Goryōkaku

Goryōkaku (五稜郭, goryōkaku ) is a fortress located in the town of Hakodate at the Japan. It was the principal fortress of the République independent of Ezo.

Built by the shogunat of the Tokugawa of 1857 with 1866, this fortress was located at the center of the port of Hakodate. Built on the plan of a star with five branches, this fortress made it possible to reduce the number of fragile points that a gun could aim. The fortress was drawn by Ayasaburō Takeda, which took as a starting point the French architect Vauban.

Goryōkaku is the famous site of the last battle of the Guerre of Boshin. The troops of the shogun consisted of 2.000 soldiers had sheltered there before going vis-a-vis the Japanese imperial forces after a one week battle. The fortress then was strongly damaged.

Today, Goryōkaku is a park and was classified historic site. The museum of the town of Hakodate is located there. Moreover, the park is a place appreciated for the Hanami .

See too

Benten Daiba : another fortress of the republic independent of Ezo

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