Toyako Art Museum & Park

洞爺湖芸術館
Admission¥300 adults
¥200 high school students
¥100 children
Free for Toyako townspeople
Opening Hours10:30 - 16:30
ClosedMondays
November to March
Contact0142-87-2525
NotesLocal art gallery, parking available, wheelchair access
Location /
Getting There
Located on the northern side of Lake Toya. 3 minute walk from Toya Mizu-no-eki (Toyasui Station).
35-17 Tōyakoonsen, Toyako, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido 049-5721

The Toyako Art Museum is a small art museum that can be found by the northern shores of Lake Toya. The museum predominantly displays works from local artists. They have works from sculptors, painters, photographers, and writers. Inside the lovely rooms, there is a collection of first edition books, plus limited edition books from modern and contemporary writers. There is also works of the Village International Sculpture Biennale on display. Whilst looking at the artworks, viewers can also get nice views from the windows that look out directly across the lake. 

 

 

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Throughout the year, the Toyako Art Museum holds a variety of events, including special exhibitions and mini concerts. Besides the Toyako Art Museum, you can also find a nice little park across the road. The park is home to a historical landmark, being the monument of Okubo Jinnojo. Okubo Jinnojo was a statesman, born in 1849 in Shikoku. He, among other things, used his money for pioneering Hokkaido, especially in the Toya district. To get to the museum and park, you can take a bus from Toyako Onsen bus terminal bound for Toya Mizu no Eki (Toyasui Station). Get off at Toyasui station and it’s a three minute walk from there. 

 

Hokkaido University Festival

Dates1st weekend of June (3 days)
Opening Hours9:00 - 22:00
Contactkagai@academic.hokudai.ac.jp
NotesAlcohol not permitted, no parking
Location /
Getting There
5 minute walk from Sapporo station. Take the north exit from the station, head one block north. The university is on the left hand side
5 Chome Kita 8 Jonishi, Kita Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0808


 

International food festival

The Hokkaido University Festival, also known as Hokudai-sai, is a three day event that is held at the start of June. It is a popular festival for the locals of Sapporo. The event allows the students to show the public their skills and cultural backgrounds. The event is actually compromised of ten festivals which are held down the main street of the campus in stalls, plus some of the surrounding buildings. One of the main attractions is the International Food Festival where you can sample foods from all over the world! These stalls are run by the international students attending the university.




One of the cosplayers

Besides the International Food area, there are further stalls set up along the road. These stalls sell Japanese cuisine, and include games and events. There are student performances on stage, a rock festival, haunted house, and a cosplay event. Simply take a long stroll down the main road that runs through the campus and take in the sights and smells. The stalls run for a few hundred meters so there is a lot to see! The event starts during the first week of June and runs through the weekend. If you are in Sapporo around that time, make sure to put the Hokkaido University Festival into your schedule.



Toya Arts & Crafts

Pricing Guide
(Avg. cost per person)
¥500 - ¥2000
Opening Hours10:30 - 21:00
Closed-
Contact0142-82-3031
NotesRestaurant, coffee shop & gallery space, English menu available,
No parking, outside seating (smoking), seating 40, credit card accepted
Location /
Getting There
Located on the south west side of lake Toya, in the Lake Toya Hot Spring district
40-11 Toyakoonsen, Toyako, Abuta District, Hokkaido 049-5721

 

Delicious roast chicken meal

After taking in the sights of Lake Toya and are looking for a nice place to have a coffee, lunch, or dinner, or even a few drinks, then look no further than Toya Arts & Crafts. They are located across from Select 108 shopping and the Toya Tourist Hotel. Toya Art & Craft use local, seasonal ingredients that are combined to make some simply mouth watering dishes. They have a mix of different cultural dishes, including an Indian Spicy Pork Curry, Seafood Bouillabaisse, Roast Chicken, a Sashimi Seafood Bowl (from Friday to Sunday), or the Farmers Seasonal Salad Bowl. All ingredients are locally grown and fresh.


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Relax with a coffee

For appetizers there are Italian Olives, Fried Potato With Truffle Salt, or Fried Chicken. Inside there are artworks for customers to enjoy. As the name suggests, Toya Art & Crafts focuses on local craft blended with good local produce, wine & coffee. They have some delicious organic wines, and Hokkaido craft beers to choose from such as an Otaru Pilsner or the North Island Brown to name a few. Finally, with outside seating, you can sit back and enjoy a nice cup of tea, or coffee. The large tables inside are available for reservations making the restaurant a good place for parties as well as for small groups or couples.



Sapporo Factory Renga-Kan

サッポロファクトリー

Opening Hours10:00 - 22:00
Closed-
Contact011-207-5000
NotesShopping area
Restaurants
Beer bar
Arts & crafts
Location /
Getting There
5 minute walk from Bus Center Mae subway station, which is one stop from Chuo-ku station (central Sapporo)
4 Chome Kita 2 Johigashi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0032

 


サッポロファクトリー

Beautiful old architecture

Factory Renga-Kan is a part of the shopping complex, known as ‘Sapporo Factory’, which is made up of four large buildings. Built originally in 1876 as the Sapporo Pioneering Beer Brewery, the Factory complex is now used as a shopping centre, for a place to dine, and to take in a piece of history in the Sapporo area. The Renga-Kan is located on the western side of Factory, and is a short walk across the courtyard from ‘the atrium’. The Renga-Kan, which literally translates to ‘Brick Museum’ is a three story building that is perfect for shopping for arts & crafts, a photographic spot, and for some fine dining.


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サッポロファクトリー

The brewery observation hall

The first floor has kids park, the Sapporo Kaitakushi Brewery where you can observe the brewing process. Right by this brewery is a tasting room, where you can taste some traditional Sapporo beers and a great spot for tourists! On this floor you can also find four restaurants, plus a wine cellar with some fantastic wines! The ‘La Brique’ is a gorgeous French restaurant that is attached to the wine cellar. ‘Terzina Trattoria Pizzeria’ is an Italian restaurant and there is a fresh produce restaurant and market called ‘Fresh Factory’. Last but not least is the beer hall, with some hearty meals and beer!




札幌煉瓦館

Shopping area

Where the first floor is for feasting, the second floor is for shopping. Here, through the beautiful old hallways and creaking floorboards you can find an array of arts and craft shops. You can also watch the artists creating their works in their small workshops in the stores. There is jewelry , toys, woodwork and metal work on sale. There is also a furniture store, and an Iranian carpet store with some fantastic wares. The third floor is made up of photographic studios plus a ceramic workshop, kids school, and a theatre academy school.



Sapporo Art Park

General AdmissionFree
Sculpture Garden Entry¥700 adults
¥560 over 65
Free for junior high students and younger
¥1000 annual fee
Art Museum EntryAdmission varies on exhibition
Opening Hours9:45 - 17:00
*closes at 5:30 from June 1 to August 31
ClosedMondays: November 4 to April 28
Contact011-592-5111
Notes¥500 Parking normal cars
¥1200 Parking large cars
Location /
Getting There
40 minutes by car from Sapporo station on route 453
1 hour by car from New Chitose airport
Buses run from Makomanai station every 15 minutes. Chuo bus stop no.2
2 Chome-2-75 Geijutsunomori, Minami-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaidō 005-0864

 

One of the well known sculptures at the park

The Sapporo Art Park also known as ‘Geijutsu no Mori’ is a large expanse of land that incorporates gardens, a sculpture park, art galleries, art workshops, a restaurant and shops. Located on forty hectares, it is a terrific place to walk around, take in some art, do some shopping, or take in the fresh air. Throughout the year there are events and craft workshops such as woodwork, glassmaking, pottery, and textiles. There are also places for acting and music, as well as facilities for overnight stays. All this in the gardens and forest area, makes for a great experience out of town.


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札幌芸術の森野

Near the entrance of the park

So, how to get there? There are two ways to get to the art park. By public transport take the subway on the Nanboku Line (green line). Get off at Makamonai Station. Take the ‘Soranuma’ or ‘Takino’ bus from the bus stop no.2 which is at the front of Makamonai station. You can get off at ‘Geijutsu no Mori Iriguchi’ or the ‘Geijutsu no Mori Center’. Alternatively, if you have your own transport, it is a forty minute drive from central Sapporo. Head onto route 453 which is the Sapporo to Shikotsu route. The turn off will be on the right.


札幌芸術の森野

La Foglia cafe

If you are driving from New Chitose Airport, it is a one hour drive. Head along the Hokkaido Expressway Kitahiroshima Interchange.Lastly, on your walks around the park, you may need to refuel at some point. There are plenty of places to have a picnic if you want to bring your own lunch. There is a cafe ‘La Foglia’ that has tea, as well as homemade confections. The cafe offers relaxing views over the park. The restaurant on the grounds is called ‘Hatake no Haru’. It is a buffet style restaurant that uses local produce from Hokkaido. It is here you can find a delicious lunch. For more details on the restaurant, see below.


Pricing Guide
(Avg. cost per person)
¥1500 Junior high school and over
¥1300 Seniors
¥900 Children
Free for toddlers, three and under
Opening Hours11:00 - 17:00
Closed-
Contact011-215-1778
http://hatake-no-haru.com/
NotesAll you can eat buffet

 


Kaiku Kiln Museum

AdmissionFree
Opening Hours8:30 - 17:00
ClosedTuesdays
*Open every day in July & August
Contact0166-94-3354
http://www.kaikukiln.com/
NotesFree parking
No photos allowed inside
Ceramics for sale
Location /
Getting There
20 minutes by car from JR Biei Station. 20 minutes by Dohoku Bus from in front of Biei Station.
Shirogane, Biei-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido

 


One of the many sculptures

Kaiku Kiln Museum is a large, quiet homestead that is home to a gallery, kiln room, workshop, and house. The Kaiku Kiln property is located between the Blue Pond, which is a five minute drive away, and the ‘Biei Shirokanebiruke’ road station. The Blue Pond and road station can get quite crowded during the summer, so the gallery is a nice place to take a pleasant stroll and look at the sculptures, and get away from the crowds. The grounds are covered in various sculptures created from wood, clay, and metal, and there is a small rock path that crosses through the trees.


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One of the buildings

The gallery itself is located on the left of the entrance. The sculptures displayed at the gallery, are by local prominent artists. The gallery also serves as a shop where you can buy some fantastic ceramic dishes and serveware. These works are not cheap but they are high quality. Photos of the works in the gallery are not allowed, though photos outside are permitted. There is free parking available for those with transport. To getting to the gallery is a twenty minute drive from Biei station. There is also the Dohoku bus that stops in front of the station.