Historical Village of Hokkaido is an open-air museum located within Nopporo Forest Park in Sapporo. Covering a vast area of approximately 54 hectares, the museum recreates the towns, villages, buildings, and everyday life of Hokkaido during the pioneering era from the Meiji and Taisho periods through the early Showa period.
Historic buildings from different parts of Hokkaido have been relocated to the site and carefully restored, creating an immersive setting where visitors can experience what life was like during the development of modern Hokkaido.
The village is divided into four main areas: Town, Farming Village, Mountain Village, and Fishing Village. Each area reflects a different aspect of life and industry during Hokkaido’s pioneering period.
Walking through the village, visitors can see traditional houses, shops, public facilities, workplaces, and other historic structures while learning how people lived and worked in Hokkaido more than a century ago.
One of the most enjoyable ways to explore the Historical Village of Hokkaido is aboard its horse-drawn railway, which operates during the summer season. The gentle journey through the historic streets offers a nostalgic perspective on the recreated town.
In winter, the experience changes completely. A horse-drawn sleigh takes visitors through the snow-covered village, offering a glimpse into how transportation once adapted to Hokkaido’s severe winters.
The museum offers activities that allow visitors to experience aspects of traditional life rather than simply viewing historic buildings. Programs include making traditional toys and straw crafts, introducing visitors to techniques that were once part of everyday life.
During the winter season, special Winter Life Experiences demonstrate how people survived and worked through Hokkaido’s harsh snowy months. These activities provide a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the early settlers.
Historical Village of Hokkaido goes beyond architecture. Seasonal events and demonstrations recreate aspects of the annual calendar, traditional recreation, and everyday customs of the period.
The museum also works to pass traditional skills and techniques on to future generations, helping preserve the cultural heritage associated with Hokkaido’s pioneering history.
Among the buildings relocated to the town area is the Former Sapporo Police Station Minami-Ichijo Police Box. A distinctive feature is the presence of staff dressed in traditional police uniforms, helping bring the historic streetscape to life.
The recreated police box offers a charming glimpse into the public services and everyday atmosphere of an earlier Sapporo.
The Kaitaku no Mura Restaurant provides a comfortable dining space with approximately 120 seats. Visitors can enjoy local and historically inspired dishes while taking a break from exploring the extensive grounds.
Popular choices include imo-mochi, a traditional Hokkaido potato-based specialty, as well as a Tondenhei set meal inspired by the meals associated with the Tondenhei, former agricultural soldiers who helped settle and defend Hokkaido. Jingisukan, Hokkaido-style grilled mutton, is another local favorite.
The pioneering of Hokkaido dramatically transformed the region during the Meiji era and afterward. People arrived from different parts of Japan, developing agriculture, fishing, forestry, transportation, commerce, and new towns under challenging northern conditions.
At the Historical Village of Hokkaido, the story of this transformation can be understood through the physical environment in which people lived. Historic buildings, transportation, tools, crafts, food, and seasonal activities together reveal the realities of daily life during this important period.
Each season gives the village a different atmosphere. Summer is ideal for exploring the historic streets and enjoying the horse-drawn railway, while autumn brings colorful foliage to the surrounding forest.
Winter offers perhaps the most distinctive experience, when deep snow covers the historic buildings and horse-drawn sleighs travel through the village. The snowy landscape makes it easier to imagine the demanding conditions faced by Hokkaido’s early residents.
Historical Village of Hokkaido is one of the best places in Sapporo to gain a tangible sense of the region’s pioneering history. Rather than presenting history only through exhibits, the open-air museum recreates an entire landscape in which visitors can walk through historic streets, ride traditional transportation, try hands-on crafts, and experience seasonal customs.
For travelers interested in Hokkaido’s history, architecture, traditional culture, and everyday life, this expansive museum offers a fascinating journey into the past.
May-September 9:00-17:00
October - April: 9:00 - 16:30
May-September: No holidays
October-April: Mondays (or the following day if the Monday is a national holiday or a substitute holiday)
December 29 - January 3
General admission: 800 yen
University and high school students: 600 yen
Free for junior high school students and younger, 65 years old and older
Access from Shin-Sapporo Station or Shin-Sapporo Station on the Tozai Subway Line.
Get off at “Shin Sapporo” Station or “Shin Sapporo” Station on the Subway Tozai Line.
Take J.R. Hokkaido Bus bound for “Kaitakunomura” from bus stop No. 10 on the North Lane of Shin-Sapporo Bus Terminal (20 min.) and get off at the last stop.