First American Hotel opened in Japan at Hakodadi on the northern island of Yezo

The International Hotel was the first American owned hotel to open in Japan and catered exclusively to foreigners.  Hakodadi was one of the ports opened to British and American business in the recently signed trade agreements.  It sits on the southern end of Hokkaido, the most northern island of the Japanese chain, then called Yezo.  (By John Osborne)