Century-old former Russian Consulate in Hokkaido reborn as hotel
HAKODATE, Hokkaido (Kyodo) -- The former Russian Consulate in Hakodate, Hokkaido, built in 1908 by the Russian Empire and featured in the popular manga "Golden Kamuy," will reopen as a luxury hotel in July after remaining vacant for nearly 30 years.
The redbrick building, perched on a hill with sweeping views of Hakodate Port, has been reborn as Hotel Biaclyn Hakodate, a six-suite wellness retreat featuring a blend of Western architecture and Japanese design.
After serving as a consulate for 36 years, it was acquired by the city following World War II and is the only surviving building of its kind in Japan from the imperial Russia era. The building was used as a youth training facility until 1996 and then remained closed to the public.
In 2021, Nagoya-based automotive chemicals wholesaler Sovereign Corp. purchased the property and set the gears of restoration in motion, starting renovations around two years later.
The company's president, Hiromasa Murase, and his wife Shiho Tanimura both have a strong connection to Hakodate as they previously lived in the city. They also studied at Hokkaido University.
The project was overseen by Tanimura, an author who featured the former Russian Consulate in her novel "Kurokami" (Black Hair).
Opening on July 12, Hotel Biaclyn Hakodate will feature two suites in the consulate wing and four in a newly added wellness wing, all equipped with private saunas. A one-night stay with two meals costs 319,000 yen ($2,200) for two adults.
The main dining restaurant, which launched in May together with a sushi restaurant and bar, offers dishes paying homage to Hokkaido ingredients, as well as Russian piroshki pies served as an amuse-bouche.
Hotel manager Yuichi Haseyama, 56, said that in addition to the building exterior, elements like the original fittings of the bar and wooden wainscoting have also been preserved.
"We want to protect and nurture this historical building that is loved by the local community," said Haseyama. "I believe this (hotel) will become a new attraction for Hakodate tourism."
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