Hekketsu-hi

Hekketsu-hi is a stone memorial standing about 6 meters tall at the base of Mount Hakodate with carved inscriptions. These inscriptions honor roughly 800 soldiers who died during a conflict in the 1860s.

This memorial was built in 1875 to honor soldiers killed during the Boshin War conflict of 1868 to 1869 at Hakodate. That war marked a turning point when Japan shifted toward a new form of government.

The name comes from a Chinese legend about warriors' blood turning into jade after three years when shed for justice. This symbolic meaning makes the site a place where visitors come to honor and reflect on sacrifice.

The memorial sits in a park at the mountain's base and is walkable from the city center. The path to reach it involves a comfortable walk through wooded trails, so wearing comfortable shoes is helpful.

A local resident named Yanagawa Kumagichi secretly collected the bones of fallen soldiers and buried them without government permission. His courageous action eventually led to the creation of this memorial.

Location: Hakodate

Inception: May 1875

Creator: Ōtori Keisuke

Made from material: stone

GPS coordinates: 41.75156,140.70901

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:28