Do you know "Hokkaido Historical Village" (hereafter referred to as "Kaitaku no Mura") 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, focusing on the pioneering era. Not only tourists, but also Sapporo residents who have heard of it but have never actually been there are sure to have a fresh experience if they go! Let's introduce the historical village a little. The area of Kaitaku-no-Mura is 54.2 hectares, which is an astonishing 10 times the size of the Sapporo Dome. This vast area is divided into four areas: "Urban Areas," "Fishing Villages," "Rural Areas," and "Mountain Villages," and each area has its own exhibit based on a theme. There are over 50 buildings in total, all of which were relocated and restored from around Hokkaido during the Meiji and early Showa periods, allowing you to get a real sense of what life was like back then. There are many buildings and it is fun to visit the city area. For example, there is a police box and if you look inside, you can see a policeman. The photo studio has cameras like those you see in old movies... You can still see the barber shop sign pole, which remains unchanged to this day, and the nostalgic cylindrical post box. The fishing villages are also well worth seeing, with their fishermen's houses and old fishing boats. After touring the farming villages where you can see the military barracks and pioneer huts, and the mountain villages where you can enjoy a stroll through the mountain valleys, you'll probably start to feel hungry and want to take a break. Return to the entrance plaza and have a meal at the Kaitaku no Mura Shokudo. The menu is very Kaitaku no Mura-like and a little different from your average restaurant. For example, this. The "Yanshu Set Meal" (830 yen including tax) is a set of sockeye salmon and kelp rice and pork soup. The "Yanshu" were fishermen who were active in herring fishing and other activities, and it is delicious to think back to those days when they ate foods like this to get energy. Don't miss the Kaitaku no Mura specialty "Imo-mochi" (160 yen including tax). After you've recovered from the delicious food, why not try some fun activities? For example, in the winter, you can try out traditional winter activities like sledding and bamboo skiing as part of the "Winter Life Experience" program.

Photo courtesy of Historical Village of Hokkaido

Photo courtesy of Historical Village of Hokkaido

Additionally, although there is an additional fee in addition to the village entrance fee, riding a horse-drawn sleigh is also a special experience.

Photo courtesy of Historical Village of Hokkaido

There are so many other activities to choose from that you'll have a hard time deciding what to do, including making your own traditional play equipment in the hands-on learning building! You can play all day and experience life in the past, so the whole family is sure to have fun. There are plenty of picturesque spots all around, so be sure to find your own way to enjoy it. *If you would like to know more about the urban areas and fishing villages of the pioneer village, please take a look! <Hokkaido Historical Village> Address: 50-1 Onohoro, Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo Phone: 011-898-2692 Official website: https://www.kaitaku.or.jp/