- July 11th, 2017
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[Sapporo Clock Tower in Sapporo] One of 3 Worst Disappointed Tourist Attractions in Japan Makes Many Tourists Smile
CONTENTS
- Sapporo Clock Tower
- Look of Sapporo Clock Tower
- List of Activities
- Buffet
- Sapporo One-Day Bus Tours
- Sightseeing Taxi
- Canoe Tour
- Outdoor Activities
- Horse Trekking and Horseback Riding
- Japanese Kimono Rental and Lolita Fashion
- Ninja Experience, Calligraphy Experience and Tea Ceremony Experience
- Pottery Experience and Craft Experience
- Flower Arrangement
- Airsoft
- Skiing and Cross-country Skiing
- List of Accommodations
Sapporo Clock Tower
Sapporo Clock Tower (札幌市時計台) is a historical building built in 1978 in Chuo ward, Sapporo city, and has been designated as a national important cultural property. It is well-known as a symbol of the Sapporo, and one of the most famous tourist attractions in the Sapporo. The clock tower is next to Sapporo City Hall (札幌市役所), Hokkaido Newspaper Head Office (北海道新聞本社) and Sapporo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (札幌商工会議所), and is also near Odori Park (大通公園) and Sapporo Sosei Square (さっぽろ創世スクエア). The appearance is lit up in the evening. Admission fee is JPY 200. A parking lot is not provided.
Odori Park
Odori Park (大通公園) is in the very center of Sapporo city, and is located between Sapporo Station and Susukino. Offices and commercial facilities are built around the park, and it is just at very center of the big city. But 92 types 4,700 trees such as lilac, Japanese elm and cherry tree are planted, and fountains and flower beds are built, so the park is well-known as a place of relief for Sapporo citizens as well as tourists. The park has been chosen as one of The 100 Best Roads in Japan (日本の道100選), Japanese City Park Best 100 (日本の都市公園100選), The 100 Best Townscapes (都市景観100選) and Japan's Top 100 Historical Parks (日本の歴史公園100選), so it is one of the most famous parks in Japan. Read More
The official name of the clock tower is "Former Drill Hall of Sapporo Agricultural College (旧札幌農学校演武場)". The Sapporo Agricultural College is the current Hokkaido University (北海道大学). The first vice-principal is Dr. Clark (クラーク博士). He is one of the most famous foreigners in Hokkaido, and is well-known for "Boys, be ambitious". By the way, tourists can view the Sapporo Clock Tower from the rooftop of the Sapporo City Hall in the summer season. It is an interesting view. Admission free. In addition, the clock tower can be seen from a terrace on the 2nd Floor of Sapporo MN Building.
The Sapporo Clock Tower is famous for the 3 Worst Disappointed Tourist Attractions in Japan (日本三大がっかり名所) together with Harimaya Bridge (はりまや橋) in Kochi and Oranda-zaka Slope (オランダ坂) in Nagasaki. This is why tourists do not feel magnificent Hokkaido because the building is surrounded by large buildings. Of course, the tourists should control the expectation, so the tourists would not disappoint. For example, you should visit here as if a building designated as a national important cultural property with about 20 m in height were untouched to hold against a land shark in high-rise buildings of Shinjuku (新宿). But a lot of tourists take photos with a smile, so maybe here is an exhilaration spot.
SAPPORO
Sapporo (札幌) that about 1,960,000 people live is the largest city in Hokkaido. Although there are various theories, its origin of the name is "Dry Big River (乾いた大きな川)" in Ainu language. A population of the Sapporo is the 4th largest city after Yokohama, Osaka and Nagoya in japan, and the population accounts for 36 % of Hokkaido's population! So the Sapporo has been flourished as the center of the Hokkaido. The area of the Sapporo is 1,121.26 km2, and is about as big as Hong Kong, and is the 7th largest city in the Hokkaido. The Sapporo is also famous as a tourist city, and about 15 million people come. As for a climate, it is hot that temperature rises to nearly 25 degrees in a summer, but it is easy to live without moisture. I always feel a little cool. It is cold that temperature falls to nearly -10 degrees in a winter, and amount of snowfall sometimes has more than 1 m. Read More
Look of Sapporo Clock Tower
The Sapporo Clock Tower is about 20 m tall 2-story wooden building, and is not large, so it takes about 30 minutes to look around on foot. Reference Room (資料室), Large Exhibition Room (Large Exhibition Room), a shop and a restroom are on the 1st floor, and Sapporo Clock Tower Hall (時計台ホール) is on the 2nd floor.
On the 1st floor, Documents related to the Hokkaido and the Sapporo in those days and models around the sapporo clock tower in the old days are displayed. Graduates of the Former Sapporo Agricultural College such as Mr. Kanzo Uchimura (内村鑑三), Mr. Inazo Nitobe (新渡戸稲造), Takeo Arishima (有島武郎) and Mr. Kingo Miyabe (宮部金吾) are intoroduced, too.
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The Sapporo Clock Tower Hall on the 2nd floor is like a church, and a concert is sometimes held, too. A large clock made by E. Howard Watch & Clock Co. of Boston, Massachusetts in the early 1900's is display, too. I like its atomosphere like an automaton clock. At present, same type of the large clock made in 1881 is set, and is working.
Movie of Concert
Atmosphere of Sapporo Clock Tower Can Be Watched on Youtube
Movie of Sapporo Clock Tower
| Admission fee | Adult: JPY 200. Child: free of charge. |
|---|---|
| Parking lot | Parking lot is not provided |
| Business hours | 08:45-17:10 |
| Regular closing day | New year holidays |
| Telephone number | +81-11-231-0838 |
| Home page | Home page is here |
List of Accommodations
Refer to following websites for the accommodations in the Chuo Ward. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.
A page of Sapporo is here
Sapporo
By the way, Club Tourism (クラブツーリズム), a Japanese tour travel agency, provides various types of tours such as day trip tours or ordinary tours. In the case of bus tours, tourists do not drive their cars themselves, so they can savor alcohol. Choosen tourist attractions are national parks such as Rishiri and Rebun, Shiretoko, and popular tourist places such as Furano and Biei, and some activities such as hiking and fruit picking are also enjoyed depending on seasons. If you are interested in tour trips, you should visit the club tourism's website for details.
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