Hokuchin Museum - Hokkaido

Hokuchin Memorial Museum (北鎮記念館) or simply Hokuchin Museum is a museum that highlights the history of the Tondenhei Army and the 7th Division of the Japanese Imperial Army, which helped develop Hokkaido. It is located next to the Asahikawa base of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), Shankocho, Asahikawa City in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan.

Hokuchin Memorial Museum (北鎮記念館) 

Hokuchin Museum details

Hokuchin Museum was established in August 1963, more than a decade after the National Safety Forces relocated to its current base in Asahikawa City. Although the museum is part of the military camp, visitors can enter it without going through the camp gates and security checks.

Hokuchin Museum - Asahikawa City, Hokkaido Prefecture

Team Nicerio visits Hokuchin Museum

The Hokuchin Museum houses around 2500 precious artifacts that tell the story of Hokkaido's reclamation and defense through the years. These artifacts are displayed in different exhibit areas of the 2-floor museum. 

These are the different exhibit areas of the Hokuchin Museum:

1st Floor

- Reading Area

- Comprehensive History of the 7th Division

- A History of the 7th Division

- Asahikawa Store Monument Panel

- Self-Defense Forces (2nd Division) Area

2nd Floor

- 7th Division and the Russo-Japanese War

- Foundation of the 7th Division 

- Tonhendei Army and the Reclamation of Hokkaido

- The 7th Division and the Greater East Asia War

- 7th Division in the Showa and Taisho Eras

- The birthplace of Skiing in Hokkaido

- Daily Life Through The Years

- Local Hero: Major General Hayabusa Kato

These are some of our photos of inside the Hokuchin Museum:*

* I posted only a handful of photos of the exhibits and I purposely didn't label them so that you would only get a glimpse of what Hokuchin Museum has to offer. Please visit the museum and enjoy it with your own eyes.

Hokuchin 7th Division Site Monument

Former Army 7th Division Sentry Post (旧陸軍第七師団哨所)

Ella and I had fun touring the Hokuchin Museum.

I visited Hokuchin Museum with my daughter last May 15, 2022, which was my 195th day here in Japan as an ALT under the JET Programme. My wife didn't come along as she was busy shopping at the nearby Mega Don Quixote. It was a fun bonding for me and Ella as we both enjoyed the long walk going to the museum and also exploring it. As a history buff, my time at Hokuchin Museum was time well spent as I learned a lot about the 7th division and their contribution to the developments of Hokkaido.

Hokuchin Museum Entrance Fee: 

It's FREE to enter and explore Hokuchin Museum.

Hokuchin Museum Operating Hours:

Summer (April - October): 9AM - 5PM

Winter (November - March): 9:30AM - 4PM

Closed - Mondays (Tuesdays if Monday is a holiday)

Why visit Hokuchin Museum?

If you're a history buff and you are into military or war history then this place is for you. Learn more about the 7th Division which fought the US in the Guadalcanal Campaign. Don't forget to visit the Hokuchin Memorial Shop inside the museum if it is open. They sell military goods and also boil-in-bag curry that is similar to those served inside Camp Asahikawa. 

Getting to Hokuchin Museum

From Asahikawa Station, head to Platform 3 and ride the Asahikawa Denkikido Bus or Dohoku Bus to the Gokokujinja Shrine bus stop. Hokuchin Museum is just across the street.

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