On my last day of Aomori, I experienced the 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Aomori on 20 April 2026. All JR trains and Shinkansen were suspended until around 10:00pm. While there might be more after shock, I continued north to Hakodate where I had already booked hotel rooms and a flight to fly to Osaka.

Shinkansen was normal next morning but it was supposed to rain. It's okay because I was staying near the JR station. When I arrived at Hakodate, it was sunny! I had a nice seafood lunch then head out to my last and only cherry blossom destination in Hakodate — Goryokaku. 

The park was surprisingly quiet. The ground felt a bit wet so there must be some rain before. I got lucky again! Goryokaku was built as a government office that served as a central area for negotiating trade deals with the US, Britain and Russia. With reference to fortified cities of Europe, Professor Ayasaburo Takeda designed a fort that could protect the government buildings from guns and cannons battles. Construction of Goryokaku began in 1857. It took 7 years to build, completed in 1864. Then the civil war broke out a couple of years later. All buildings were demolished during Meiji Restoration.

In 1914, Goryokaku was repurposed to become a park and open to public. The Hakodate Magistrate’s Office was restored. In 1952, it is designated as a National Special Historic Site in Japan. Today, Goryokaku is a main attraction in Hakodate. The 1.8km walking path surrounding the outer moat is perfect for a nice walk or jog. In spring, the park is blanketed by more than 1,500 cherry trees! It's beautiful every where. 

Next day, I visited the park again and there were a lot more people. The queue to go up to the observation deck of Goryokaku Tower took 45 minutes. But it's worth it. The 360 degree walk around the tower offers a breathtaking view of the star-shaped park from above. Most people crowded up at the corner from which you can take photos of the entire park. If you find it too crowded and needed to move, go downstairs on your way out. There is a second and better chance of taking nice photos on your way out.

Goryokaku Park
Address: 44-2 Goryokakucho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0001, Japan
Phone no.: +81 138-31-5505 
Opening hours inside the park: April to October 05:00-19:00, November to March 05:00-18:00. 

Hakodate Magistrate’s Office 
Opening hours: April to October 09:00~18:00, November to March 09:00~17:00
Fees: Adult ¥500, Children/Students ¥250

Goryokaku Tower 
Address: 43-9 Goryokaku-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0001
Official website: www.goryokaku-tower.co.jp

Access
By car: There's no parking facility at Goryokaku Tower. There are some parking in the nearby area. 
By bus: The bus from Hakodate station goes to the entrance of Goryokake takes about 20 minutes. If you get off at Goryokake stop, you will have to walk 5 minutes to Goryotaku Tower which is near the park entrance. If you get off the next stop, the bus stops right in front of the park! It is also the stop to go back to Hakodate Station.
By tram: Take Route 2 or 5 from Hakodate Ekimae which is a few minutes walk from Hakodate Station, get off at Goryokaku-Koen-Mae station, and walk 10 minutes,