44 Goryokaku-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido
Rating
Cost per person
¥1,000
Explore Goryokaku Fort, Japan's first Western-style star fort, completed in 1864. Designed by scholar Takeda Hisaburo, this historical site served as a magistrate's office and a battleground during the Boshin War. Today, it's a public park offering seasonal beauty, especially during cherry blossom season and autumn foliage. Climb the adjacent Goryokaku Tower for panoramic views of the star-shaped fortress. Visitors can also enjoy boating in the surrounding moat and explore the reconstructed Hakodate Magistrate's Office within the park. Open daily, with extended hours in the summer.
Era: 1864