Goryokaku Park (Hakodate)

五稜郭公園

Goryokaku is a star-shaped fort in Hakodate, built from 1857 and almost finished in 1864, using ideas from European fortified cities. In 1869 it was the scene of the Battle of Hakodate, the last battle of Japan's civil war at the end of the Tokugawa era. It was opened as a public park in 1914 and became a national Special Historic Site in 1952. From the observation floors of the nearby Goryokaku Tower, visitors can see the whole star shape, and the park is known for cherry blossoms in spring.

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Visitor information

Opening hours

Park: April–October 5:00–19:00; November–March 5:00–18:00.

Goryokaku Tower: 9:00–18:00 (last ticket 17:50).

Closed

Goryokaku Tower is open seven days a week. The park has no closing days.

Admission

The park is free. Some facilities inside the fort charge a fee.

Goryokaku Tower: adults 1,200 yen; junior high and high school students 900 yen; elementary school students 600 yen; younger children free.

Getting there

From Hakodate Station: city tram to Goryokaku-koen-mae (about 30 minutes in total), then about 10 minutes on foot to the tower; or Hakodate Bus to Goryokaku (about 20 minutes), then about 10 minutes on foot.

To the park: about 15 minutes on foot from the Goryokaku-koen-mae tram stop.

Hours and fees can change. Please check the official website before you go.

Tips for Muslim visitors

At Goryokaku Tower, buying your observatory ticket in advance lets you go straight to the elevator entrance, which saves time in line.
Inside many castle keeps you take off your shoes and climb steep, narrow wooden stairs. Wear socks and clothing that is comfortable for climbing.
Castle grounds are large. Plan a prayer stop before or after your visit at one of the places to pray listed below.
Plan your visit around prayer times. Below are today's prayer times for Hokkaido and the verified places to pray nearby.
Food stalls and shops near popular sights usually do not have halal certification. Check the ingredients, or choose from the verified places on this site.