Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward is one of Hakodate’s most iconic Western-style historic buildings. Completed in 1910 in the Motomachi district, it served as a venue for official ceremonies and receptions, reflecting the city’s role as an early international port. Its elegant wooden structure with a columned balcony overlooks Hakodate Port.
The building was funded largely through donations from local residents, with major support from Teppei Soma, a prominent merchant and philanthropist, and it hosted members of the Japanese imperial family, including Emperor Taishō (then Crown Prince) and later Emperor Shōwa.
For many decades before the latest renovation, the hall was painted pink and white, a look locals had grown used to. When the 2021 restoration restored the original blue-and-yellow color scheme, some residents were reportedly unhappy — not because it lacked historical accuracy, but because the pink façade had become part of local memory.
Today, the Public Hall functions as a museum and cultural venue. Visitors can explore restored interiors, rent Meiji-era Western-style costumes, attend concerts and cultural events, and use a multilingual AR app explaining the rooms and furnishings.
Practical information: Tickets are sold on site, with English-speaking staff available. You can buy a single ticket or combined passes for 2, 3, or 4 museums. We chose a 3-museum pass (720 yen), which also included the Former British Consulate and the Northern Peoples Museum — excellent value.
The place is nice and the entrance fee is well priced. Not much to do, but i do recommend coming here if you're in Hakodate.
There's a road near the hall with cafes and souvenir shops
If you are a history buff or love heritage buildings, this is a must visit. They offer special admission fees based on how many places you want to visit.
The rooms are kept in its traditional style. The hall is beautiful with hardwood floors and is open for rentals and events. Make sure you visit the top floor where there’s a panoramic view of Hakodate harbor.
There’s a small retail shop selling souvenirs and interesting gifts.
You are expected to remove your shoes and wear plastic sandals inside.
As tourist, probably won’t really mean a lot. The interior is quite interesting with old furniture and historical values to the local and across Japan.
Nice outside but I wish they had more furniture from the time period in the building. Wanted you to download a special app to have virtual reality of the rooms 👎🏻. Also required NO shoes when walking on hard floors (why I do not know).
