Edo period shogunal magistrate office

Bugyosho was the office of bugyō, an administrative institution of the shogunate translated in English as "magistrate" or "governor". The Hakodate bugyō was established in 1802 and was administering the port and the surrounding territory.

Photographed here is the interior of the Hakodate Bugyosho, located inside the Goryokaku fort. The building was recently rebuilt after old documents, photos and drawings, by using only traditional materials and construction techniques, and it is today a very interesting history lesson...