Motomachi area-Motoi-zaka Slope - Hakodate Hokkaido Japan. Important Cultural Property; Old Hakodate Public Hall is a western style building . Construction of the building began in May 1909 and was completed in September 1910. The hall has a very colorful history. It was used as a temporary residence in August 1911; when His Highness the Crown Price (the Emperor Taisho) visited here, and also when His Majesty the Emperor Showa came to Hokkaido as regency. And in the confused postwar period, it was used as the Maritime Disasters Inquiry Agency, a part of the city hall. After that it was used again as a municipal hall from 1957, but there were some consequential damage caused by wind and snow of the building over seventy years. Therefore in 1980 the restoration of the building started and in November 1982 Hakodate Public Hall reappeared in its original glory. --- museum handout