Japan Hakodate Goryokaku Fort Park Tower

Goryokaku Fort Park Tower View

The Japan Goryokaku fort park in Hokkaido, was designed in 1855 by Takeda Hisaburō with a plan based on the work of the French architect Vauban. The Goryokaku fort was built by the Tokugawa shogunate to protect the Tsugaru Strait against a possible invasion by the Russian fleet. Goryōkaku is famous as the site of the last battle of the Boshin War (Goryokaku no Tatakai). The fighting lasted for a week (June 20-27, 1869).

Goryokaku Fort is shaped like a five-pointed star. This provided greater numbers of weapons emplacement on the fort walls than a traditional Japanese fortress, and minimized the number of blind spots where a cannon could not fire.

Today, Goryokaku is a park that has been declared as a Special Historical Site and is home to the Hakodate city museum. The grounds are a favorite spot for cherry-blossom viewing in spring. The park is surrounded by some 1,600 cherry trees, making the Goryokaku Park one of Hokkaido’s top cherry blossom viewing spots in springtime. In summer the park is fringed with lush greenery, which turns into a blazing scene of crimson foliage in the fall that is then blanketed with snow in the winter, creating an extremely beautiful vista for all seasons.

Goryokaku Park Sakura Cherry Blossoms

A magnificent panoramic view of the entire star-shaped park and surrounding moat unveils itself to visitors from the observation platform of the 107-meter Goryokaku Tower that was originally opened on December 1st, 1964. However the new tower was opened on April 1st, 2006.

Goryokaku Park Tower

Goryokaku Tower in height 107m, from the observatory Hakodate and Tsugaru Strait, Yokotsu mountain range of mountains, and you can see the view of the star that shines in a special historic site Goryokaku of the earth. Exhibition to have stand, exhibition space and "Goryokaku history corridor" that history can learn of Goryokaku, visible under the floor of tempered glass, taste mood in the air walk "see-through floor", original goods is complete you do not buy or was here It was "shop", and such as soft-serve ice cream and coffee to enjoy "cafe stand". Edges of the deep Shinsengumi Deputy-Hijikata Toshizo bronze image of the Goryokaku also been published.

Goryokaku Tower Entrance Fee 

For Group - 30 or more
Adults: 900yen (810yen)
Junior and high school students: 680yen (610yen)
Elementary school students: 450yen (410yen)
Children under 5 is free

Goryokaku Tower Opening Hours 

Goryokaku Tower is open throughout the year
Apr. 21 - Oct. 20　8:00-19:00
Oct. 21 - Apr. 20　9:00-18:00

How To Get To Goryokaku Park

Getting to Goryokaku park can be by bus and by streetcar. If you travel by car please note that Goryokaku Tower itself doesn’t have a parking lot, you’ll have to use the nearby parking lots. Taking the Hakodate bus: Get off at the "Goryokaku Koen Iriguchi" Bus Stop and walk 7 minutes. If by travel Streetcar: Get off at the "Goryokaku koen mae" Bus stop and walk 15 minutes.

Getting to Goryokaku park From Hakodate Station (函館駅)

Car / taxi: Travel 15 minutes north-east from Hakodate Station.

Streetcar / tram: Get on the tram at the Hakodate Eki-mae (函館駅前) stop on the 'a' side (heading north). About 16 minutes later, get off at the Goryokaku Koen-mae (五稜郭公園前) stop and walk 15 minutes. Cost is 220 yen for adults, and 110 yen for children (All-day tram passes are 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children). The tower is easy to see through the buildings and the direction (north) is well signed to help you find your way.

Bus: Go to bus stop number 5 in front of the station. Use buses 5-1, 6-2, 59, 105, 130, or 106ループ27. Get off after about 12 minutes at Goryokaku Koen Iriguchi Stop (五稜郭公園入口) and lastly walk 5 minutes north-north-east. Cost is 200 yen for adults and 100 yen for children.


Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goryokaku
http://www.goryokaku-tower.co.jp/html/index/en.html