Japan Hakodate Goryokaku Fort Park Tower

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
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

Tanuki Koji Shopping Arcade Outlet Sapporo Hokkaido What To Buy

Tanuki Koji Shopping Arcade Sapporo Hokkaido
Tanuki Koji Shopping Arcade Sapporo Hokkaido

Tanukikoji is a shopping arcade in Sapporo Hokkaido Perfecture Japan, that has been in operation since the frontier time. There are a lot of shopping outlets to buy Hokkaido souvenirs!

Tanukikoji shopping street is the main shopping district in Sapporo and is about 1km-long with around 200 shops that stretches from east to west in downtown Sapporo. The roofed arcade begins at Nishi-1-chome and stops at Nishi-7-chome, which allow shopping regardless of the weather. The arcade was built up during the frontier period. In year 1869, when the Meiji government set up the Hokkaido Development Commission in Sapporo, merchant houses and restaurants started to settle there in what is known today as the Tanukikoji 2 and 3-chome areas. In 1873, the neighborhood became recognised as “Tanukikoji”. The arcade, which many tourists visit, features both old and new shops, souvenir shops, and karaoke bars.

How To Get To Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade 

The Tanuki Koji shopping arcade is located at Minami 2 & 3-jo Nishi 1-chom ~ 7-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, which is about 5-minute walk from Odori Station on the Subway Namboku, Tozai and Toho Lines and 3-minute walk from Susukino Station on the Subway Namboku Line.


Tanuki Koji Shopping Arcade What To Buy

At the center, Lane 4 leads to the subway station, which connects to a collection of underground shopping malls. Fashion boutiques are especially popular, and they sell everything from name-brand Western designs to traditional cotton or silk kimonos.

You will be able to find old and traditional merchants selling kimonos, tea or incense side by side with modern stores specializing in computers and software or state-of -the-art electronics and digital cameras - all of which lends it a bazaar-like quality. Many items for sale here are even cheaper than in the 100 yen shops. Check out the Donki’s Store for strange merchandise. Plenty of games centre and coffee shops.

Wood carvings are another popular product in Hokkaido, which might want to consider buying. Many of them are produced by the Ainu and take animal shapes like bears, deer and owls. These and other handmade items are available in the boutiques of Sapporo as well as in museum and hotel gift shops.

Tanuki Koji Outlet



Shopping
    Fresh food
    Tea · Tofu · Other Processed Food
    Alcohol / rice
    Confectionery · Bakery
    Bento / Delight
    Food supermarket
    Fruit
    Women's Fashion
    Men's Fashion
    Kimono
    School uniform
    Clothing
    Shoes / shoes
    Bags / Accessories / Accessories
    Clock / glasses
    Jewelry · precious metal
    Books · stationery · seal
    Music / video
    Hobbies / Toys
    Flower shop
    Furniture · Interior · Bedding
    Electric Appliance · Personal Computer
    Sports
    Tableware / kitchenware
    Miscellaneous goods
    Tobacco · Smoking article
    Medicine · Cosmetics
    Barber · Beauty Equipment
    Automobiles / Bicycles
    Fuel
    Convenience store
    Discount
    Recycle shop
    100 Yen shop
    Department store
    Overall supermarket
    Antique
    Pet Shop

Accommodation and sightseeing

    Hotels and Inns
    Travel agency
    Sightseeing souvenir
    Other

Living
    Medical / welfare
    Finance · Insurance
    Education · Learning
    Nursery · Kindergarten
    Other

Food and beverage
    Japanese food
    Western food
    Italian · French
    China
    Asian
    International cuisine
    Cafe · sweets
    sushi
    Udon, Soba, Ramen
    Yakiniku · Yakinba
    Izakaya
    Bar · Snack
    Fast food
    Takeaway / home delivery

Service
    Photo
    Flower · Gardening
    A pet
    Cleaning / cleaning
    Beauty · Beauty
    Various rental
    mobile phone
    Newspaper · printing publication
    Repair / maintenance
    Health · Bath
    amusement
    Sacred Buddhist Temple
    Ceremonial hall / hall
    Other
    karaoke
    Renting hall
    Parking Lot
    Movie theater

House
    Real estate
    Construction and construction
    Other

Other
    Manufacturing · Processing
    Agricultural forestry
    Other

Reference:
http://www.tanukikoji.or.jp/