Hakodadi , a city of Japan, in the province of Matsmai, near the S. end of the island of Yesso, on the N. side of the strait of Sangar about 42 m. N. E. of the city of Matsmai, and nearly in lat. 42° N.; pop. about 50,000, including many Chinese and some Europeans and Americans. It extends about 3 m. along the base of a promontory whose peaks rise more than 1,100 ft. above the sea. The foliage of the lower slopes partly conceals the city, which is on the shore of a beautiful and spacious bay, forming one of the best harbors in the world. The town consists of rows of broad streets, rising one above the other, parallel to the beach. The houses are mostly of wood and two stories high, with fronts open to the street, and deep projecting eaves. At night the fronts are closed by folding doors or shutters. There are many large temples in the city, some of the Sintoo and others of the Buddhist sect; some of the latter are well built and gorgeously decorated. They are generally in the elevated and retired parts of the town, and partially encircled by trees. A bazaar is attached to one of the temples. There are many fire-proof stores, strongly built, with thick whitewashed walls, deep window gratings, and massive shutters.

The principal articles of trade are seaweed (fucus saccharinus), timber, dried fish, deer skins, horns, potatoes, coal, fish oil, tobacco, salt, and silk. The harbor is constantly thronged with hundreds of junks, and the general dulness of the city is relieved by droves of laden pack horses. The aggregate value of imports and exports in 1870 exceeded $1,300,000. - Originally a small fishing village belonging to the local daimio, Hakodadi was sold to the Japanese government, and owing to its advantages as a seaport rapidly rose into importance. It was opened to American commerce by the treaty negotiated by Commodore Perry in 1854, which has since been extended to all foreign nations.

Hakodadi.