[Photo from welcome.city.sapporo.jp]

The former Sapporo Court of Appeals, built in 1926, has an exterior wall engraved with a “mirror that reflects the truth.”

When you visit the Shiryokan, look up at the top part of the front of the building and you will see an engraving of the scale of fairness, sword of justice, and a blindfolded Greek goddess of law. The building, which used to be the Sapporo Court of Appeals, is now partly open to the public. The engravings carved into the Ishiyama soft stone wall are holdovers of the building’s past life. Inside, there are five exhibition rooms, which can be visited for free. One is a memorial hall dedicated to the Sapporo-born manga artist and painter Hiroshi Ooba, whose works will be familiar from their use on various local souvenir packaging. Behind the building are cherry trees, which flower in early May and are a secret pleasure among Sapporo locals.

Address: Odori Nishi 13-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo

Open: 9:00 - 19:00

Closed: Monday (If Monday is a national holiday, open on Monday, closed on Tuesday), year-end through New Year holidays

Fee: Free admission

Parking: Not available

Telephone: 011-251-0731

Website: http://www.s-shiryokan.jp/