Museums & galleries
Hongō Shin Memorial Museum of Sculpture, Sapporo
The Hongō Shin Memorial Museum of Sculpture, Sapporo opened in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan in 1981. In 1979, Sapporo-born sculptor Hongō Shin (1905–1980), donated to the city his studio and gallery, now converted into the Hongō Shin Memorial House, and many of his works. The following year, construction of a new museum began on land purchased adjacent to the Memorial House. The collection includes some 1,800 sculptures, paintings, drawings, prints, and calligraphic works by Hongō Shin, as well as books, tools, and personal items relating to him, and those of other artists collected by him.
What it is
This small museum in the Maruyama area is dedicated to sculptor Hongō Shin (1905–1980), a Sapporo native. It grew out of his own studio and gallery, which he donated to the city in 1979; that original building survives next door as the Hongō Shin Memorial House, while the main museum was purpose-built and opened in 1981. Between the two sites the collection holds around 1,800 works spanning sculpture, paintings, drawings, prints, and calligraphy by Hongō, along with his books, tools, and personal effects. It's a good stop for anyone interested in modern Japanese sculpture or in seeing an artist's work alongside the space he actually worked in.
Getting there
The museum sits in the Maruyama district, a residential and forested part of Sapporo west of downtown. From the city centre, the quickest route is by subway on the Tozai Line to Maruyama-koen Station, followed by a short taxi or bus ride, or a walk of roughly 20–25 minutes toward the hills near Hokkaidō Jingū. Allow about 30–40 minutes door to door from central Sapporo.
Time to allow
Most visitors can see both the Memorial House and the main museum building in around 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on how closely you look at the works and personal items on display.
When to go
This is a quiet museum outside the main tourist circuit, so crowding isn't a real concern at any time. It pairs naturally with a walk in the surrounding wooded area, so a clear day is preferable if you plan to explore on foot afterward.
Combine it with
- Miyanomori International Museum of Art, Sapporo (0.5km) – another art museum within easy walking distance.
- Araiyama (0.5km) – a nearby hill for a short walk or view.
- Mount Sankaku (0.8km) – a further hiking option in the same area.
- Hokkaidō Jingū (0.9km) – a major Shinto shrine set in forest, worth combining into the same half-day.
Sources: open data from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap · Updated August 5, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
