Hakodate Magistrate’s Office in Hokkaido

​The Hakodate Magistrate’s Office is established in 1864 by the Tokugawa shogunate, the Hakodate Magistrate’s Office served as the administrative and military center for the northern territories, particularly the Ezochi region (present-day Hokkaido). Its location within the star-shaped Goryōkaku Fort was strategic, providing defense against potential foreign threats following Japan’s opening to international trade. The office was dismantled after the Battle of Hakodate in 1869, marking the end of the Boshin War and the shogunate’s rule.​ In 2010, the building was meticulously reconstructed using traditional materials and techniques, including pine beams and handmade paper sliding doors, to authentically replicate its original design. The restoration was based on historical photographs, documents, and archaeological findings.