Witness the history of the end of the Shogunate at Goryokaku and savor the Lucky Pierrot burger.

The star-shaped Goryokaku fortress is located in Hakodate. Starting in 1603, the Tokugawa Shogunate implemented over 200 years of national isolation, prohibiting trade with the Netherlands and China. However, in 1854, after signing friendly treaties with countries like the US and Britain, Hakodate became an open port and a hub for economic development. While opening up, the Shogunate also took precautions by sending the Hakodate Magistrate to establish a strategic fortress in Hakodate to protect government institutions. Goryokaku was built during this time. Designed by Takeda Hisaburo, who studied European fortresses, it took seven years to complete, incorporating cannons and other weaponry. After the Boshin War, the Tokugawa Shogunate collapsed. A naval commander of the Tokugawa forces led 3,000 men to Goryokaku, intending to develop Hokkaido in exchange for leniency from the Meiji government. However, the Meiji government sought to eliminate all remnants of the Shogunate, leading to the Battle of Hakodate, which marked the end of the Shogunate era. After visiting Goryokaku, you can find Lucky Pierrot nearby, a burger chain hailed as the best in Japan. Established in Hakodate in 1987, it now boasts 17 locations in the city. Founded by Ichiro Wang, a second-generation Chinese immigrant from Kobe, the chain specializes in Chinese-style burgers and has become a Hakodate specialty. 📍Address: 43-9 Goryokakucho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0001, Japan 📍Address: 〒040-0001 北海道函館市五稜郭町３０−14 🚗 Take the city tram to Goryokaku Park-mae and walk for ten minutes.