Kuraimu (蔵囲夢)

Kuraimu is a multi‑use complex created by renovating a group of red‑brick warehouses built beside Asahikawa Station between 1900 and 1913. The facility serves as a hub for local culture and comprises seven historic buildings: four main venues with distinct characters — the Daisetsu Beer Hall, the Design Gallery, the Collection Hall (Chairs Gallery) and the Rehearsal Hall — plus the Kamikawa Warehouse Office, which still functions as an office, and two additional warehouse buildings. All of the structures are registered tangible cultural properties by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and together preserve an architecturally significant red‑brick streetscape.

The Design Gallery is a popular exhibition space for a wide range of creators, from professional designers to students and local residents, with shows changing almost weekly. Each June and July the gallery hosts part of Asahikawa Design Month and holds curated exhibitions that highlight outstanding design, making the venue a key base for design outreach in the city.

The Collection Hall (Chairs Gallery) displays the collection of world‑renowned chair scholar Noritsugu Oda, showing iconic chairs from the history of furniture design on a rotating theme every six months. Other facilities include the Daisetsu Beer Hall, where visitors can enjoy local beer and regional cuisine, and a rehearsal hall used for music and stage practice and performances. With its living historic architecture, Kuraimu invites casual visits for shopping, art viewing and café time.