Goryokaku Tower Hakodate 2026: Star Fort Views & Tickets

Supypy @sue__ryan

✅ Highly recommend visiting Goryokaku Tower and the park together

✅ Operating Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

✅ Standing 351 feet (107 meters) tall, offering views of the iconic star-shaped fort

✅ Just a 5-10 minute walk after disembarking the tram

1. Goryokaku Tower Hakodate: Location & Operating Hours

This spot is particularly famous when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. While Sapporo might not be as well-known for its cherry blossoms, Hakodate's bloom season often starts later, and it tends to be less crowded, making it a fantastic recommendation for a unique experience.

Hakodate is located about a scenic 3-4 hour train ride from Sapporo, making it a perfect addition to the beginning or end of your Sapporo adventure. I started my Sapporo trip in Hakodate, and you can find more details about the journey in the blog post below.

Sapporo Travel: Cherry Blossom & Conan Holy Site Hakodate Train Prices, Times & Reviewm.blog.naver.com

📍 Goryokaku Tower

43-9 Goryokakucho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0001 Japan

〒040-0001 北海道函館市五稜郭町４３−9

Operating Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Goryokaku Tower overlooks the distinctive five-pointed star shape of Goryokaku Fort. Because it's directly adjacent to Goryokaku Park, it attracts a significant number of locals, especially during the vibrant cherry blossom season.

I took the tram from JR Hakodate station, which took about 30 minutes. To get there, simply get off at the "Goryokaku Koen-mae" stop and walk for approximately 10 minutes.

2. Goryokaku Tower: Admission, Waiting, and Price

As expected during cherry blossom season, it was quite crowded. I utilized four coupons from my city pass card for admission.

The standard admission fee is ¥1,200 (approximately ~$8 USD), and my city pass included four coupons!

Even with coupons, you'll still need to join the regular queue. I waited for about 30 minutes, but if you visit Goryokaku Tower during cherry blossom season, I highly recommend arriving right at opening to avoid any waiting.

📍 Book Goryokaku Tower Hakodate Tickets Here

While there were signs indicating 10-minute and 5-minute waits as I approached the ticket counter, it felt a bit longer in reality.

Finally, I reached the ticket booth and had my exchange voucher ready.

Even with online purchases, you'll still join the same queue, as there didn't appear to be a separate fast-track line.

There was even a tourist demographic survey asking where visitors came from. It seems like such data is used to create brochures and shape tourism initiatives.

3. Goryokaku Tower Observatory

After getting my ticket, I joined yet another queue for the observation deck. There are two elevators, and staff efficiently guide visitors to board in order.

Outside in the park, the cherry blossom party was already in full swing! I decided it was best to visit the observation deck first, then head down to the park.

This was the view of Goryokaku from the observation deck. I was so excited to see the incredible panorama from above!

From the observation deck, the star-shaped park truly looks magnificent! It was absolutely stunning. Even though they weren't in full bloom yet, just imagine how spectacular it would be with the entire star-shaped fort filled with cherry blossoms!

The observation deck is split into two levels, but I found the lower deck offered better photo opportunities and clearer views.

4. Goryokaku Park

After soaking in the views from the tower, I ventured down to the park to enjoy the cherry blossoms up close. The weather was perfect, with a gentle breeze, making it an ideal day to stroll through the park.

With the cherry blossoms gently swaying, it truly felt like a floral paradise. Many visitors had brought picnic blankets to relax and enjoy the scenery.

The Goryokaku Tower, peeking through the double cherry blossoms, looked incredibly majestic. I spent about an hour just soaking in the peaceful atmosphere of the park; time simply flew by!

Goryokaku Tower is an absolute must-visit when you come to Hakodate. While you can visit the tower alone, if you're planning to explore other attractions, I highly recommend purchasing a city pass to make the most of its included tickets.

📍 Book a Hakodate City Pass Including Goryokaku Tower Here

I'll be back with more stories from Hakodate, so don't forget to follow and like for more!

Supypy (@sue__ryan) • Instagram Photos & Videoswww.instagram.com