The Goryōkaku 五稜郭 is a western-style fort completed around 150 years ago at Hakodate city in Hokkaido. Sometimes known as Ryuya Castle, Goryōkaku was designed by Takeda Hisaburō based on the designs of French architect Vauban. It is shaped like a five-pointed star allowing for a greater numbers of gun emplacements on its walls compared to traditional Japanese fortress. This also reduced the number of blind spots where a cannon could not fire.
After Japan opened up trading with other countries under force by the US, ports in Hakodate and Shimoda were opened by the Tokugawa Shogunate. Goryōkaku was built in the last years of the Edo Period to protect the Tsugaru Strait against a invasion by the Russian fleet.
The fortress of Goryokaku, headquarters of the rebel army. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Goryōkaku is famous as the site of the last battle of the Boshin War (Goryōkaku no Tatakai) in 1867-1869 where rebel Shogunate forces battled with the Imperial forces after the return of power to the Emperor. The Shogunate naval forces eventually retreated to Hakodate where they took control of Goryōkaku and formed the short-lived Republic of Ezo. The Hakodate War followed and a year later the last of the rebels surrendered to Imperial forces, ending the last of Feudal Japan.
The Emperor’s victory is celebrated each year in mid-May with a period costume parade.
After the fort had lost its military importance, it was turned into a public park in the 1910s and has been declared a Special Historical Site.
五稜郭
In the center of the fort stands the Former Magistrate Office, from where the officers of the shogunate administered all of Hokkaido.
五稜郭 Former Magistrate Office
The original building was demolished after the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1871, but the city reconstructed a part of the complex and opened it to the public in 2010. It is a large complex and worth visiting.
五稜郭 Former Magistrate Office
Hours of the Magistrate Office are 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, closing at 5:00 pm from November to March. Closed December 31 to January 3. Admission is 500 yen.
五稜郭 Former Magistrate Office
The entire site has plentiful and informative signs in both Japanese and English.
五稜郭 Cherry Blossoms
The Goryōkaku Star Fort grounds are a favourite top spot for cherry-blossom viewing in spring in Hokkaido, with a moat surrounded by around 1,600 cherry trees.
The Goryokaku Tower Observatory situated at the edge of the fort was built to give visitors a panoramic view of the entire star-shaped fort and surrounding moat. The observation platform of the 107-meter Goryokaku Tower offers a view of a historic site rarely found elsewhere among Japanese castles and forts.
GORYOKAKU tower
In the atrium as well as the observation deck of the Observatory there are historic photos and facts about the Goryōkaku fortress. In the first-floor atrium there is a take-out stand serving light meals and on the second floor there is a gelato shop as well.
On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays the mascot of Goryokaku Tower Observatory named ‘GO-kun’ comes to play from 10: 30 am – 12: 00 noon and 1:00 om – 3: 30 pm. Great for a unique photo and kids will enjoy. There are also a number of events happening every month organized by the Tower so there is usually something interesting going on besides viewing the amazing fort itself.
Hakodate Official Travel Website (english): http://www.hakodate.travel/en/things-to-do/top7/goryokaku/
Goryokaku Tower Official Website (Japanese): http://www.goryokaku-tower.co.jp/
Directions: It is 20 minutes by streetcar from Hakodate Station to the Goryokaku Koen-Mae 五稜郭公園前 streetcar stop and then about 12 minutes by foot
Admission: Tower Observatory – 840 yen (adults). General entry other then the Observatory viewing deck is free.
Hours: April 21 – October 20; 8:00 am – 7:00 pm, October 21 – April 20; 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Address: 43-9, Goryokaku-cho, Hakodate
