The Hoheikan was built by the Hokkaido Development Commissioner in the early Meiji Era (1868-1912) and is one of the nationally designated Important Cultural Properties in Japan. It was built as a Western-style hotel and is the oldest existing wooden hotel in Japan. It is also a historic building that has been visited by the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa emperors. The exterior of the building attracts visitors with its white exterior walls and bright ultramarine blue color. The Hoheikan was relocated to Nakajima Park in 1958, where it stands as a symbol of Hokkaido and Sapporo and a popular tourist attraction.