Everyone in Sapporo has visited Sapporo Factory at least once for shopping or other purposes. Did you know that there are two tangible cultural properties right next to the Sapporo Factory in a quiet area that is a world away from the bustle of the city? Anyone can visit them, so let's take a peek.

The buildings are named "Sapporo Former Takeshiro Nagayama Residence and Sapporo Former Mitsubishi Mining Dormitory. Although they were built in different periods of time, they now coexist as one building. Let's start with the former Takeushiro Nagayama Residence on the right side of the building.

It is characterized as an upstream residence with a blend of Western and Japanese-style rooms next to each other. Takeshiro Nagayama, a captain in the army, went to Hokkaido in 1872 to help develop and defend the island. This former residence of Takeshiro Nagayama in Sapporo was built as his private residence in the early Meiji Period.

The opening between the Western-style reception room and the shoin-style tatami room has a massive partition door. The adjoining rooms, cut off like picture frames, seem like a different world. It is said to be of high value in the history of modern Japanese housing.

Looking up at the Western-style reception room, a ceiling centerpiece "medallion" can be seen under the chandelier. The medallion was plastered by a plasterer using advanced techniques, and a similar medallion can be seen in the Toyohirakan in Nakajima Park. The medallion in this room seems to have a motif of autumn leaves.

Looking out from the Shoin tatami room to the garden across the corridor, the brightness outside becomes even more prominent, and you feel as if you are looking at a true painting. You will feel your heart calm down with the shadows unique to Japanese-style rooms.

The stone steps leading to the garden are made of Sapporo soft stone. Sapporo soft stone can be seen here and there in Sapporo, but it was also used in a private residence built in the Meiji era.

Next, let's visit the former Mitsubishi Mining Dormitory of Sapporo on the left side. The modern Western-style building, typical of the early Showa period, is exciting from the outside; the Mitsubishi Goushi Company acquired the land and building of the Nagayama Residence in 1911, and added an addition in 1937.

There is a small telephone room on the first floor. It is likely that people living in the dormitory used to make phone calls to their families back home from here.

Going up to the second floor, there is a space called the hall. Gentle light pours in through the windows, and the greenery of the garden peeks out. The hall must have been an important community space where people chatted and laughed. It is a space that makes one's imagination soar.

The round windows that characterize the building are not only for lighting, but also accentuate the exterior design.

Incidentally, the second floor of the former Mitsubishi Mining Dormitory in Sapporo has rental rooms that are widely used by citizens. On the day of our visit, an English conversation class for children was being held. It is a luxurious pleasure to be able to hold fun events in such a historic building!

For those who want to experience history and take a break from daily life, why not visit the former residence of Takeshiro Nagayama and the former Mitsubishi Mining Dormitory in Sapporo?

<札幌市旧永山武四郎邸及び札幌市旧三菱鉱業寮>
Location: Kita 2-jo Higashi 6-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Inquiries: 011-232-0450
Official website: https://sapporoshi-nagayamatei.jp/