Editor Pick
Sapporo Clock Tower ( Tokei Tai)
- February 17, 2006
- Rated 4 of 5 by
ariesgirl from Hong Kong, United Kingdom
The original clock tower was a school built in 1878, by pioneer Christian teachers, for the first classes of Japanese Christian students. The mechanical clock was made in the USA, by the Howard Company. Carefully moved to current location, it was renewed and strengthened with the new building by adding anti-earthquake sandwich layers.
The original site was very much nearby, too.
As an Important Cultural Property, it become a museum (plus shop). It is nostalgic, and made me admire the early pioneers in Hokkaido. The clock still functions, you can listen to the clock. There is a small admission fee.
This is near other attractions like the TV Tower and Nijou Crab Market. You can also reach it by hopping on the tourist bus. It is in a busy commercial area, surrounded by commercial buildings.
It has special platform on the side for tourists/visitors to take the I-have-been-there photos, so that you can frame the tower and yourself well. It is a nice reminder of good Japanese-USA relations, and a nice example of good respect to history.
From journal Hokkaido, Sapporo, Otaru, Noboribetsu, Jouzantei