One of Sapporo's iconic western landmarks, the magnificent former Hokkaido government office, was built in 1873 to house the offices of the previous government that once oversaw the affairs of the island. Fully restored after a devastating fire, it now offers exhibition space and serves as the tourist center of the city and is worth a visit for its interior design as well as its bright red brick façade. Impressive in size, the structure includes around two and a half million locally sourced brickworks and houses a collection of important paintings and other works of art as well as furniture and exhibits that deal with the building's important space in the history of the region.