Where history and the present come together.

Sapporo Factory

The former Kaitakushi Beer Brewery, still standing on the north side of the grounds, was founded in 1876 (Meiji 9). It was the first beer factory built by Japanese hands, and the predecessor of Sapporo Breweries. Today it's still used as the "Brick Building," preserved in its Meiji-era form. Ivy spreads across the entire facade, evoking a sense of its history, and the scene it creates when softly lit at night blends into the city of Sapporo with a pleasant sense of the unexpected. The roughly 40-meter chimney remains exactly as it stood in the Taisho era. The Santa Claus figure that appears during Christmas season is a memorable touch.

The atrium connecting the 2-jo Building and the 3-jo Building might be considered Sapporo Factory's defining feature. The indoor garden and glass-arched ceiling create a curious illusion of being outdoors. A winter tradition that appears in this atrium is the 15-meter Jumbo Christmas Tree, a gift from "Santa Land" in Hiroo, Hokkaido. Decorated with about 35,000 lights and more than 1,000 ornaments, this tree has become something of a symbol of Christmas in Sapporo. The tree's dazzling glow fills the entire atrium of Sapporo Factory, bringing a sense of calm to everyone who visits. Preserving the character of the Meiji era while serving as a relaxing gathering place for visitors today, Sapporo Factory is a rare and wondrous space where past and present come together in remarkable harmony, unlike anywhere else in the country.