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Originally called Tomoe seaport because of its comma (tomoe) shape, it was later renamed Hakodate in 1454 from the tsugaru clan Masamichi Kawano who built a large manor house in the fishing village. He changed the village name from Usukeshi (meaning "bay" in the Ainue language) to Hako-date (Hako meaning "box" since the house that was built looked like a box).
In 1854, the Japan-USA Amity Treaty opened Hakodate to trade with the USA . In 1858, the friendship and trade treaty with America , Netherlands , Russia , England and France , obtained for Hakodate , together with Yokohama and Nagasaki , the status of an international trade port. The countries opened consulates in the city while the government and citizens improved the harbor and built roads to enhance Hakodate 's position as a trade port.
Today, the city is focusing on international exchanges to strengthen its position as the "International Tourist City". It has established sister-city affiliations with Halifax , Canada in 1982 and Vladivostok , Russia , and Lake Macquarie, Australia , both in 1992. In 1994, the city inaugurated a regular route to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia.
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