On Tuesday, July 26, 2016, the Hokkaido University Museum (hereinafter referred to as the Hokkaido University Museum) reopened after renovations.

The museum closed last April for renovations, and after approximately 1 year and 4 months, it has finally reopened.
Many people have been eagerly awaiting this day.

This time, we had the opportunity to hear from Professor Yamamoto of the Hokkaido University Museum, who spearheaded the renovation project, as he gave us a tour of the museum.

table of contents

1. With 3 million items in its collection! Perfect for independent research projects! A wide variety of exhibits.
2. It's just so much fun! Activities you can actually experience.
3. Admission is free!
4. From breakfast to alcohol! "Porasu," a cafe using carefully selected ingredients from Hokkaido.
5. Special exhibition currently underway!

A short summer break has begun in Hokkaido.
The newly renovated Hokkaido University Museum was filled with the joyful voices of children on the day I visited for the interview.

One thing that's a must-do during summer vacation is, of course, independent research projects.

To avoid ending up crying and asking your parents for help right at the end of summer vacation, be sure to make use of museums.

The permanent exhibition spans from the first to the third floor, and the museum houses a total of 3 million items, including the exhibits.
The booths created by Hokkaido University's 12 faculties and other university-related facilities, each with its own unique design, are all incredibly impressive!

Parents who go along might end up getting more engrossed than their children...

One of the concepts behind the newly renovated Hokkaido University Museum is "real-life experience."

At the medical school booth, you could actually use an endoscope,

It vibrates violently, and its waveform can be observed with a seismograph.
Actually touching and operating things can spark many new interests.

Don't overthink it; if you go to a booth where you can try something out, just go for it without hesitation.

The Hokkaido University Museum is one of Japan's leading museums, offering a wide variety of exhibits and hands-on experiences.
And surprisingly, admission to that museum is free.

Maintaining and managing valuable exhibits is no easy task.

Even if they charged just a few hundred yen per person for admission, it would make a huge difference financially. However, Professor Yamamoto decided to make admission free because he had a strong desire to "remove barriers."

In this context, the barrier refers to a "mental barrier."

Certainly, if it's free or costs a few hundred yen, it's something you might do when you're just passing by or when you have a little time before meeting someone.
It makes a difference whether you feel like going or entering the place.

The desire to eliminate such barriers and create a museum that anyone can visit anytime is what led to the decision to make admission free.

Please note that there is a donation box to the right as you enter the museum.

If you enjoy your visit to the Hokkaido University Museum and think, "That was fun, I want to come back again," please consider making a donation so that the museum can continue to have wonderful exhibitions in the future.
It has a mechanism that makes something interesting happen when you put money in it.

Furthermore, there's apparently some hidden content, so please do put in some money!

Furthermore, Professor Yamamoto's desire to "remove barriers" is evident in other parts of the museum as well.
Throughout the building, you can see efforts to eliminate physical barriers, making it easily accessible for people with disabilities.

Braille is included.

We are currently manufacturing a special lift to allow wheelchair users to enter smoothly (scheduled for completion in October of this year).

We also have a nursing room so that people with infants and toddlers can come in without hesitation.

While there were already places to buy souvenirs at the Hokkaido University Museum, the cafe "Porasu" is a new addition to the museum following this renovation.

The vegetables are grown using natural farming methods, minimizing the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
Every item on the menu is a Polas original, made with ingredients sourced from Hokkaido.

I would especially recommend Nishikobe Village, which the current owner, Mr. Asano, searched all over Hokkaido before finally finding it.

So, they created a soft-serve ice cream using milk that they fell in love with at first bite, and it's called "Nishiokobe Village's Soft Cream Dream."
This soft-serve ice cream is unlike anything you've ever tasted, not only because of the richness of the milk, but also because of its intense sweetness.

The meals are also excellent.

"Lulu Rosso Meat Pasta" uses Lulu Rosso, a rare extra-hard wheat from Rumoi, Hokkaido.

This "special egg omelet rice" uses eggs laid by free-range chickens in Nanporo Town, Hokkaido.

We also have a breakfast menu. You can enjoy a delicious meal and be fully energized for your classes and work.
And guess what? Porasu also serves alcohol!

Being able to drink alcohol in a museum feels quite novel.

When I went to cover the event, I was invited to a get-together with the teachers who had created some of the booths, and we had drinks at Polus, which was a lot of fun.

Of course, we are committed to using Hokkaido products for our alcoholic beverages as well, offering Sapporo Classic, wines from Hokkaido wineries, cider, and more.

While the Hokkaido University Museum closes at 17 PM, Porasu is open until 22 PM!
With 60 seats available, the facility is designed to accommodate a large number of people.

They plan to gradually expand the menu in the future, while of course remaining committed to using ingredients from Hokkaido.

Museum Cafe Porasu
Business hours: 8:30-22:00 (last order 21:00)
Closed on: Same as the museum's closing days.
HP:http://museumcafe.tetote.org/

In addition to its permanent exhibitions, the Hokkaido University Museum also holds temporary special exhibitions.

Currently on display is "The Kingdom of Orchids." When you think of orchids, many people probably picture the magnificent phalaenopsis orchids.
In fact, it is said that there are as many as 2 species of orchids, and the orchid family is considered one of the three major families of land plants.

This exhibition is packed with features that allow you to learn about the many varieties of orchids from various angles.

Our special exhibitions also prioritize hands-on experiences (the photo shows a corner where visitors can experience the different scents of orchids that change between day and night).

The Kingdom of Orchids exhibition is being held in the special exhibition room on the first floor of the museum and at the Crossroads of Knowledge until next month, September 25th (Sunday).

http://www.museum.hokudai.ac.jp/display/special/4201/

Many people probably have the impression that museums are a bit stuffy and somehow unapproachable.
The Hokkaido University Museum dispels that image and leads us into a fascinating world of knowledge.

In addition to the exhibitions, concerts and workshops are also held, so even if you're not interested in the exhibits, it might be worth visiting the Hokkaido University Museum for those events as well.

I'm sure there will be some great discoveries there as well.

Hokkaido University Museum
Address: Kita 10-jo Nishi 8-chome, Kita-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido
Phone: 011-706-2658
Opening hours: 10:00-17:00
10:00-21:00 (Fridays only from June to October)
Entrance fee: free
Closed on Mondays (except when it is open on public holidays, and closed on the following weekday).
9/4、12/28-1/4、1/14-15、2/25、3/12
(For other temporary openings or closures, please refer to the website.)
HP:http://www.museum.hokudai.ac.jp/

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