Guide
The Former Hakodate Museum Buildings No. 1 and No. 2 are located within Hakodate Park in Hakodate City and represent some of the oldest surviving museum architecture in Japan. Designated as a tangible cultural property of Hokkaido, these buildings were originally constructed during the Meiji era to support the activities of the Kaitakushi (Development Commission). Building No. 1 is a wooden structure characterized by white paneled walls, a dark brown tiled roof, and a distinctive gabled entrance porch. Building No. 2 features a striking design with white walls and a red roof. Both buildings serve as iconic symbols of the history spanning from the Meiji to the Showa eras. Visitors can enjoy viewing these elegant Western-style buildings amidst the lush greenery of the park.
The history of this site dates back to 1871 (Meiji 4). Horace Welch, a key figure in the Development Commission, advocated for the necessity of a museum, leading to the establishment of the site as the Hakodate Provisional Museum. Building No. 1 was opened in 1879 (Meiji 12) to display materials donated by E.S. Morse and various products manufactured by the Development Commission. Above the main entrance, you can still see the