Hōheikan, Western-style heritage building in Nakajima Park, Japan
Hōheikan is a Western-style wooden structure in Nakajima Park that combines American building techniques with European-influenced columns. The white exterior walls are trimmed with deep blue accents, and a distinctive balcony extends across the front elevation.
The structure was completed in 1880 as a hotel for the Hokkaido Development Commission and originally occupied a different location in the city. Its relocation to Nakajima Park in 1958 allowed it to be preserved as an important cultural property.
The building represents a period when Japanese architects and patrons embraced Western design while maintaining local artistic touches. Visitors walking through the rooms notice how these two traditions exist side by side.
Plan your visit during the standard opening days when the building is accessible to guests. The interior can be explored on foot, allowing you to view the rooms and furnishings that reflect the original hotel use of the space.
The interior ceiling decorations include patterns of Japanese maple leaves and peony flowers from the building's original period. These floral designs show how local artistic elements were woven into the Western architectural style.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
