HAKODATE, a town on the south of the island of Yezo, Japan, for many years regarded as the capital of the island until Sapporo was officially raised to that rank.
Hakodate is one of the ports originally opened to foreign trade.
The Bay of Hakodate, an inlet of Tsugaru Strait, is completely land-locked, easy of access and spacious, with deep water almost up to the shore, and good holding-ground.
The Russians formerly used Hakodate as a winter port.
Frequent steamers connect Hakodate and Yokohama and other ports, and there is daily communication with Aomori, 56 m.
Hakodate was opened to American commerce in 18J4.
The following table affords data for comparing the climatesof Peking, Shanghai, Hakodate, Tokyo and San Francisco:
Hakodate - - - 540 45 E.
Hakodate August 71
Hakodate do 28
Hakodate 78,040 84,746
The newly organized government of the empire, however, instead of inflicting the death penalty on him and his principal followers, as would have been the inevitable sequel of such a drama in previous times, punished them with imprisonment only, and four years after the Hakodate episode, Enomoto received an important post in Hokkaido, the very scene of his wild attempt.
