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Historic building · Sapporo, Hokkaido
Former Hokkaido Government Office Building
Seat of Hokkaido’s government from 1888, in red brick and American neobaroque style, known as Akarenga. Restored, it houses period rooms and exhibitions about the island, surrounded by a garden with ponds.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
A look at the place
Former Hokkaido Government Office Building in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
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Discover
About Former Hokkaido Government Office Building
The Former Hokkaido Government Office Building, called by locals Akarenga, “red brick,” was completed in 1888 to house the island’s administration. The bricks were made in Hokkaido and the design follows the neobaroque style used for U.S. public buildings of the time, with an octagonal dome at the center. The government operated there for eight decades, until it moved to the new building beside it, and the structure is an important cultural asset of Japan.
The building underwent extensive restoration, including seismic reinforcements and accessibility improvements, and reopened to visitors with the period rooms reconstructed. the former governor’s office and meeting rooms display 19th-century furniture and finishes, and the exhibitions cover the island’s colonization, the history of the Ainu, Hokkaido’s indigenous people, and the issue of northern borders presented only as historical context.
The front garden, with two ponds, old trees and an iron gate, is open and used by residents as a passageway. In spring, flowers fill the beds; in autumn, the leaves change color; in winter, snow covers the roof and the ponds. At night, the façade is illuminated.
The visit pairs well with the Clock Tower and Odori Park, a few minutes’ walk away, and with Sapporo Station, which is less than 10 minutes away. Part of the exhibitions require a fee and part are free; check what is included before you go.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 45 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, including the garden and exhibitions.
Best time
In the morning, to see the rooms calmly. The garden typically blooms in late spring and shows colors in autumn; in winter, the snow-covered façade is much sought after for photos.
How to get there
About an 8-minute walk from Sapporo Station and 5 minutes from the Clock Tower. The nearest subway station is Sapporo on the Namboku line.
Tip
Enter through the main gate on the avenue that leads from the station to see the façade head-on, and allow time for the garden. Some rooms and exhibitions require separate fees; check the current price list.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Former Hokkaido Government Office Building
What is Sapporo’s Akarenga?
It’s the Old Hokkaido Government Building, a red-brick building completed in 1888. Today it serves as a historic building with period rooms, exhibitions about the island and a garden with ponds.
Is the Old Hokkaido Government Building open to visitors?
It reopened to visitors after a long restoration. Check the official site for days, opening hours and paid areas before you go.
Is the Akarenga garden open?
The front garden is usually open and is used as a thoroughfare by locals. It has two ponds, old trees and flower beds in spring.
Can you see the Akarenga and the Clock Tower in the same morning?
Yes. They are about a 5-minute walk from each other, with Odori Park just south. You can visit all three in one morning.
Beyond the guide
