Goryokaku Fort: Plan a Visit to Hakodate's Star-Shaped Park
Contents
JGO! editorial team — WEBMARKS Inc.
Goryokaku is a former fort in Hakodate, Hokkaido, now preserved as a public park. Walking in the park is free. For a view of its star-shaped layout, visit Goryokaku Tower’s observation deck; for an indoor history stop, add the reconstructed Hakodate Magistrate’s Office. The tower and office charge separate admission fees.
The regular prices and hours below were checked against official information on November 8, 2026. Tower admission is scheduled to increase on April 1, 2027, so use the rate for your travel date when planning your budget.
Contents
- Goryokaku Park
- Free
- Goryokaku Tower observation deck
- Adults ¥1,200; junior and senior high school students ¥900; elementary school students ¥600; children below elementary school age free
- Hakodate Magistrate’s Office
- General admission ¥500; students and schoolchildren ¥250; preschool children free
- Goryokaku Fort prices and opening hours
- Getting to Goryokaku Fort
- What to see at Goryokaku Fort
- Goryokaku Fort visitor facilities and rules
- Goryokaku Fort frequently asked questions
Goryokaku Fort prices and opening hours
| Place | Individual admission | Regular hours and last entry |
|---|---|---|
| Goryokaku Park | Free | Inner grounds: April–October, 5:00–19:00; November–March, 5:00–18:00. The outer grounds are open at all times. |
| Goryokaku Tower observation deck | Adults ¥1,200; junior and senior high school students ¥900; elementary school students ¥600; children below elementary school age free | 9:00–18:00 year-round; observation-ticket sales end at 17:50. |
| Hakodate Magistrate’s Office | General admission ¥500; students and schoolchildren ¥250; preschool children free | April–October, 9:00–18:00, with last entry at 17:45. November–March, 9:00–17:00, with last entry at 16:45. Closed December 31–January 3. |
The office may also close temporarily for maintenance. Check each operator’s information for your visit: Goryokaku Park, Goryokaku Tower and Hakodate Magistrate’s Office.
Tower prices from April 1, 2027
The tower has announced these new individual observation-deck rates:
| Visitor category | Current rate | From April 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, age 18 and over | ¥1,200 | ¥1,500 |
| Junior or senior high school student | ¥900 | ¥1,130 |
| Elementary school student | ¥600 | ¥750 |
Children below elementary school age enter free. See the tower’s price-change announcement for the announced group and disability rates.
At the current individual rates, one adult visiting both the tower and the magistrate’s office pays ¥1,700 for admission. Using the announced tower rate from April 1, 2027 and the office’s currently published ¥500 rate, the combined amount would be ¥2,000. Park entry is free in either case.
How to choose between the free park and paid attractions
- For a free visit: Walk through the park and around the moat. Check the seasonal closing time before entering the inner grounds.
- For the star-shaped view: Add Goryokaku Tower. Its observation deck gives you a view over the layout that is difficult to appreciate from ground level.
- For history and architecture: Add the magistrate’s office to see the reconstructed building and its exhibits.
- For all three: If arriving later in the day, visit the office first. Its last entry is earlier than the tower’s, especially from November through March. Allow time for sightseeing and walking between the two.
Tickets and reservations
For the tower, you can buy an observation ticket on the day or purchase an advance ticket at participating Japanese convenience stores. Advance-ticket holders can go directly to the elevator queue without exchanging the ticket at the counter. The published advance ticket is valid for one month and cannot be cancelled or refunded. Check the tower’s advance-ticket page for purchase instructions and prices. An advance ticket does not remove the need to queue for the elevator.
The magistrate’s office sells admission separately. Groups can enter without a reservation, but the office recommends applying in advance for smoother entry. For a group visit with a guide, the office asks visitors to apply at least two days ahead.
The office’s group rate generally applies to parties of 20 or more when a representative buys the tickets together and the group enters together. Its published rates are ¥400 per general-admission visitor and ¥200 per student or schoolchild. The tower’s group category starts at 30 people. See the office’s admission page and the tower’s rates for details.
Families should compare the facilities’ categories: the tower separates elementary school students from junior and senior high school students, while the office lists one student-and-schoolchild category.
Getting to Goryokaku Fort
The park is at 44 Goryokaku-cho, Hakodate. Search for 五稜郭公園 or use the Goryokaku Park map and enter your starting point.
From Hakodate Station by tram
Board the tram at Hakodate-ekimae and get off at Goryokaku-koen-mae. The tower lists the ride at approximately 16 minutes and ¥230, followed by a walk of about 10 minutes to the tower. The park manager gives a 15-minute walk from the same stop to the park. See the tower’s access page and park access information.
Goryokaku-koen-mae tram stop is not JR Goryokaku Station. If arriving by train, continuing to Hakodate Station and transferring there can be more convenient: the tower notes that buses are more frequent from Hakodate Station.
By bus or car
From Hakodate Station, buses serve stops near the park. The tower lists buses to Goryokaku-koen-iriguchi, followed by a walk of about five minutes to the tower. An airport loop bus also serves that stop. Check routes and timetables on the tower’s access page before travelling.
Neither the park nor the tower has dedicated private-car parking. Paid options nearby include Hakodate Goryokaku Tourist Parking and the Hakodate Performing Arts Center parking area. The tower’s access page links to further information about both car parks.
What to see at Goryokaku Fort
The park and fort grounds
Goryokaku’s five projecting bastions give the fort its distinctive star shape. The fort was completed in 1864, with associated construction finished in 1866. It later became a site of the Battle of Hakodate and opened to the public as a park in 1914. The grounds are a designated national special historic site.
Walk across the bridges into the inner grounds to see the site at close range. Around the outer paths, you can follow the moat and appreciate the scale of the fortifications. The park manager asks visitors exercising around the outer circuit to travel counterclockwise.
Goryokaku Tower
The observation deck is the best choice if seeing the star-shaped plan is your priority. Visit the tower first to get your bearings, then walk into the park; if the magistrate’s office is close to its last-entry time, reverse the order.
Hakodate Magistrate’s Office
The reconstructed office gives visitors a closer look at the building that served as a centre of government at Goryokaku. Inside, exhibits introduce the site’s history and reconstruction. You must remove your shoes to enter; the office provides a bag for them. See the office’s visitor information for entry details.
Visiting in different seasons
The park offers cherry blossoms in spring, greenery in summer, autumn foliage and snowy scenery in winter. For a blossom-focused visit, check the park manager’s current flower information close to your travel date. In winter, plan the office visit around its 16:45 last entry and leave time to walk between the attractions.
Goryokaku Fort visitor facilities and rules
- Lockers: The park manager lists lockers at two locations. The tower also has lockers near its main entrance; belongings must be collected before the tower closes.
- Large bags: The magistrate’s office does not have a baggage counter and may refuse entry with large luggage. Its visitor FAQ directs visitors to lockers at the Itakura Yanagino rest area opposite the office.
- Toilets: The park manager lists four park toilets. The office and the adjacent rest area also have accessible toilets.
- Smoking: Smoking is prohibited inside the park’s inner grounds and throughout Goryokaku Tower.
- Pets: Pets are not admitted to the tower or magistrate’s office; assistance dogs are permitted. In the park, keep pets on a lead and clean up after them.
- Wheelchairs and strollers: The office says wheelchair users can visit by transferring to a wheelchair provided for indoor use after ascending the steps. Strollers cannot be used inside. Contact the office before visiting if you need help planning access.
Goryokaku Fort frequently asked questions
Is Goryokaku Park free to enter?
Yes. The park is free to enter. The tower observation deck and Hakodate Magistrate’s Office charge separate admission.
Where can I see the star-shaped layout?
Go to Goryokaku Tower’s observation deck for a view over the fort. Current individual adult admission is ¥1,200; the announced rate from April 1, 2027 is ¥1,500. See the tower’s price announcement.
What time does the park close?
The inner grounds close at 19:00 from April through October and at 18:00 from November through March. The outer grounds are open at all times.
How do I get to the park by tram?
From Hakodate Station, board at Hakodate-ekimae and get off at Goryokaku-koen-mae. The park manager lists a 15-minute walk from that tram stop to the park. It is a different stop from JR Goryokaku Station.
Is there parking at Goryokaku?
The park and tower do not have dedicated private-car parking. The park manager and tower direct drivers to paid car parks nearby.
When is the Hakodate Magistrate's Office open?
From April through October, the office is open 9:00–18:00, with last entry at 17:45. From November through March, it is open 9:00–17:00, with last entry at 16:45. It is closed from December 31 through January 3 and may close temporarily for maintenance. Check the office’s visitor information for your date.
Do I have to pay to enter the magistrate's office?
Yes. Individual general admission is ¥500, students and schoolchildren pay ¥250, and preschool children enter free.
Can I visit the tower and the magistrate’s office late in the afternoon?
Yes, provided you arrive before both cutoffs. The office’s last entry is 17:45 from April through October and 16:45 from November through March; tower observation-ticket sales end at 17:50. Visit the office first if time is short, and allow for sightseeing inside each building and walking between them.
Can I bring a pet into Goryokaku Tower?
Pets are not admitted, but guide dogs, assistance dogs and hearing assistance dogs are permitted. See the tower’s visitor information for its policy.
Can I retrieve belongings from the tower lockers after closing?
No. The tower says its lockers are available only during opening hours, so retrieve your belongings before the building closes.
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