Hi! I’m Gary Dexter. I’m a long-term resident of Hakodate and can speak Japanese. I can answer your questions on Hakodate’s history, landmarks and culture. I know the best restaurants to eat at and the most interesting (and offbeat) attractions to visit.

I also work as a writer and journalist. I've published various books, both novels and non-fiction. I have appeared reciting poetry requests from memory on UK radio and TV (Radio 4's Word of Mouth, Radio 2's Jeremy Vine programme, CBS TV, the Arte Channel and many other stations) and published a book of my experiences reciting poetry (The People's Favourite Poems, Old St 2018). I have written for The Times, Guardian, Telegraph, Spectator and many other publications, often on Japanese themes.