The "Akarenga Chosha" (Former Hokkaido Government Office Building), a historic landmark representing Hokkaido, will reopen on July 25, 2025, after renovations. It has been transformed into a new tourist hotspot, featuring a new shop by ISHIYA, famous for Shiroi Koibito sweets, a restaurant serving Hokkaido gourmet, and an observation balcony in the octagonal tower, which was previously inaccessible. This is a new must-visit spot where you can experience history, culture, activities, and gourmet all at once.

The building was constructed with 2.5 million bricks. We'll climb the iconic "Octagonal Tower" on the roof at the end of the article!

Built in the Meiji era, the "Akarenga Chosha" (Former Hokkaido Government Office Building) is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property that symbolizes the history of Hokkaido. Construction began in 1886 and was completed in 1888. Although the interior was destroyed by a fire in 1909, the exterior walls survived, still conveying the atmosphere of the Meiji period. Restoration work was carried out in 1968, and it was designated as a national Important Cultural Property the following year.

The interior of the building, which exudes a sense of history.

Since 2019, it has been undergoing major renovations, including seismic retrofitting, and will finally reopen on July 25, 2025. It has been reborn as a building that conveys the history of Hokkaido to the present and passes it on to the future.

The grand staircase at the entrance, a symbol of the Akarenga Chosha.

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

While there is generally an admission fee to enter the newly renovated Akarenga Chosha, the "Shiroi Koibito Akarenga sweets labo," the restaurant "HOUSE.H," and the Akarenga Shop on the 1st floor can be entered for free. Here are the highlights of each.

A fun-filled interior with a focus on entertainment.

This is a new directly-managed store by ISHIYA, famous for the Hokkaido confection "Shiroi Koibito." The theme is a "Sweets Laboratory" run by a professor thrilled by Hokkaido's snowy landscapes. At the entrance, there's a "Sweets Happy Machine," and if you're lucky, you might get a "Shiroi Koibito" perfected by the professor! There are also travel-themed capsule toy machines and a photo spot designed to look like a snow globe.

Various contraptions fitting for a "Sweets Laboratory."

The "Sweets Happy Machine" that anyone can enjoy. Insert a coin and turn the handle...

The ball passes through the gears...

What comes out at the end is a surprise!

A capsule toy machine you can enjoy for 500 yen per try. The trunk design is cute.

You can also see the actual manufacturing process.

A photo spot where you can step inside a snow globe, which is sure to be popular.

The shop is stocked with souvenirs, including exclusive Shiroi Koibito products. The service that lets you create your own original Shiroi Koibito, popular at the Chocolate Factory, is also available here. Perfect for souvenirs.

The exclusive Shiroi Koibito comes in an easy-to-buy 3-piece pack.

Only here and at the Chocolate Factory can you create a custom tin.

The in-store cafe sells the "Akarenga Sand" (450 yen, tax included). This octagonal cookie sandwich, inspired by the Akarenga Chosha's octagonal tower, is filled with white chocolate butter cream and coarse red bean paste from Hokkaido. It has a delightful crispy texture.

The "Akarenga Sand" with its cute packaging.

The rich sweetness of the butter cream & coarse red bean paste is delicious!

Additionally, the "Shiroi Koibito Soft Serve Ice Cream" comes in three flavors: white, mix, and black. A regular size is 500 yen (tax included), and a jumbo size is 750 yen. The "Shiroi Koibito Topping Soft Serve," which comes with a Shiroi Koibito cookie, is available in chocolate and strawberry flavors for 650 yen.

The 'H' in the name stands for Hokkaido.

This is a restaurant where you can enjoy dishes and drinks made with plenty of Hokkaido ingredients. It is operated by North Graphics, the company behind the Italian restaurant "Source" and the fermented food restaurant "Hakko Yard."

The large windows are impressive.

On this day, I tried the Ezo deer hamburger steak. It was a dish where you could really taste the flavor of the deer meat, yet it was easy to eat with no gamey taste. They offer wine and whiskey, as well as the restaurant's original craft beer and craft gin, making it perfect for enjoying with a drink.

The Ezo deer hamburger steak. It was very satisfying.

Original craft beer and craft gin.

You can also enjoy other luxurious dishes.

Mickey Mouse collaboration T-shirts are also for sale.

The shop, perfect for a quick stop during your sightseeing, is spacious and well-stocked. It offers a wide range of products, from classic Hokkaido confections like Rokkatei to collaboration items with popular characters.

Exclusive Akarenga Shop merchandise is also available.

A wide selection, from Hokkaido confections to character collaborations.

New interactive exhibits have also been introduced.

Except for the free zones, admission to the Akarenga Chosha is required. The fee is 300 yen for general admission, 200 yen for university and high school students, and free for junior high school students and younger, as well as for people with disabilities. From here, we will introduce the new Akarenga Chosha, reborn as a new hub for information on Hokkaido's history, culture, and tourism.

The Director's Office.

This area consists of three rooms: "Director's Office," "Urban Development," and "Architecture." It features exhibits on the historical background of its construction, the renovation known as the "Great Renovation of the Reiwa Era," and a recreation of the office of successive Hokkaido governors.

Exhibits using projection mapping.

A circular exhibit layout.

This corner introduces the heritage and culture of various regions in Hokkaido. It showcases items registered as World Heritage and Japan Heritage sites, as well as all 74 items of the Hokkaido Heritage, which are tangible and intangible assets selected as treasures of Hokkaido to be passed down to future generations.

Introducing Hokkaido Heritage from various regions.

An impressive exhibit featuring videos of traditional Ainu dances filmed in various regions of Hokkaido. The floor is covered with a map of Hokkaido drawn in 1859 by Takeshiro Matsuura, who is known as the man who named Hokkaido, with approximately 9,800 Ainu place names written on it.

A wide array of specialty products from all over Hokkaido.

The room is filled with a circular display of specialty products and crafts from the 179 municipalities in Hokkaido. A semi-circular panoramic video allows you to enjoy the unique natural landscapes of Hokkaido.

There is also an attraction where you can throw a dart at a map of Hokkaido, much like a certain TV show segment. The municipality the dart hits is introduced in a video, and by scanning the issued QR code, you can learn more about that municipality.

This time, the dart landed on Chippubetsu Town.

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

This is the "Octagonal Tower," the symbol of the Akarenga Chosha, which you can now actually climb.

The highlight of this renovation is that you can now climb the "Octagonal Tower," the face of the Akarenga Chosha! I was guided up to see it for myself.

To get to the Octagonal Tower, you have to climb a narrow staircase...

...duck under low ceilings...

...and there are panel exhibits along the way.

And then you arrive at the balcony!

The view from the balcony at the top offers a panoramic look at Kita 3-jo Dori, the street that formed the foundation of Hokkaido's development. It's a place that lets you feel the romance of Hokkaido's history. Viewing from the Octagonal Tower costs 1,200 yen (for elementary school students and older). It is held 4 times a day for 30 minutes each, with a maximum of 7 people per session. You can apply for tickets online or at the counter inside the building on the day.

The view of Kita 3-jo Dori from the balcony.

You can also get a rare view of the Octagonal Tower from the inside.

Some of the rooms are also available for public rental.

In addition, there are "Premium Guided Tours" (500 yen for adults, 250 yen for elementary to university students) for a deeper understanding of its history and architecture, and the prestigious "Akarenga Hall" on the 2nd floor and the semi-basement "Domin Base" are available for public rental. The "Akarenga Chosha" has been reborn as a place to touch Hokkaido's history, experience its culture, and connect to the future. It's a must-see spot for both tourists and locals to discover new charms of Hokkaido.

Akarenga Chosha (Former Hokkaido Government Office Building)

■ Location: 1, Kita 3-jo Nishi 6-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
■ Hours: 8:45 AM - 9:00 PM (Last admission 8:30 PM)
■ Closed: Year-end and New Year holidays (Dec 29 - Jan 3), facility inspection day (Nov 16, 2025)
■ Admission: General 300 yen, University/High school students 200 yen, Junior high school students and younger free, Persons with disabilities free
・Octagonal Tower Viewing: 1,200 yen (Elementary school students and older) 4 times a day (30 min per session, max 7 people)
・Premium Guided Tour: Adults 500 yen, Elementary to University students 250 yen, 4 times a day (60 min per session, max 15 people)
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