As the city of Hakodate gears up for the launch of the Hokkaido Shinkansen Line next March, a group of local history lovers has published a new guidebook on the region.
A year in the making, "In 150 Pictures — The International City of Hakodate in the Late Edo and Meiji Eras" aims to introduce visitors to the city's past as well as its development into a major port town and exposure to Western influences.
Members of the Hakodate foreign settlement research group said they were also working on an English version of the 64-page guide for foreign visitors.