Historical Village of Hokkaido

Hokkaido Historical Village (Kaitaku no Mura) is an open-air museum in Sapporo. Historic buildings from the Hokkaido pioneer era have been relocated and reconstructed here, and visitors can explore 52 historic structures. Highlights include the former Sapporo Station, Hokudai Keiteki Dormitory, the Takeo Arishima residence, and a herring mansion (nishin goten). In summer, you can ride a horse-drawn railway through the site; in winter, horse-drawn sleigh rides are available. The horse-carriage fee is reasonably priced (adults 250 yen, children 100 yen), making it a popular and memorable experience. The village is designed so you can experience daily life from the pioneering period, and it is divided into four areas—town, fishing village, farming village, and mountain village—each recreating a different settlement type. Inside many buildings, life-size mannequins depict scenes of everyday life from the era. The Former Aoyama Family Fisherman’s House, used as a filming location for NHK’s drama "Massan," is a notable point of interest. At the Former Sapporo Police South Ichijo Substation, a policeman in period uniform may be present and can pose for photos with visitors. Access is easy: take a bus from Shin-Sapporo and get off at the final stop "Kaitaku no Mura"—it’s right there.