Former Hokkaido Government Office Building Red Brick Building 北海道庁旧本庁舎 赤れんが庁舎

A red brick structure built in 1888 (Meiji 21) in the American Neo-Baroque style, widely recognized as the defining symbol of Hokkaido. Officially named the "Former Hokkaido Government Office Building," it is affectionately known as the "Akarenga (Red Brick) Office" for its distinctive exterior. Approximately 2.5 million red bricks — produced in the former villages of Shiroishi and Toyohira — cover the outer walls, while an octagonal tower rises from the rooftop. The five-pointed star embossed on the facade is the emblem of the Kaitakushi (Hokkaido Development Commission), modeled on the North Star. The building was designated a National Important Cultural Property in 1969.

Having served as the seat of Hokkaido's prefectural government for some 80 years, the building is now open to the public as a tourist facility. The second-floor exhibition rooms display materials on the building's architectural history, Hokkaido's history, and Ainu culture, supported by audiovisual presentations, and a special viewing area in the octagonal tower offers a panoramic view of the surrounding cityscape. Inside, visitors can look through original Meiji-era wavy glass windows — a sensation likened to time travel — and explore a full-scale replica of the 26-section map of Hokkaido created by Matsuura Takeshiro, the man who named Hokkaido, as well as a diorama recreating Meiji-era Sapporo. The ground floor also features a corner introducing the charms of all 179 municipalities across Hokkaido.

A spacious garden in front of the building offers beautiful seasonal scenery, with cherry blossoms in spring and colorful flower beds in summer. Conveniently located in the heart of the city, it draws both residents and visitors throughout the year.