A large village suddenly appears in the middle of the forest.
That is the "Hokkaido Historical Village."

This open-air museum is like a theme park, where the entire village is a museum, with historical buildings that have been relocated, restored, or recreated from within Hokkaido standing side by side on a vast site, allowing visitors to experience the life, culture, lifestyle, and industries of the time through the streetscape.

This time, we'll introduce the highlights and ways to enjoy "Hokkaido Historical Village."

<Contents>
1. What is the Hokkaido Historical Village?
2. Highlights and ways to enjoy the event
3. Regarding breaks and meals
4. Access to and admission fees for the Hokkaido Historical Village

The Hokkaido Historical Village is a museum located on a vast site equivalent to approximately 11 Tokyo Domes, where historical buildings from various parts of Hokkaido, originally constructed from the Meiji to early Showa periods, have been relocated, restored, and recreated.

The entire townscape has been recreated, creating a scene that makes you feel as if you've traveled back in time to the pioneering days.

The village is comprised of four areas: "urban areas," "fishing villages," "farming villages," and "mountain villages," making it a valuable museum where visitors can experience the atmosphere of these settlements.

There are a total of 52 buildings, and the interiors of the buildings have been recreated so that visitors can learn about life during the pioneering era.

Some of the buildings have dolls inside, so you might be a little surprised if you enter the dimly lit buildings after sunset.

The Hokkaido Historical Village is a very large area, so it takes 2-3 hours to look around thoroughly. I highly recommend arriving before noon rather than entering at the last minute.

Stepping inside feels like you've traveled back in time to the pioneering era 100 years ago, with scenes everywhere that will make you want to take photos and sketch.

You can take your time exploring the village as if you were on a picnic, making it a facility that can be enjoyed by three generations of a family, from children to adults.
The interior of the building has also been recreated exactly as it was back then, so if you have grandparents with you, you might be able to learn even more about what it was like in those days!

Let's go out with the family!

One building that has recently become a hot topic as a point of interest is the "Former Aoyama Family Fisherman's House," located in the "Fishing Village" area, which was featured as a filming location for the NHK serial drama "Massan."

The "Old Traditional Inn" located in the "City Area" also made an appearance, so fans of "Massan" should definitely check it out.

A popular photo spot is the "Former Sapporo Police Station Minami-Ichijo Police Box" located in the "City Area."
There are "policemen" here who are always dressed in period costumes and are happy to give directions or take pictures.

Within the village, a horse-drawn railway operates during the summer (mid-April to November), and horse-drawn sleighs operate during the winter (mid-December to Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays in March).

There is an additional charge, but since opportunities to ride in a horse-drawn carriage are rare, why not take a ride and create some lasting memories?

In addition, various events are held throughout the year at the Hokkaido Historical Village.
Check the website beforehand to see if there are any events you can participate in. Many events allow same-day registration, so I recommend trying them out.

◆Hokkaido Historical Village Event Schedule
http://www.kaitaku.or.jp/mo/moyosi.htm
The Hokkaido Historical Village offers free guided tours. During the summer (mid-April to early November), tours are available anytime from 10:4 AM to 11:15 PM.

Instead of just walking around and looking, if you tour the area while listening to explanations from the guide staff, you can learn about historical buildings and life during the pioneering era from a perspective you might not have noticed before.

During the winter season, reservations are required at least one week in advance, but it's free, so you should definitely give it a try.

For meals and breaks, use the "Pioneer Village Restaurant" located at the entrance of the Hokkaido Historical Village.
The restaurant is spacious with approximately 200 seats and offers set meals, curry, ramen, and a la carte dishes to satisfy your hunger.

My recommendation here is the "imomochi," a specialty of the Hokkaido Historical Village.
During the Meiji era's pioneering period, "imomochi" (potato mochi) was apparently one of the most valuable foods eaten by laborers.

When you actually eat it, it has a chewy texture and a somewhat nostalgic taste.
"Imo mochi" can be eaten at the restaurant, but it's also popular as a souvenir because it can be taken away.

Additionally, the "Rural Area" has "Kita no Furusato" (a snack shop), which is perfect for taking a break.
<Pioneer Village Restaurant>
Location: Entrance to Hokkaido Historical Village
Number of seats: Approximately 200 seats
Opening hours: 10:00 AM - 16:30 PM (Last order: Food 15:30 PM, Drinks 16:00 PM)
Telephone number: 011-897-2321
The Historical Village of Hokkaido is a museum, but you are allowed to bring your own lunch and other food into the village.
On sunny days, you often see people spreading out their lunches on the grass, by the lake, or on benches.
I've actually brought a packed lunch there before, and finding a spot with a nice view to spread out my meal has become one of the joys of the trip. Since then, bringing a packed lunch has become a regular thing whenever I go there.

<Hokkaido Historical Village>
address:50-1 Onohoro, Atsubetsu-cho, Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido
Telephone number: 011-898-2692
営業時間：・4月1日～4月30日 9:00～16:30（最終入場16:00まで）毎週月曜日休み (祝日、振替休日の場合は翌日が休み）
・5月1日～9月30日 9:00～17:00（最終入場16:30まで）無休
・10月1日～3月31日9:00～16:30（最終入場16:00まで）毎週月曜日休み（祝日、振替休日の場合は翌日が休み）年末年始（12月29日～1月3日）は休み
Parking: 400 spaces (free). There are also other parking lots in the surrounding area.
URL:http://www.kaitaku.or.jp/

<Access by public transport>
Get off at Shin-Sapporo Station on the JR Chitose Line (approximately 10 minutes by rapid train from JR Sapporo Station) and transfer to the bus listed below.
・Shin-Sapporo Bus Terminal, North Lane, Platform 10, JR Hokkaido Bus, Route 22 "Kaitaku-no-Mura" (Pioneering Village)
(Bus ride time: approximately 15 minutes, bus fare: 210 yen for adults)

<Admission fees for the Hokkaido Historical Village>

	Summer period	Winter	Summer season: April to November Winter season: December to March
General	¥830	¥680	*Admission is free for junior high school students and younger, those 65 years of age and older, and those with a disability certificate (physical, intellectual, or mental) (and one accompanying adult/caregiver per person). (Those 65 years of age and older must present proof of age.) *Admission is also free for high school students who meet the following criteria: use on Saturdays, Children's Day, or Culture Day, or for groups of 10 or more. *Wheelchairs, strollers, and a nursing room are available for rent.
University students and high school students	¥610	¥550
Group (General)	¥680	¥550
Group (university students and high school students)	¥550	¥480
Annual Pass to the Historic Village of Hokkaido (General Admission)	¥1,500		Annual pass to the Historic Village of Hokkaido allows unlimited entry from the date of purchase until the end of the same month of the following year.

<Combined Admission Ticket> A great value combined admission ticket for the nearby "Hokkaido Museum".

Joint admission ticket for the Historic Village of Hokkaido and the Hokkaido Museum (general admission)	¥1,200	*Admission to the Hokkaido Museum is limited to the general exhibition only. [Valid until] March 31, 2019
Joint admission ticket for the Historic Village of Hokkaido and the Hokkaido Museum (for university and high school students)	¥700
Annual Passport for the Historical Village of Hokkaido & Hokkaido Museum	¥2,000	An annual pass allows unlimited entry to both the Historical Village of Hokkaido and the Hokkaido Museum (general exhibition) from the date of purchase until the end of the same month of the following year.

 

<Horse-drawn railways and horse-drawn sleighs>

[Horse-drawn sleigh] Winter season (Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from mid-December to March)
Adult (15 years old and over)	¥270
Children (ages 3-14)	¥130

 

[Horse-drawn railway] Summer season (mid-April to November)
Adult (15 years old and over)	¥270
Children (ages 3-14)	¥130

*Service may be suspended due to weather conditions or other factors.

<Conclusion>

I visited the Hokkaido Historical Village several times as a child for sketching sessions and other events.
Visiting Hokkaido again after a long time as an adult allowed me to learn about its history from a different perspective, which was very enjoyable.

The fact that it's a facility that can be enjoyed by three generations of a family is also a key point.
I highly recommend that everyone bring a packed lunch and enjoy a picnic on a nice day!

Also, right next door is the Hokkaido Museum, which just opened in the spring of 2015, where you can learn about Hokkaido's nature, history, and culture.
Using the combined ticket (Hokkaido Museum + Hokkaido Historical Village) is even more economical, so why not visit both?

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