Is admission to the Sapporo Archives Museum free?

Yes, admission to the Sapporo Archives Museum is completely free. Visitors can explore all the exhibition rooms, including the Criminal Court Exhibition Room, the Sapporo history displays, and the Oba Hiroshi art gallery at no charge. The museum also features a café, shop, and rooms that can be rented for art shows and events.

Can I take photographs inside the museum?

Visitors can walk freely around the restored courtroom and take pictures. However, photography policies can vary, especially during special exhibitions, so it's best to check for signage or ask staff regarding photo restrictions. The exterior of the building and the garden are popular spots for photography throughout the year.

What can I see in the Criminal Court Exhibition Room?

One room on the first floor has been renovated to its original appearance as a courtroom, and this is sometimes used for mock trials as an educational experience. Visitors can enter this preserved grand courtroom to experience the atmosphere of the Appellate Court era. The museum occasionally has staff who can explain the history and may even offer visitors the opportunity to wear clothes used in trials.

How long does it take to visit the museum?

Most visitors spend between one to two hours exploring the museum's exhibitions. The museum has two floors with exhibition rooms displaying models, old maps, and photographs of Sapporo's history, along with English information alongside Japanese text. Additional time can be spent enjoying refreshments at the SIAF Lounge café or browsing the souvenir shop that sells Oba Hiroshi art postcards and reproductions.

Is the museum accessible for elderly or disabled visitors?

Yes, the museum is generally well-maintained and offers facilities for disabled and elderly visitors to ensure an inclusive experience. The location at the western end of Odori Park makes it easily accessible via public transportation, with Nishi-Juichome Station on the Tozai Subway Line just a four-minute walk away. The café on the first floor also provides a comfortable place to rest during your visit.

Hokkaido

Sapporo Archives Museum (Former Sapporo Court of Appeals)

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Last updated Aug 23, 2026

The Sapporo Archives Museum occupies a distinguished building that originally served as the Sapporo Court of Appeals from 1926 until the court relocated in 1973. The building was designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 2020, recognizing its architectural and historical value. Constructed with reinforced concrete for its interior structure while using brick and Sapporo nanseki (soft stone) for the outer walls, the building represents the Taisho era's architectural aesthetic. Sapporo soft stone, formed from volcanic ash deposited following the eruption of Mount Shikotsu 40,000 years ago, is prized for its light weight, ease of processing, and excellent thermal insulation properties.

The symmetrical façade follows Renaissance style principles, with modest decorations and uniformly vertical windows creating an elegant and grand impression. At the top of the front entrance, an engraving depicts the scale of fairness, sword of justice, and a blindfolded Greek goddess of law, symbolizing the building's judicial heritage. The window design features a double structure with outward-opening hinged windows on the exterior and double-hung windows on the interior, suited for cold climates. Inside, the central staircase showcases period stained glass bay windows.

Visitors can explore several distinct exhibition spaces within the museum. The Criminal Court Exhibition Room was restored in 2006 to its former glory during the appellate court era, allowing guests to experience the atmosphere of historical courtroom proceedings. The first floor includes an area dedicated to manga artist and painter Hiroshi Oba, who was born in Sapporo, featuring many of his original artworks and a reproduction of his atelier. A small shop sells souvenir reproductions, picture books, and postcards of his work. Additional exhibition rooms present materials on Sapporo's urban development and cultural history.

The SIAF Lounge café on the first floor offers soft drinks, tea, coffee, handmade cakes and scones, with over 400 books on art, architecture and design available for browsing. The museum serves as a venue for the Sapporo International Art Festival, which takes place every three years. Behind the building lies a peaceful garden providing a tranquil retreat, particularly attractive during the warmer months when surrounded by the rose gardens at the western end of Odori Park.

The museum is located at Odori Park West 13, easily accessible via Sapporo's subway system. The closest station is Nishi-Juichome on the Tozai Subway Line, just 4 minutes away on foot, while Odori Station (served by Tozai, Toho, and Namboku lines) is a 13-minute walk.