Goryōkaku Tower

Goryōkaku Tower rises above Hakodate to offer the definitive aerial view of one of Japan's most distinctive landmarks: the star-shaped Goryōkaku fort below. From the observation deck, the fort's precise geometric earthworks reveal themselves in full, a sight impossible to appreciate at ground level. With over 16,000 Google reviews and a 4.3-star rating, this is a well-loved stop that rewards the short ride up.

When to go

The tower is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm, so arriving early in the morning keeps you ahead of midday footfall. Spring draws visitors for cherry blossom season, when the fort's grounds flush pink and the view from the tower becomes particularly striking. Winter light over Hokkaido lends the scene a quiet, spare beauty all its own.

“Rally cool to see the history with such a nice set of models. Also, of course, the view of the the place is splendid! You can see very far into the city, the mountain and the Goryōkaku park in all of its glory. The weather was not the best the day I was there but it still worth it.”— Kleber Silva, Google review