Goryokaku (五稜郭) was one of the sightseeing spots I had always wanted to visit, and I finally made it there! I had assumed Hakodate wouldn’t be too cold because it’s the closest city on Hokkaido to the main island of Japan. However, I was wrong – it’s freezing, even in late March. I was greeted by a snowstorm, which was unexpected, but, well, this is Hokkaido for you!
Goryokaku Tower is not particularly tall or large, but it has a unique pentagonal shape that is quite charming. The top of the pentagon is an observatory, offering a great view of the surrounding area.
On the first floor, you’ll find a souvenir shop and the ticket office for the observatory. On the second floor, there’s a cafe and Gotoken EXPRESS (五島軒). While you do need to pay for access to the observatory, the other areas are free of charge. I decided to return the next day to buy some souvenirs.
When I visited the first floor to buy my ticket, the lady at the ticket office kindly directed me to the elevator, which was located nearby. The observatory admission fee is 900 yen for adults. You can find more information on the Official website.
GGoryokaku is one of the great spots in Hakodate because you can enjoy the changing seasons. In spring, it’s filled with cherry blossoms; in summer, the trees are lush and green; autumn brings beautiful maple leaves; and in winter, it’s covered in snow. However, I visited during a different season. Due to a snowstorm the night before, I was able to witness a beautiful snowy view, though the blue sky disappointed me slightly. I heard it’s even more picturesque in the heart of winter.
The contrast between the moat and the snow is breathtaking. Goryokaku was larger than I had expected. Although the observatory isn’t very tall, the view from the top is vast. It’s so big that it’s impossible to capture the entire garden in a single photo!
Even standing by the wall, I couldn’t capture it all.
You can also see Hakodateyama (Mt. Hakodate) in the distance. Its called Mt. Gagyu (臥牛山).
They offered me the chance to join a history-guided tour of the observatory for an additional 200 yen. However, I didn’t join as I didn’t have much time, and I wanted to explore freely. Goryokaku was originally built as a Bugyosho (a government office) by the Edo Shogunate, making it Japan’s first Western-style fortress. I would have loved to learn more about its history if I had had more time.
I hope to visit Goryokaku in every season!
About
Name Goryokaku Tower (五稜郭タワー)
Open Daytime
Credit card Available
URL Website, Instagram
Google Map
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