Hokkaido University, National university in Sapporo, Japan
Hokkaido University is a national university in Kita-ku in northern Sapporo, spread across a large campus with dozens of buildings and research centers. The grounds include lecture halls, laboratories, administrative buildings, dormitories, and green spaces crossed by public paths.
The institution began in 1876 as an agricultural college that brought science and technology to the northernmost island of Japan. After the Second World War, it received its current name and opened to new faculties and international cooperation.
The words spoken by the American founder became an unofficial motto for many young Japanese people, now remembered in monuments and souvenir shops across the region. Visitors today see the statue of William Smith Clark in the southern part of campus, where he points skyward with his hand raised.
The campus is freely accessible and many paths run through shaded tree rows suitable for walking or cycling. In spring and autumn, the ginkgo trees and poplars attract many photographers, while in winter snow covers the paths.
The library preserves several million volumes, including rare collections on the development of northern Japan and early Western influences. Some historical documents are available online and show handwritten notes from the first professors of the 19th century.
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