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is a wooden structure and tourist attraction, located at North 1 West 2, Chūō-ku,
As a result, only Sapporo Clock Tower is the oldest clock tower in Japan.
is a wooden structure and tourist attraction, located at North 1 West 2, Chūō-ku, Sapporo
( ain, サッ・ポロ・ペッ, Satporopet, lit=Dry, Great River) is a city in Japan. It is the largest city north of Tokyo and the largest city on Hokkaido, the northernmost main island of the country. It ranks as the fifth most populous city ...
, the largest city on the island of Hokkaidō
is Japan's second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; the two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel.
The la ...
, Japan. As of 2021, this tower is the oldest clock tower in Japan.
The building is of American design and is one of the few surviving Western-style buildings in Sapporo, a city developed in the 1870s with assistance from the American government. It is known by many as the symbol of the city and is a main feature of almost all domestic and international tours of Sapporo. The clock after which it is named continues to run and keep time, and the chimes can be heard every hour.
History
The tower was built in 1878, and is all that remains of the drill hall of the former Sapporo Agricultural College (nowHokkaido University
, or , is a Japanese national university in Sapporo, Hokkaido. It was the fifth Imperial University in Japan, which were established to be the nation's finest institutions of higher education or research. Hokkaido University is considered ...
). The building was one of the earliest to be built in Sapporo, which was chosen as the new administrative center
An administrative center is a seat of regional administration or local government, or a county town, or the place where the central administration of a commune
A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or ...
of Hokkaidō in 1868, the officially recognized year celebrated as the "birth" of the city.
Currently, this is the oldest building standing in Sapporo.
The clock was installed in July 1881 by E. Howard & Co. (headed by a co-founder of what would eventually become the Waltham Watch Company
The Waltham Watch Company, also known as the American Waltham Watch Co. and the American Watch Co., was a company that produced about 40 million watches, clocks, speedometers, compasses, time delay fuses, and other precision instruments in the Un ...
) of Boston, Massachusetts, USA. And, the clock tower was used on 12 August 1881 for the first time in Japan.
In 1970, Sapporo Clock Tower was designated an Important Cultural Property, and certified as Mechanical Engineering Heritage of Japan in 2009.
Shinkorō ( Ja''辰鼓楼'') located Toyooka, Hyogo was installed in 1881 as a clock tower, so the tower had been the oldest clock tower of Japan, had been identical with Sapporo Clock Tower. But, Shinkorō was actually commenced using on 8 September 1881. Therefore, the tower is the second oldest clock tower in Japan.
As a result, only Sapporo Clock Tower is the oldest clock tower in Japan.
Sapporo Clock Tower now
The clock tower now houses a museum introducing the history of the Agricultural College and the development of Sapporo. It is open to visitors year round, but is closed on Sundays and over the New Year period. Admission is 200 yen for adults and free for children, with discounts for groups. Viewing and photographing the building is very popular among visitors to Sapporo, and visiting it forms a part of many tours of the city. It is possible for members of the public to rent the large hall upstairs for private functions, which is also occasionally used for concerts.See also
*100 Soundscapes of Japan In 1996, as part of its efforts to combat noise pollution and to protect and promote protection of the environment, the Ministry of the Environment designated the . There were 738 submissions received from all over the country and the 100 "best" we ...
References
External links
* http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5302.html * https://web.archive.org/web/20060902155922/http://www.tokeidai.co.jp/tokeidai/ {{coord, 43.062602, 141.353681, format=dms, display=title, type:landmark_region:JP_scale:10000 Towers completed in 1878 Buildings and structures in Chūō-ku, Sapporo Tourist attractions in Sapporo Clock towers Important Cultural Properties of Japan Wooden buildings and structures in Japan 1878 establishments in Japan