Colonial Hokkaido: The Stylish Hoheikan Hotel

Hoheikan was opened in 1881 during Hokkaido’s colonial period and is known as the only hotel the Meiji government ever built. The Western-style wooden building is said to have hosted the Meiji Emperor as its first overnight guest. The hotel’s strikingly pure white exterior and ultramarine trim give the building a distinctive appearance. The building’s interior architecture was designed and built using traditional Japanese techniques, leaving the hotel with a blend of Japanese and Western styles that is unique to the Meiji Era. The ceiling plasterwork shows off beautiful motifs that include delicate autumn leaves and peonies. In 1958, the hotel was designated as a Nationally Important Cultural Property.