It’s not too often that I would recommend a visit to a former government building, but I’ll make an exception in the case of Sapporo's Hokkaido Government Office Building.
Given the central-downtown core location, it’s hard to miss a visit to the red-brick, neo-baroque building (designed to strike a remarkable resemblance to the Massachusetts State Building in the U.S.). Built in 1888; it was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1911. The offices were rebuilt and designated as national cultural property in 1969 in an effort to preserve and maintain the structure. Today, the grounds are a great place to stroll around its ponds and gardens and soak in a little of the history of the City of Sapporo.
