Maps/Reviews for Former Hokkaido Government Office Building

The former Hokkaido government office building is nicknamed “Aka renga” which means “Red Bricks”. It was constructed in 1888 during the Meiji era as a base for the Hokkaido administration. The building was designed by engineers of the Hokkaido government.
This beautiful American neo-baroque structure was inspired by the Massachusetts State House and was built entirely using local materials.
The inside of the building was destroyed by a fire in 1909 but the red brick walls weren't damaged that much so the building was quickly rebuilt in 1911. The red brick building was designated as an important cultural property of Japan in 1969.

You can walk inside the building and admire the beautiful fixtures such as the entrance hall, the three-section arch, staircases with thick red carpet and the commemorative room on the second floor as well as the exhibitions such as the archives of Hokkaido and the gallery of Hokkaido’s history.

The current Hokkaido government office building is located behind "Aka renga" and is just a boring concrete building. You can have a cheap lunch there on weekdays if you go to the cafeteria in the basement which is open to the public. Please avoid peak time from 12pm to 1pm.

"Aka renga" also has a beautiful forecourt, ponds and gardens which are located at the both sides of the forecourt. There are 1,000 trees of 100 varieties in the gardens : Japanese elms, poplars, maples and cherry trees.