hakusen turns historic city hall into boutique hotel and public library

JUNZO SAKAKURA’S FORMER CITY HALL TURNS INTO BOUTIQUE HOTEL

Located in Iga, Japan, the Hakusen Hotel offered designboom a first-hand look at the former Ueno City Hall, embodying a striking example of architectural revitalization. Completed in 1964, this modernist masterpiece was the work of Junzo Sakakura, a pioneering figure in post-war Japanese architecture and a direct protégé of Le Corbusier. What was once a public building has been reinvented as a stayable cultural complex, merging a 19-room boutique hotel with an upcoming public library to create a unique destination where architectural heritage, contemporary design, and intellectual discovery converge.

all images courtesy of designboom unless stated otherwise

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP SAVES CITY HALL FROM DEMOLITION

While many old Japanese buildings are repurposed for tourism, the Ueno City Hall was saved from demolition by a citizens’ preservation movement and transformed into the Hakusen Hotel through a public-private partnership. This approach, driven by Funatani Holdings, was sparked by the former mayor’s vision to make the building a landmark for Iga, establishing a new cultural hub that could serve as a creative catalyst for the rural region. The hotel‘s concept of ‘floating on a sea of words’ embodies this ambition, offering a stay that is both a physical rest and an intellectual journey, fostering a deeper connection to the local culture beyond its well-known ninja heritage.

the public library is scheduled to open within the same facility in spring 2026 | image © Hakusen

HOTEL HAKUSEN INTEGRATES PUBLIC LIBRARY

The revitalization design by MARU。architecture pays deep homage to Sakakura’s original vision while weaving in modern comfort. Their approach centers on a continuously transitioning flow from outdoor to progressively calmer indoor spaces, maintaining low sightlines to encourage a settled, contemplative mood. The existing concrete walls and preserved wooden formwork are combined with ash wood and plaster to reveal a delicate texture. This pattern gently unites the atmosphere throughout the building.

reception area with wooden formwork on the existing concrete walls | image © Hakusen

For designboom’s stay, the Hakusen Hotel provided a suite room, styled by NOTA&design. The interiors resonate with a wabi-sabi-inspired simplicity, finished with warm materials and a serene atmosphere. Furniture by Tendo Mokko, originally designed by Sakakura Junzo Architects & Engineers, harmonizes with the minimalist spaces to create intimate guest rooms.

Each room is further enriched by the carefully curated art, chosen to bring a tactile feel and emotional depth to Sakakura’s sharp lines and concrete textures. Ceramic works by local artist Taro Tsubota and abstract paintings by Rena Fujimoto adorn each room, while a unique mosaic mural by ceramist Masaomi Yasunaga greets visitors, transforming the hotel into a living gallery where art and architecture engage in quiet conversation.

Iga’s former city hall transformed into a designer boutique hotel with 19 rooms

Even the logo and signage, conceived by UMA/design farm, contribute to this immersive narrative. The Hakusen logo itself is an abstract and poetic distillation of Sakakura’s architecture, evoking images of a boat, moonlight, or a reader lost in thought. Adopting navy blue — a color restored from the building’s original second floor — the logo and signage ensure that every visual element respects and enhances the architectural memory. Documentary photographs of the old city hall, taken by Yuma Harada before the renovation, are also exhibited, silently weaving the building’s past journey into the guest experience. This encapsulates how a stay at Hakusen is a profound journey through time, culture, and design.