Goryokaku Fort

Goryokaku replaces the familiar image of a Japanese castle tower with a five-pointed star of earth and stone. Built in Hakodate during the closing years of the Tokugawa shogunate, the fortress protected the magistrate’s office as the port opened to foreign contact. It later became a stronghold in the conflict that ended shogunal resistance in Hokkaido.

On the ground, the broad moats and projecting ramparts explain a defensive layout intended for artillery warfare. Follow the paths into the interior to find the reconstructed Hakodate Magistrate’s Office, where traditional timber architecture sits within a Western-inspired military plan. The park itself is an outdoor historic site; admission to the office is separate.

Goryokaku Tower, outside the fort, provides the overhead view that makes the star shape immediately clear and also charges separately. Cherry blossoms bring particular color to the moat edges in spring. Take a tram to Goryokaku-koen-mae and continue on foot, allowing time for the walk as well as the grounds and any indoor visits.