Have you ever heard of the "Hokkaido Kaitakunomura" (hereafter "Kaitakunomura") located in Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo? As the name suggests, it is an open-air museum where you can experience the life of people in the past, especially in the pioneer days. Visitors and residents of Sapporo who know of the village but have never actually been there will surely find it refreshing and enjoyable! Let us introduce you to the Kaitakunomura Village.

The Kaitakunomura Village is 54.2 hectares in size, which is the equivalent of 10 Sapporo Dome. The large area is divided into four areas: "Urban Area," "Fishing Village," "Farm Village," and "Mountain Village," with exhibits based on different themes.
There are more than 50 buildings in total, all of which are relocated, restored, and reproduced buildings from various parts of Hokkaido built from the Meiji period to the early Showa period. This is why you can feel the life of the people in those days.
The most fun part of the tour is the urban area, where there are many buildings. For example, there is a police station, and if you look inside, you will see a policeman sitting in the police station. ......
In the photo studio, there are photo machines like the ones you see in old movies. ......
You can also see a barbershop sign pole, which is still the same today, and a nostalgic cylindrical mailbox.
The fishing village group is also worth seeing, with its fishermen's houses and old fishing boats.
After looking around the farm villages, where you can see Tondenbiya and pioneer huts, and the mountain villages, where you can enjoy a walk in the mountains, it is time to get hungry and take a break. Return to the entrance square and have a meal at the Kaitakunomura Restaurant. The menu is different from that of the regular cafeteria, with dishes that are typical of the pioneer village. For example, this one.
This is the "Yan Shu Set Meal" (830 yen including tax), which includes red salmon kelp rice and pork miso soup. Yan-shu" refers to the fishermen who were active in herring fishing, etc. It is also a tasteful way to think back to those days and see how they used to eat this kind of food for energy. ......
The specialty of the pioneer village, "Imo Mochi" (160 yen including tax), is also not to be missed. Once you have recovered your energy with delicious food, how about enjoying yourself with some activities? For example, during the winter season, you can experience the "Winter Life Experience," where you can try out old-fashioned winter games such as cartwheel sledding and bamboo skiing.

Photo courtesy of Hokkaido Kaitakunomura

Photo courtesy of Hokkaido Kaitaki-no-mura

A horse-drawn sleigh ride will also be a special experience, although a separate fee is required with the entrance fee.

Photo courtesy of Hokkaido Kaitakunomura

There are so many other activities to choose from, such as making traditional playground equipment in the hands-on learning building, that you will not be able to decide what to do! You can play all day long and experience life in the old days, which is sure to be fun for the whole family.

There are many quaint spots here and there to take pictures, so be sure to find your own unique way to enjoy yourself.

*For more information about the urban area group of the pioneer village and the fishing village county, please visit the following website!


<Hokkaido Settlement Village
Location: 50-1 Onohoro, Atsubetsu-cho, Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo
Phone: 011-898-2692
Official website: https://www.kaitaku.or.jp/