Hokkaido Official Tourism Site HOKKAIDO LOVE!

Goryokaku is a star-shaped pentagon with five protruding points called bastions. This unusual form was inspired by the "fortified city" designs conceived in Europe around the 16th century. Only two castle ruins of similar shape exist in Japan: Hakodate Goryokaku and Tatsuoka Castle Goryokaku in Saku City, Nagano Prefecture, making it an extremely valuable structure.

In 1868 (the first year of the Meiji era), it became the stage for the Battle of Hakodate, the final conflict of the Boshin War. The runaway forces of the former shogunate, led by Takeaki Enomoto, occupied it. However, the Meiji new government army launched a general offensive on Hakodate, and the situation gradually became unfavorable for the rebels. Toshizo Hijikata, the vice-commander of the Shinsengumi who headed to their aid, also fell to gunfire. Furthermore, Shiryo-kaku, a smaller fort hastily built by the runaway army to defend the Tosho-gu Shrine, which served as the guardian of Goryokaku, fell in just about half a day, decisively sealing the defeat of the rebel forces.

In 1952 (Showa 27), it became Hokkaido's only nationally designated Special Historic Site and has also been selected as a Hokkaido Heritage site as "Goryokaku and the Remains of the Hakodate War." Located right next to Goryokaku, which covers an area of about 125,000 square meters (about three times the size of Tokyo Dome), is Goryokaku Tower, offering a beautiful aerial view of its five-pointed star shape. It is also a venue for events such as the "Hakodate Goryokaku Festival," making it a leading tourist destination in Hakodate.