Hoheikan

Welcome to Nakajima Park, a sprawling urban oasis located just a short subway ride from the bustling heart of Sapporo Station. As we stand amidst the sweet-smelling Japanese red spruce and elm trees, you can feel the elemental…

As we stand before the Hoheikan, the first feature that inevitably captures the eye is its astonishing chromatic identity. The facade is painted in a brilliant, almost startling shade of ultramarine blue, contrasted sharply…

Stepping through the massive front doors, we enter the grand foyer of the Hoheikan. The immediate sensory shift is palpable. …

We now step into the Shimohiro-ma, known as the Lower Hall. This expansive room was designed as a primary gathering and banqueting space. …

Adjacent to the Shimohiro-ma is the formal Dining Room. In the context of the 1880s, a dedicated Western-style dining room in Hokkaido was a profound cultural anomaly. …

Having explored the public reception and dining areas of the ground floor, let us now approach the grand staircase that leads to the upper level of the Hoheikan. The staircase is a critical architectural element in any…

We now stand before the Kari-no-Goten, the most revered space within the Hoheikan. This room is a faithful reproduction of the quarters utilized by Emperor Meiji during his momentous visit to Hokkaido in 1881. …

Situated immediately adjacent to the Emperor's quarters is a room of slightly more modest proportions, yet of immense political importance. This is the antechamber for the 'Sokkin,' the Emperor's close aides and trusted advisors. …

Continuing down the second-floor corridor, we arrive at one of the standard, yet astonishingly beautiful, Western guest rooms. Stepping into this space, you are immediately enveloped by a vivid, incredibly elegant shade of green…

As we make our way back down the creaking wooden stairs, past the grandfather clock, and step out through the grand entrance doors, take a deep breath of the fresh, crisp air of Nakajima Park. Turning around to face the Hoheikan…