 Last additions - Sapporo 札幌市 |
Construction machinery on Sapporo Ekimae-dori.May 21, 2008
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Building near Odori Park welcoming the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit.May 21, 2008
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Construction wall for the upcoming Nissei Bdlg.May 21, 2008
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Odori Station platformMay 21, 2008
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May 21, 2008
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Sapporo taxis always leave their door open while waiting for a fare. They probably do this only during the warmer months.May 21, 2008
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They are building the new underground passage right above the Namboku subway line which runs under Ekimae-dori.May 21, 2008
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Construction sign showing how the new underground pedestrian passage is being built from Sapporo Station to Odori Park. It is a 4-year project, scheduled to be completed in June 2010. I wonder what they will call it. I propose "Snow Town."May 21, 2008
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Evidence of underground construction work for the passage linking Sapporo Station and Odori. They already have Aurora Town and Pole Town, so how about Snow Town for the new passage?May 21, 2008
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Sapporo Ekimae-dori is not a very long road. It's only about 3 km from Sapporo Station to Nakajima Park at the south end. Yet, there's a subway station (Namboku Line) every kilometer or so.May 21, 2008
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May 21, 2008
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The Sapporo Ekimae-dori is the city's main drag running from Sapporo Station to the southern part of the city. This is what it looks like from Sapporo Station.May 21, 2008
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Sapporo Seibu dept. store. I think this used to be called Gobankan.May 21, 2008
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Banner on a building urging the shinkansen to reach Sapporo.May 21, 2008
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Sapporo Ekimae-dori as seen from Sapporo Station, left side. "Ekimae" means "front of the station." "Dori" means road.May 21, 2008
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Sapporo Ekimae-dori as seen from Sapporo Station, right side. Notice the bus parked at the bus stop for New Chitose Airport.May 21, 2008
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Along the road to the former government building are display panels about Hokkaido's hisotry. Here's one about the early foreigners in Hokkaido.May 21, 2008
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Point Zero for Hokkaido's travel distances.May 21, 2008
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Petition for the return of the Northern Territories. As of late April 2008, over 80.3 million people signed the petition.May 21, 2008
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First floor corridor. Most of the rooms on the 1st floor are closed to the public.May 21, 2008
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Poster for the return of the Northern TerritoriesMay 21, 2008
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Poster for the return of the Northern Territories. Her braided hair resembles the northern islands.May 21, 2008
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Hokkaido History Gallery occupies another room on the 2nd floor.May 21, 2008
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May 21, 2008
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Karafuto/Sakhalin Resource LibraryMay 21, 2008
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Hokkaido History Gallery includes wildlife exhibit.May 21, 2008
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There's also the Northern Territories Room with exhibits clamoring for the return of the northern territories (Shikotan, Habomai, Etorofu). now occupied by Russia.May 21, 2008
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From Massachusetts, USA. The famous Dr. William Clark was from this US state.May 21, 2008
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Photos of international sister state exchanges.May 21, 2008
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Red bricksMay 21, 2008
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A stately room. The governor's desk is in the right corner.May 21, 2008
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From Alberta, CanadaMay 21, 2008
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Governor's desk in the governor's former office.May 21, 2008
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Portraits of past Hokkaido governors. The bottom row are the most recent governors.May 21, 2008
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Another room on the 2nd floor shows Hokkaido's international relations with sister states in Alberta, Canada; Massachusetts, USA; and Heilongjiang, China.May 21, 2008
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The second floor has several large rooms. This is the Hokkaido Archives where Hokkaido's historical documents and records are kept.May 21, 2008
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Cannon ballsMay 21, 2008
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Inside the former office of the Governor. There's a large conference table and the walls are decorated with portraits of past Hokkaido governors.May 21, 2008
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On the right is the entrance to the former Governor's officeMay 21, 2008
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Rear of the triple-arch staircase.May 21, 2008
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Staircase and G8 Summit signMay 21, 2008
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Second floor corridor.May 21, 2008
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May 21, 2008
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Most of the rooms open to the public are on the 2nd floor.May 21, 2008
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Adjacent pond and cherry blossomsMay 21, 2008
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Going to the 2nd floor.May 21, 2008
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May 21, 2008
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The interior of the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building is just as dignified as the exterior. This triple-arch staircase is what you first see when you enter the building.May 21, 2008
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The roof has chimney-like ventilation outlets.May 21, 2008
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G8 Summit countdown signMay 21, 2008
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In March 1969, it was designated as an Important Cultural Property. Its 2.5 million bricks were made locally and laid in a French style.May 21, 2008
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Former Hokkaido Government Office Building and yaezakura cherry blossoms, SapporoMay 21, 2008
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Former Hokkaido Government Office Building and tulips, SapporoMay 21, 2008
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Tulips also give a colorful touch to the grounds. In 1968, the building was restored to its original state, and it has been preserved since then. It has an American Neo-baroque style.May 21, 2008
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May 21, 2008
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Nicknamed "Akarenga Chosha" (Red Brick Government Building), a fire in 1909 gutted the interior, but the exterior was little damaged. The building was restored in 1911. 赤れんが庁舎May 21, 2008
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The building was akin to Hokkaido's capitol where the governor's office was located. It was used for 80 years. Open 9 am - 5 pm, closed Dec. 29-Jan. 3. Free admission. Near Sapporo Station's south exit and visible from Ekimae-dori road.May 21, 2008
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May 21, 2008
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Most of the building materials, stones and wood, were procured from Hokkaido. The building is flanked by yaezakura cherry trees which bloom in early May.May 21, 2008
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Built in 1888, the former Hokkaido Government Office Building is one of Hokkaido's most famous buildings at the heart of Sapporo. With its red brick walls, it stands out among Sapporo's more modern buildings.May 21, 2008
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A working clockMay 21, 2008
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On New Year's Eve, a crowd gathers to hear the Clock Tower ring in the New Year.May 21, 2008
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Records of songs which mention the Clock Tower.May 21, 2008
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May 21, 2008
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May 21, 2008
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Inside the Sapporo Clock Tower. The first floor has various display panels and exhibits.May 21, 2008
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Panel showing foreign instructors who taught at Sapporo Agricultural College.May 21, 2008
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Second floor of the Clock Tower. Mostly pews for a lecture hall.May 21, 2008
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Front entrance of the Clock Tower.May 21, 2008
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The famous Clock Tower or Tokeidai is overshadowed by much bigger and modern buildings in central Sapporo. A short walk from Sapporo Station and Odori Park.May 21, 2008
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The exhibits explain about the history of Hokkaido's early settlement and development.May 21, 2008
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The Sapporo Clock Tower is an Important Cultural Property.May 21, 2008
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Scale model of what the Sapporo Agricultural College looked like. Notice the Clock Tower. In those days, Sapporo's population was only 2,600.May 21, 2008
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The clock inside the tower is Japan's oldest. The gears and other main parts are also still the original ones. Thanks to excellent care and maintenance, the clock has come this far.May 21, 2008
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May 21, 2008
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The Clock Tower was built in 1878 as part of the Sapporo Agricultural College established largely by three Americans from Massachusetts: Dr. Willian S. Clark, William Wheeler, and David P. Penhallow.May 21, 2008
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The Clock Tower was used as a drill hall and ceremony hall. After the college moved, the building was used by local citizens for cultural purposes such as a library and lecture hall.May 21, 2008
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The construction of the tower and installation of the clock was completed in 1881. The clock was made by Howard Clock Co. of Boston, MA. It is still in the Clock Tower, sounding its original chime.May 21, 2008
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