Sapporo Clock Tower

Overview

The Sapporo Clock Tower (Tokeidai) is a wooden structure built in 1878 as a drill hall for Sapporo Agricultural College, now Hokkaido University. It is one of the few remaining Western-style buildings from the Meiji era in Sapporo and houses a museum on the city's pioneering history. The Howard clock mechanism, installed in 1881, still rings every hour.

Highlights

• Historic Howard Clock: One of the oldest operating American-made tower clocks in the world, running continuously since 1881.
• Meiji-era Architecture: A rare surviving example of early American-influenced wooden architecture in Hokkaido.
• Second-floor Exhibition Hall: The original drill hall space with period photographs and exhibits on Sapporo's founding.

History

Designed by William Wheeler and built under the direction of William S. Clark, the building originally served as the military drill hall of Sapporo Agricultural College. The clock was added in 1881 and the building was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan. It has been restored multiple times, most recently in 2018.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: Visit at the top of the hour to hear the clock chime — best appreciated from outside.
• Tip 2: Many visitors note the building seems small against the surrounding modern towers; the interior museum is worth the ¥200 entry.
• Duration: 20–40 minutes.