This red brick building, which was constructed in 1888, was modeled on the Massachusetts State House. It has been designated as an important national cultural property, and it is certainly worth visiting. The Archives of Hokkaido are housed here, and there are exhibitions of historical documents and photographs that show the development of this northern island from the Meiji Era (1868-1912) onward. After you have taken a look around the building, relax a while in the beautiful gardens that surround the building.