completed in 1866) to defend against potential threats from the West and was the site of the last major battle of the Boshin War in 1869. Today, it is a public park famous for its cherry blossoms and serves as a historical landmark of Japan’s transition from the feudal shogunate to the modern Meiji era.

The Motomachi district is a historic and upscale shopping street in Kobe, Japan, which flourished as a foreign settlement after the port opened to international trade in 1868. Its charming, Western-influenced architecture and boutiques reflect its legacy as a cosmopolitan residential area for foreign merchants and diplomats. Today, it remains a popular destination known for its fashionable shops, cafes, and a unique blend of Japanese and European cultural atmosphere.

The Sapporo Snow Festival is an annual winter event held in Sapporo, Japan, famous for its massive and intricate snow and ice sculptures. It began in 1950 when local high school students built a few snow statues in Odori Park, evolving into a major international festival that now attracts millions of visitors each February.

The Sapporo Brewery, founded in 1876 in Hokkaido, Japan, is the country’s oldest beer brand. It was established during Japan’s rapid modernization in the Meiji era, with its first brewery built with the help of a German-trained brewmaster. Today, its original Sapporo Factory site is a popular historical complex featuring shops, restaurants, and a museum dedicated to its brewing heritage.

The Muroran Port Bridge is a distinctive double-leaf bascule bridge located in Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan. Completed in 1964, it was constructed to allow large ships to access the inner port of this major industrial city while maintaining road traffic on its important coastal route. Its unique lifting mechanism and blue color have made it a recognized symbol of the city.

The Yawata Steel Works, established in 1901 in Kitakyushu, Japan, was the country’s first modern, state-owned integrated steel mill. It played a pivotal role in Japan’s industrialization, providing the steel for its military, infrastructure, and shipbuilding industries throughout the 20th century. Today, its preserved heritage sites, including the iconic “Head Office” building, are part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing as “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution.”

The Convention of Kanagawa was a treaty signed on March 31, 1854, between the United States, led by Commodore Matthew Perry, and Japan. It ended Japan’s over 200-year policy of national seclusion (sakoku) by opening the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate to American trade and establishing a U.S. consulate. This agreement marked the forced end of Japanese isolation and set the stage for Japan’s rapid modernization during the Meiji Restoration.