Former Nagayama Takeshirō Residence, Historic house in Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Japan.
The Former Nagayama Takeshiro Residence is a two-story wooden building that merges Japanese and Western architecture, with traditional sliding doors and modern elements mixed throughout. The structure displays local history exhibitions upstairs and houses a café serving Western-style food on the ground floor.
The residence was constructed in 1870 under the Hokkaido Development Commission and served as the home of Nagayama Takeshiro, who established a major military settler system in Hokkaido. Its creation marks Japan's early efforts to modernize and develop the northern island.
The residence demonstrates how living spaces evolved during the Meiji period, with traditional Japanese rooms standing alongside Western furniture. This blend reflects the daily experience of people navigating between two worlds.
The ground floor is open to café visitors daily, while exhibition spaces upstairs follow set visiting hours. It is helpful to allow time for both levels to fully experience the house.
Many of the original wooden beams and floor patterns still date from 1870, showing how early Meiji builders practiced their craft. These details are rarely preserved and provide direct insight into old construction methods.
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