A Fukuokan's Notes from Sapporo

One of the great things about Sapporo is that the central area is quite compact, so you can easily reach many spots by subway and a short walk.

One morning, I decided to visit the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art.

But when I got there 15 minutes before opening, there was already a long queue of children and their grandparents (presumably)--I completely forgot it was the middle of the Bon holidays...

What I saw there was pear trees bearing fruit in the front garden.

 

So, I gave up on going inside and went to the Governor's Official Residence right next door instead.

At the time, I was the only visitor. I was totally unleashed! I didn't even come across a single person during my entire stay. The building itself was lovely, with elaborate details such as doorknobs,

uniquely shaped doors,

and chandeliers.

Meanwhile, a variety of memorabilia brought in by the visitors added an unexpected charm, giving it the look of an old-fashioned souvenir shop or my family home in the 1970s.

However, seeing how the visitors were left to wander around so freely, I started to wonder: is this place really safe from terrorists? You could easily plant explosives anywhere, leave rubbish, or even a cat... I know there must be numerous CCTV cameras and security systems in place, but it just made me realize how trusting the people of Sapporo are!

 to be continued to 2-2.