Hakodate’s Former Soma Family Residence to Start Operating Under New Management! Open to the public from July 12th (Sat) ahead of the summer tourist season

Hakodate, Former Soma Family Residence begins operation under new system! Open to the public from Saturday, July 12th ahead of the summer tourist season ​
Value Management Co., Ltd. Press release: July 9, 2025 To Members of the Media Hakodate, Former Soma Family Residence starts operation under new management! Open to the public from July 12th (Sat) ahead of the summer tourist season Collaboration with “NIPPONIA HOTEL Hakodate Minatomachi” and launch of photo wedding plan Value Management Co., Ltd. (Head office: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Representative: Jun Tajikino, hereinafter referred to as “our company”) has taken over the management of the “Former Soma Family Residence” in Hakodate City, Hokkaido, a nationally designated important cultural property, from the former owner. From Saturday, July 12, 2025, under the new system, we will begin opening it to the public in order to widely disseminate its historical and cultural value. In addition, we will expand the range of uses as a cultural property, including use in wedding scenes. As stated in the press release issued on February 27, this project is part of a plan* to widely raise investments through LEVECHY, a real estate crowdfunding service operated by LEVECHY Inc. (Head office: Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Masashi Taka; hereinafter “LEVECHY”), with the aim of inheriting and preserving the former Soma family home, and to work together on everything from fund formation to maintaining and preserving the former Soma family home. * Former Soma Family Residence Hotel Project (tentative name)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/18871/589/18871-589-3a27f15242ec27413677a1c7d6c65256-1920×1080.png 【Background】 Our company, which utilizes historical buildings for the purpose of preserving them, met the former owner of the “Former Soma Family Residence” through our activities in the Hakodate area and has been discussing the possibility of preserving and utilizing the building. As a result, we decided to introduce a new model that balances the preservation and utilization of historical buildings by soliciting a wide range of investments, including from individuals interested in the history and culture of the region. We will work together with LEVECHY to plan the fund formation and preserve the former Soma family home through the real estate crowdfunding service “LEVECHY” operated by LEVECHY. In the future, we will carry out renovation work on areas that are not subject to cultural heritage designation, and are carrying out the “Former Soma Family Home Hotel Plan (tentative name)” with the aim of opening a hotel by fiscal year 2025. We have now completed raising the target amount as originally planned on April 30, 2025, and acquired the property through an SPC (special purpose company). Our company will take over the operation and open the former Soma family home to the public. 【About Public Opening】 The former Soma family residence is a representative building of Hakodate that has been preserved under the wishes of many people. Under the new structure, the hotel will be open to the public, and while maintaining and managing the building, it will also further evolve the way cultural assets are utilized. This time, in
collaboration with the “NIPPONIA HOTEL Hakodate Minatomachi,” which is also operated by our company, we will start new initiatives such as offering special benefits and using the hotel for wedding ceremonies. • Address: 33-2 Motomachi, Hakodate, Hokkaido • Important cultural property designated buildings on the site: 2 buildings • Publication period: Saturday, July 12, 2025 to Friday, October 31, 2025 *Closed from November to March due to winter season • Opening hours: 9:30-16:30 (last entry 16:00) • Closed: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays • Benefits: Present your ticket stub to receive a
complimentary drink at NIPPONIA HOTEL Hakodate Minatomachi LE UN • Homepage: https://www.kyusoumake.com/ ▍New measures accompanying the start of public opening ■Collaboration with restaurants utilizing historical buildings in Hakodate City At the dining restaurant “LE UN” in the “NIPPONIA HOTEL Hakodate Minatomachi,” a former brick warehouse that has been renovated into a hotel with nine rooms, customers who have a ticket stub for the former Soma family residence will receive a free drink. “LE UN” serves locally produced dishes prepared with French techniques using an abundance of seasonal ingredients grown in the great outdoors, including seafood such as scallops and giant snow crab, which are unique to Hokkaido. Use this tour as an opportunity to visit the Former Soma Family Residence, a nationally designated important cultural property located in Hakodate City’s Traditional Buildings Preservation District, halfway up the slope leading to Mt. Hakodate, and the former Red Brick Warehouse, the face of the port city, as well as the remaining historical buildings and townscape of Hakodate, and enjoy the delicious food unique to this area. • Store name: NIPPONIA HOTEL Hakodate Minatocho LE UN • Address: 11-8 Toyokawacho, Hakodate, Hokkaido • Business hours: Lunch 11:00-15:00 (Last orders 14:00) *Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays only / Dinner 17:30-22:00 (Last orders 20:00) • Expiration date: October 31, 2025 • Eligibility: Those who have a ticket stub for viewing the former Soma family residence
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/18871/589/18871-589-64b1f453d1cca649460efb94eefaf412-1800×1200.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/18871/589/18871-589-783cf40941a19c918ba3552991f7d436-3900×2601.jpg ■Photo wedding plan The Former Soma Family Residence, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property, will be the setting for your wedding. We will start offering a photo wedding plan set in the Former Soma Family Residence, which is highly acclaimed for its fusion of modern Japanese and Western architecture with the scenery of the port city of Hakodate. Shooting in this special cultural property that is over 100 years old and looks great with both Western and Japanese attire will be a one-of-a-kind experience. • Contact: 0120-210-289 (VMG General Window 11:00~20:00) When calling, please say that you are inquiring about the “Former Soma Family Residence Photo Wedding Plan.” • price: Western clothing plan: 324,500 yen (tax included) • Japanese style plan: 357,500 yen (tax and service charge included) ▍What is the Former Soma Family Residence? The Former Soma Family Residence is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property located in the traditional buildings preservation district of Hakodate City, halfway up the slope leading up to Mount Hakodate. The property is
conveniently located about 15 minutes by car from JR Hakodate Station, about 25 minutes by car from Hakodate Airport, and a 5-minute walk from the nearest tram stop “Suehirocho”, and is surrounded by low-rise housing and various historical buildings. This property was built in the Motomachi area of ​​Hakodate City by the first Soma Teppei, one of Hokkaido’s leading businessmen, as a private residence for the Soma family in order to create jobs for citizens and rebuild the city after the great fire that occurred in Hakodate in 1907. Many craftsmen with a wide variety of skills were involved in the construction, and the main room incorporates many designs seen in Shoin-zukuri architecture, the tea room incorporates many designs seen in Sukiya-zukuri architecture, and the Western-style rooms are finished in a Victorian style overall, making it a modern building that harmonizes Japanese and Western styles. In addition to being evaluated as a standalone building, the building was also recognized for its integration into the city’s landscape, leading to it being designated as a Hakodate City Traditional Building in 2009 and as a National Important Cultural Property in 2018. The property has been open to the public since 2010.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/18871/589/18871-589-73e40ee6f95ea1794fcdcdfa6160e661-520×400.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/18871/589/18871-589-3649b5811cb7a0b0e682339a5fb47415-520×400.jpg ▍About the hotel business plan Under Article 4 of the Cultural Properties Protection Law, nationally designated important cultural properties are required to be properly managed and to be open to the public to the extent that it does not affect the cultural properties. Therefore, the former Soma Family Residence is scheduled to remain open to the public even after the establishment of this fund. In addition, when preserving and opening to the public important cultural properties designated by the government, direct and physical changes to the parts that are recognized as important cultural properties are prohibited. In the “Former Soma Family Residence Hotel Project (tentative name),” we plan to renovate the section of the building centered on the cafe area into three guest rooms while protecting its value as an important cultural property. We aim to provide a special stay experience that transcends time while enjoying the luxurious space and design unique to a wealthy merchant from the Meiji period. We will announce various information such as the number of rooms, concept, and activities as soon as it is decided.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/18871/589/18871-589-cad99e3737cc63a1c7d8c78358f29c8a-1920×1080.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/18871/589/18871-589-3ae0f13778960a14382a784155b53b99-520×400.jpg ▍Outline of the Former Soma Family Residence Hotel Development Plan (tentative name) • Opening date: Scheduled for 2025 • Total floor area: 680 square meters • Guest room area: 3 rooms (70 square meters, 132 square meters, 55 square meters) *Currently in planning and subject to change • Address: 33-2 Motomachi, Hakodate, Hokkaido • Important cultural property designated buildings on the site: 2 buildings ▍About NIPPONIA HOTEL Hakodate Minatomachi Located in the Red Brick Warehouse District, one of Hakodate’s tourist attractions, this hotel was created by renovating a warehouse that had not been used for a long time, and consists of nine guest rooms and a dining area, giving you a sense of history and culture. While making use of the texture of the red bricks, the interior design incorporates a simple yet warm Scandinavian style, expressing the Japanese-Western fusion culture that is characteristic of Hakodate. Enjoy a stay unique to a port town overlooking the Hakodate Canal and a dining experience at the French restaurant that makes use of freshly caught seafood to your heart’s content. ■For more information on NIPPONIA HOTEL Hakodate Minatomachi, click here https://www.vmg-hakodate.com/ ■Click here for the special wedding page https://www.vmg-hakodate.com/wedding Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/18871/589/18871-589-178c7343585a29ddde493ea1c9a897d3-1000×667.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/18871/589/18871-589-8511a162a158e4d59d889bcc6aa86c31-1000×667.jpg More information about this release *This email has been sent automatically, so please do not reply.