"The former Public Hall of Hakodate Ward"
In August 1907 a big fire burnt down nearly 9,000 houses, almost a half of Hakodate ward.The public meeting hall where the citizens had gathered together was lost. Mr.Teppei Soma, a wealthy merchant at that time contributed 50,000 yen (a terribly great value of money) though he had also lost his own stores in that fire. Thanks to him ,the present public hall was completed in 1910. This hall is of the typical western style architecture of the Meiji era. It is constructed symmetrically . It shows unique architecture style on the verandah upstairs , the skylights and the carvings on the pillars of the entrance and porches. In May 1974, it was designated as an important cultural property and the building was entirely restored in 1982 after three years of work.