The Red Brick Government Building (former Hokkaido Prefectural Government Office Building), a historic structure representing Hokkaido, will reopen on July 25, 2025. It has been reborn as a new spot perfect for sightseeing, with a new shop by ISHIYA, famous for Shiroi Koibito, a restaurant serving local Hokkaido cuisine, and an observation balcony from the octagonal tower, which was previously off-limits to the public. It is a new and noteworthy spot where you can experience history, culture, experiences, and cuisine all at once.

The building is made from 2.5 million bricks, and you can climb the iconic octagonal tower on the roof at the end of the article!

The Red Brick Government Building (Former Hokkaido Prefectural Government Office Building), built during the Meiji period, is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property and is a building that represents the history of Hokkaido. Construction began in 1886 and was completed in 1888. The interior was completely destroyed by fire in 1909, but the exterior walls remain, and the building still retains its Meiji-era appearance. Restoration work was carried out in 1968, and the following year it was designated as a national Important Cultural Property.

The interior of the building exudes a sense of history

Since 2019, the building has undergone large-scale renovations, including earthquake-resistance improvements, and is scheduled to reopen on July 25, 2025. It has been reborn as a building that conveys the history of Hokkaido to the present and will be passed on to the future.

The iconic steps in front of the entrance to the red brick government building

Various paintings, including works by Tamako Kataoka, are displayed inside the museum.

There is a basic admission fee to enter the newly renovated Red Brick Building, but the Shiroi Koibito Akarenga sweets labo on the first floor, the restaurant HOUSE.H, and the Red Brick Shop are free to enter. We will introduce the highlights of each.

A fun-filled store with a focus on entertainment

This is a new store run by ISHIYA, the maker of Hokkaido's famous Shiroi Koibito confectionery. The theme is a "sweets laboratory" run by a professor who was enthralled by the snowy scenery of Hokkaido. At the entrance, there is a "Sweets Happy Machine," and if you're lucky, you might get the Shiroi Koibito that the professor created! There are also travel-themed capsule machines and a photo spot inspired by a snow globe.

There are various features that make it seem like a "sweets laboratory"

Anyone can enjoy the "Sweets Happy Machine." Insert a coin and turn the handle...

The ball passes through the gears...

Look forward to what comes out at the end

A capsule machine that can be enjoyed for 500 yen per play. It looks cute like a trunk.

You can actually see the manufacturing process

A photo spot inside a snow globe that is likely to become popular

There is a wide selection of souvenirs, including the store-exclusive Shiroi Koibito. There is also a new service where you can create your own original Shiroi Koibito, a popular treat at the chocolate factory. It makes a perfect souvenir.

The limited edition Shiroi Koibito comes in a pack of three, making it an easy-to-buy size.

The Chocolate Factory and this are the only places where you can make your own original cans

The cafe shop inside the store also sells the "Red Brick Sandwich" (450 yen, tax included). This octagonal cookie sandwich, inspired by the octagonal tower of the Red Brick Government Building, is filled with butter cream containing white chocolate and bean paste made from Hokkaido red beans. You can also enjoy the crispy texture.

"Red Brick Sandwich" with cute packaging

The butter cream and bean paste are deliciously sweet and delicious!

There are three other flavors of Shiroi Koibito Soft Cream: White, Mixed, and Black. The regular size is 500 yen (tax included). The jumbo size is 750 yen. The Shiroi Koibito Topping Soft Cream, which comes with one Shiroi Koibito, is 650 yen and comes in two flavors: chocolate and strawberry.

The H in the store name comes from Hokkaido.

This restaurant serves food and drinks made with plenty of ingredients from Hokkaido. It is run by North Graphics, the same company behind the Italian restaurant "Source" and the fermented food restaurant "Fermentation Yard."

The large windows are impressive

On this day, I tried the Ezo venison hamburger steak, which was easy to eat without any unpleasant odor while still allowing you to enjoy the distinct flavor of Ezo venison. In addition to wine and whiskey, the restaurant also offers its own original craft beer and craft gin, making it the perfect pairing with alcohol.

Ezo deer hamburger steak. It was very satisfying to eat.

Original craft beer and craft gin

You can also enjoy other delicious dishes

Collaboration T-shirts with Mickey Mouse also on sale

The shop is spacious and perfect for stopping by while sightseeing. It stocks everything from classic Hokkaido confections such as Rokkatei to character collaboration products.

Red Brick Shop exclusive goods

A wide range of products from Hokkaido's famous sweets to character collaborations

New interactive exhibits also available

Except for the free zone, admission to the Red Brick Government Building is subject to a fee: 300 yen for adults, 200 yen for university and high school students, and free for junior high school students and younger and people with disabilities. From here, we will introduce the new Red Brick Government Building, which has been reborn as a new hub for disseminating information on Hokkaido's history, culture, and tourism.

Director's Office

It consists of three rooms: "The Governor's Office," "Urban Development," and "Architecture." It features the historical background of the time of construction, exhibits related to the renovation known as the "Great Reiwa Renovation," and past Hokkaido morning newspapers. It is a space that recreates the Governor's office.

Projection mapping exhibits

Circularly arranged exhibits

This corner introduces the heritage and culture of each region of Hokkaido. It also introduces all 74 Hokkaido Heritage sites, including those registered as World Heritage Sites and Japan Heritage Sites, as well as tangible and intangible assets that Hokkaido should pass on to future generations as its treasures.

Introducing Hokkaido heritage sites from each region

The exhibition features impressive footage of traditional Ainu dance filmed in various regions of Hokkaido. On the floor is a map of Hokkaido drawn in 1859 by Matsuura Takeshiro, who is also the person who gave Hokkaido its name, and it features approximately 9,800 Ainu names.

A wide selection of specialties from all over Hokkaido

The room is filled with exhibits of local products and crafts from Hokkaido's 179 cities, towns, and villages. A semicircular panoramic video allows you to enjoy the natural scenery unique to Hokkaido.

There is also an attraction where you can throw darts at Hokkaido, just like in a segment on a certain TV show. The city or town you hit is introduced in a video, and by scanning the issued QR code you can learn more about that city or town.

The dart hit Chishibetsu Town

In addition, in the basement, there are exhibits on the overview of the Northern Territories and the history of Sakhalin, including during the war.

This is the part of the "octagonal tower" that is the symbol of the Red Brick Government Building and can now be climbed.

The highlight of this renovation is that you can now climb the Octagonal Tower, which is the face of the Red Brick Building! We were guided up there and actually went.

To reach the octagonal tower, you have to climb a narrow staircase...

I also crawled through low ceilings...

There are also panel displays along the way.

And then we arrived at the balcony!

The view from the balcony at the top offers a panoramic view of Kita 3-jo Street, which was the foundation of Hokkaido's development. It's a place that will make you feel the romance of Hokkaido's history. Viewing the octagonal tower costs 1,200 yen (elementary school students and older). There are four tours per day, each lasting 30 minutes, with a maximum of seven people. Please apply online or at the museum counter on the day.

View of Kita 3-jo Street from the balcony

You can also see the rare sight of the octagonal tower from inside.

Some of the rooms are available for rent to the public.

In addition, there is a "Premium Guided Tour" (500 yen for adults, 250 yen for elementary school students to university students) that allows you to learn more about the history and architecture, and the prestigious "Red Brick Hall" on the second floor and the "Domin Base" located in the semi-basement are available for public rental. The "Red Brick Government Building" has been reborn as a place where you can come into contact with Hokkaido's history, experience its culture, and connect it to the future. It is a noteworthy spot where tourists and locals alike can discover new charms of Hokkaido.

Red Brick Office (Former Hokkaido Government Office Building)

■Address: 1-1 Kita 3-jo Nishi 6-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo ■ Business hours: 8:45-21:00 (last entry 20:30) ■Closed: New Year's holiday (December 29th to January 3rd), equipment inspection day (November 16th, 2025) ■Admission fee: 300 yen for adults, 200 yen for university and high school students, free for junior high school students and younger, free for people with disabilities Octagonal Tower Viewing: 1,200 yen (elementary school students and above) 4 times a day (30 minutes each, maximum 7 people) Premium guided tour: 500 yen for adults, 250 yen for elementary school students to university students, 4 tours per day (60 minutes each, maximum 15 people) For more information and maps on the "Red Brick Government Building (Former Hokkaido Government Office Building)" please click here.