外国人墓地

函館市観光標識

山背泊といわれたこの地区は、開国後、函館寄港中に死亡した船員や在住外国人を葬る墓地として使われはじめました。
古くは安政元年（１８５４年）に没したアメリカ・ペリー艦隊の水兵や翌年にはイギリス艦隊の水兵の墓碑が置かれたほか、当時日本との国交はなかったものの多数の病人発生により急きょ入港したフランス艦隊の水兵がこの地で葬られたとの記録も残されています。
明治３年（１８７０年）には新たにカトリック墓地の設置について要望があり、開拓使は、改めて外国人専用の墓地として従来の英国（プロテスタント墓地）、ロシア（ロシア人墓地）に加え、フランスにカトリック墓地（現シャルトル聖パウロ修道女会墓地）を貸付け、明治９年（１８７６年）には、中国人墓地（現函館中華山荘）が加わり現在の外国人墓地が形づくられました。

CEMETERY FOR FOREIGNERS

This area, which used to be called Yamasedomari, was the original cemetery for sailors who　died during their port call at Hakodate, and for foreign residents of Hakodate.

Gravestones for late sailors of Perry's fleet and the first British fleet were placed here back in 1854 and 1855 respectively. In addition, according to some records, French sailors　who died of illness were buried here after the ship had to be rushed into port at Hakodate despite no diplomatic relations with Japan at the time.

By the year 1870, Britain and Russia already had their own cemeteries here. Following a new demand for Catholic cemeteries, Hokkaido settlers decided to lend France a part of the area as a Catholic cemetery. It is currently a cemetery for the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres.

In 1876 the cemetery for Chinese people, now called the Chinese Graveyard, became part of the larger Foreign Cemetery.