Hakodate

HAKODATE, a city in Japan, in the province of Matsmai, near the southern tip of the Yezo⁽¹⁾ island, on the northern coast of the Strait of Sangar⁽²⁾; by 42° N. Population approximately 50 000. It stretches for nearly 4 km (2.48 miles) at the base of a promontory, whose summit rises above 400 metres (1312 ft) above sea level; it has one of the best harbours in the world. It consists of rows of wide streets, parallel to the shore. Main trade items are kelp (fucus saccharinus), timber, dry fish, deer skins, horns, potatoes, coal, fish oil, tobacco, salt and silk. The port was opened to American trade in 1854 by the Perry Treaty, which was later extended to all foreign nations.
 
Extract from the Trousset encyclopedia, 1886 – 1891.
 
1) now Hokkaido
2) now Tsugaru strait