2018/04/16-19 Misuzu Nakamura + Sherri Goh
It was interesting for me to juxtapose the two cities and their evident priorities with the implementation of lighting masterplan. In Hokkaido for the first time, I felt that the two cities were greatly different for their appeal to tourists. Even though Hakodate’s night view was greatly famed and did not disappoint, Sapporo seemed to be the more popular place to be at night and for its nightlife.
City view of Sapporo
City view of Hakodate
Hakodate streets at night 
Sapporo streets at night 
Well illuminated pathway to Sapporo TV tower 
Dim pathways towards Hakodate Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward despite many fixtures
This survey of both cities suggests that there might be a compromise between the balance of two objectives; planning for a potential attraction and planning for functional use. As Sapporo is the larger and denser city, it makes sense to cater to comfort of the people that roam the streets after working hours. From the junction pictures, you can see that there is more lighting on the floor level in Sapporo in comparison to Hakodate. Despite the numerous dotted light fixtures, we felt that the pedestrian pathways and roads were generally darker in Hakodate.
And for Hakodate, turning the nightscape into an economic tool could also be the better solution as most of the streets were empty after 1900h, with major attractions closing by then. It was also strange that Mt Hakodate was extremely crowded with tourists pouring out of the tour buses, but the streets only saw less than half the number of tourists.
Sapporo catered greatly to safety, visual comfort and an aesthetic component to differentiate areas at street level. This led to a night-view that is less readable/harder to understand from afar (Mt Moiwa) due to less light visible from that distance and therefore less light pollution. As to whether the lighting in Hakodate was planned for its night-view from Mt Hakodate, there is no concrete proof but statistics shown by the Japan Tourism Board gives it a reason to be so. Its attractive night-time view gives rise to more light pollution and glare at street level, hence the impression of its design for the macro view.
A quick analysis showed that the number of tour packages has declined from statistics provided by the Japan Tourism Board from 39.4% (2002) to 19.8% (2011), the number of tourists in Hakodate has also dropped from 5,311 to 4,108 in those years. Only in recent years when the first Google search on Hokkaido puts Hakodate and its views as 2nd most popular, did toursim rise back to 5,247 in 2017. The popularity of the internet being the main source of travel information also accounts for the emptiness of Hakodate streets at night as there are no consistent things to do at night other than the night view from Mt Hakodate. Lonely Planet even concludes it as a sleepy town with night strolls along Motomachi district as an option. Our survey of the area at night found little to no one despite countless taxis waiting around, hoping for their last ride of the day.
A possible relationship could also be drawn between light pollution and its direct economic impact. More light pollution can give a more distinct and interesting night view from afar like that of Hakodate, making it an attractive nightscape that people will pay to appreciate, as compared to that when glare is minimal as in Sapporo.
Less light pollution from prioritising visual comfort and the elimination of glare, would give more indirect benefits in supporting people to roam the streets after nightfall in comfort.
This would therefore suit the characteristics of both cities; Sapporo which is that of a busy city and Hakodate, remnants of an old port town. (Sherri Goh)
Statistics were taken from:
http://www.city.hakodate.hokkaido.jp/docs/2015062500021/files/H29irikomi.pdf
http://www.city.hakodate.hokkaido.jp/docs/2015062500021/files/h23irikomi.pdf
http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/kz/kkd/eigohokkaidokankougenkyou.pdf
Motomachi area at night
View of Hakodate from Mt Hakodate
View of Sapporo from Mt Moiwa
A main junction in the heart of town in Hakodate
A busy junction in town of Sapporo
