The 'Otaru Kihinkan (Former Aoyama Villa),' a magnificent northern art residence and a nationally registered tangible cultural property, is a grand mansion said to have a total construction cost equivalent to approximately 3 billion yen at today's prices. It is a villa built over six and a half years by Masakichi Aoyama, the second-generation head of the Aoyama family who amassed a great fortune from herring fishing, together with his daughter Masae.

The living spaces are lavishly appointed with building materials meticulously selected by the master builder, such as hinoki cypress, zelkova, rosewood, ebony, Jindai cedar, and Yakusugi cedar, as well as Shunkei-nuri lacquered corridors and pillars, and staircases made of Japanese ash.

We invite you to visit this splendid and luxurious art mansion, one of Hokkaido's finest, to experience the historic building and immerse yourself in its wonder. At the adjacent Otaru Kihinkan, guests are welcomed by a grand ceiling painting of 138 flowers, and in the Japanese-style restaurant, you can enjoy delicious Japanese cuisine, herring dishes, and more.