Sapporo Shiryokan is a local history and arts museum housed in Sapporo’s former Court of Appeal building. The building was built in 1926 and is a nice example of Taisho era architecture. The building combines brick and Sapporo “nanseki” masonry with a reinforced-concrete second floor and supporting columns. Nanseki is a kind of porous, soft stone which is easy to carve. The building’s symmetrical form, exterior carved reliefs, wood-panelled interiors, and stained-glass windows give it a refined and elegant appearance.
The entrance to Sapporo Shiryokan
Originally a court building, the Shiryokan was converted into a museum in 1973. At that time, the museum stored and exhibited materials related to the 1972 Sapporo Olympics as well as materials related to local history, culture, and literature. The museum is also a multi-purpose venue, with exhibition rooms for local history and culture, a café, a shop, and rooms that can be rented for art shows and events. The Shiryokan was nationally designated as an Important Cultural Property in 2020.
The Shiryokan has two floors. On the first floor of the building is an exhibition room which has displays dedicated to the history of Sapporo. These displays feature models, old maps of the city, and photographs. An English-language visitor leaflet is available on the museum’s website.
The Town History Exhibition Room on the 1st floor
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 walk freely around this room and take pictures of themselves in the judge’s seat.
The Criminal Court Exhibition Room on the 1st floor
Also on the 1st floor is an area dedicated to the manga artist and painter Hiroshi Oba. Oba was born in Sapporo, and here you can view many of his original artworks as well as a reproduction of his atelier. There is a small shop here where you can buy original souvenir reproductions of his artworks as well as picture books and postcards. The memorial room opens from 9:00 to 19:00 from April through October and from 9:00 to 18:00 from November through March, with last admission 20 minutes before closing. Photography is not permitted in the memorial rooms.
Inside the 1st floor Hiroshi Oba Memorial Hall
The 1st floor shop
There is also a lounge and café area on the 1st floor, called the SIAF Lounge, which has books and pamphlets related to Sapporo International Art Festival. Here you can freely browse over 700 books on art, architecture and design. The café serves coffee and other drinks, handmade scones and seasonal light bites. It opens from 10:00 to 18:00, with last orders at 17:30, except on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, when it opens from 10:00 to 16:00, with last orders at 15:30. Sapporo International Art Festival usually takes place every three years and makes use of several venues around the city including the Shiryokan.
SIAF Lounge on the 1st floor
On the 2nd floor there are six mini-galleries which can be rented for private exhibitions and a lecture room which can be used for meetings, presentations, or musical events. It is worth checking which exhibitions and events are open to visitors, as their hours and admission conditions depend on the organizer.
The central stairwell
In the center of the second floor is the old reception room of the building which is called the Odori Exchange Gallery. This room is worth a visit for the view from the window over the Shiryokan’s front garden and the rose garden in Odori Park.
The Odori Exchange Gallery on the 2nd floor
The view over Odori Park
Opening Hours & Admission
Opening Hours: 9:00 to 19:00
Closed: Mondays (open if Monday is a national holiday and closed the next weekday) & December 29th to January 3rd
Admission: Free
Sapporo Shiryokan viewed from Odori Park
Sapporo Shiryokan Location
Sapporo Shiryokan is located at the western end of Odori Park. The closest station is Nishi-Juitchome on the Tozai Subway Line, about a 5-minute walk west from Exit 1. You can also walk west through Odori Park from Odori Station, which is served by the Tozai, Toho, and Namboku subway lines.
There is no elevator, but a chair-type stairlift is available on the north staircase. Ask at the first-floor office if you need to use it.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 09-Sep-2026.
