Goryokaku Travel Guide

The beautiful city of Hakodate offers various experiences for the adventurous traveler. While walking around the beautiful city, make sure to visit Goryokaku Park. Before becoming known for its beauty today, Goryokaku was built as a fortress by the Tokugawa shogunate. The park is now popular for its unique star-shaped structure and is visited by tourists from all over Japan and locals. To see a panoramic view of the park, head up Goryokaku Tower’s observation deck located next to the park.

Goryokaku is Hokkaido’s most famous spot for cherry blossom viewing, so don’t miss out when visiting during the spring! The park is filled with 1,600 cherry blossom trees, turning the entire area into a sea of pink. The blue water of the moat even turns pink at the end of the season as the petals fall. Cherry blossom viewing is especially stunning at night, as there are lanterns hung throughout the park to illuminate the sakura.