Sapporo Factory is a place that every Sapporo resident has visited at least once for shopping. But did you know that right next to it, in a tranquil setting that draws a line between the hustle and bustle of the city, there are two tangible cultural properties? Anyone can visit, so why not take a look? The names of the buildings are "Sapporo City Former Nagayama Takeshiro Residence and Sapporo City Former Mitsubishi Mining Dormitory." Although the buildings were built in different eras, they now coexist as one continuous building. First, let's start with the Sapporo City Former Nagayama Takeshiro Residence, which is on the right side.

Its unique feature is that it is an upper-class residence that combines Japanese and Western styles, with a Western-style room next to a Japanese-style room. Nagayama Takeshiro, an army captain, came to Hokkaido in 1872 (Meiji 5) to develop and defend the area. This former Nagayama Takeshiro residence in Sapporo was built as a private residence in the early 1870s.

The opening connecting the Western-style reception room and the shoin-zashiki room has a heavy partition door. The adjacent room, cut out like a picture frame, seems like another world. It is said to be of great value in the history of modern Japanese housing.

Looking up in the Western-style reception room, you can see the medallion, a ceiling centerpiece at the base of the chandelier. It was finished by a plasterer using advanced techniques and plastering, and a similar medallion can be seen at the Toyohirakan building in Nakajima Park. The medallion in this room seems to have an autumn leaf motif.

When you look out at the garden across the corridor from the shoin room, the brightness outside stands out even more, making you feel as if you are looking at a painting. You will feel your mind calm down with the shadows that are unique to a Japanese-style room.

The stone steps leading to the garden are made of Sapporo soft stone. Sapporo soft stone can be seen all over Sapporo, but it was also used in private residences built during the Meiji period.

Next, let's visit the former Mitsubishi Mining Dormitory on the left. The modern Western-style building, typical of the early Showa period, is exciting from the outside. The land and building of the Nagayama residence were purchased by Mitsubishi Limited Partnership Company in 1911 (Meiji 44), and an extension was added in 1937 (Showa 12).

There is a small telephone room on the first floor, where the dormitory residents probably used to call their families back home.

When you go 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 can be seen. It makes you wonder if it was an important community space where people could chat and laugh.

The details of these Western-style buildings are also fascinating. The interiors are designed in the Art Deco style, which was popular in the 1930s, and the round windows that characterize the buildings not only let in light but also serve as an accent to the exterior design.

By the way, there are also rental rooms on the second floor of the former Mitsubishi Mining Dormitory in Sapporo City, which are widely used by local residents. On the day of our visit, an English conversation class for children was being held there. It is a luxurious pleasure to have such a historic building host such a fun event! If you want to experience history, or if you just want to take a break from your daily routine, why not visit the Former Nagayama Takeshiro Residence and the Former Mitsubishi Mining Dormitory in Sapporo?

<Former Nagayama Takeshiro Residence and Former Mitsubishi Mining Dormitory in Sapporo> Location: Kita 2-jo Higashi 6-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido Contact: 011-232-0450 Official website: https://sapporoshi-nagayamatei.jp/