The Sapporo Clock Tower (札幌時計台, Sapporo Tokeidai) is one of Hokkaido’s most iconic landmarks, embodying both the history of Sapporo and its role in Japan’s modernization. The Sapporo Clock Tower was originally built as part of the Sapporo Agricultural College (Sapporo Nōgakkō), which was established in 1876 as one of Japan’s first institutions of higher education focusing on agriculture. The college was instrumental in the development of Hokkaido under the government’s policy of modernizing Japan and expanding into the northern territories.

The Clock Tower was designed by William Smith Clark, the founding president of the college, and the clock tower reflects Western-style architecture of the period.

It was constructed primarily out of wood and features American colonial influences, which were rare in Japan at the time. It is a two-story structure. Visitors can walk through the 1st floor museum. Here various photographs and written explanations (written in Japanese and English) of various famous influential people of Sapporo will be on display. Likewise, visitors can look through the exhibitions of numerous documents, photographs, historical artifacts of the Clock Tower and Sapporo, models and videos of The Clock Tower’s early history. On the 2nd floor, see “in-depth” displays and explanations of the “inner workings” of the clock on the tower. (Note: The clock mechanism was imported from E. Howard & Co. in Boston, Massachusetts, making it one of the first tower clocks in Japan).

Fast-forwarding to the modern era, in 1970, the Sapporo Clock Tower was officially designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan. This recognition underscored its role as a symbol of the Meiji-era modernization and the American-Japanese cultural exchange. Today, the Sapporo Clock Tower houses a museum detailing the history of the building, the Sapporo Agricultural College, and the development of Hokkaido. It also serves as a beloved tourist attraction and a popular site for photographs. The Clock Tower continues to serve as a cherished historical landmark, celebrated for its resilience and historical significance in shaping Sapporo and Hokkaido.

Want to visit and experience The Sapporo Clock Tower for yourself?

Operating all-year-round, SNOW MONKEY RESORTS offers a 1-Day Walking Tour of Central Sapporo that includes The Sapporo Clock Tower.  Hokkaido Tours are led by a locally based English speaking tour guide who will escort you to The Sapporo Clock Tower as well as other “must see” sights in close proximity to The Clock Tower. Our Hokkaido tours are fun, interactive, and family-friendly. For more information, or to book a tour, click on the banner or button below.

1 Day Tour

1-Day Walking Tour in Sapporo: Historical Sights of Sapporo
Period	All Year Round
Time	09:00-17:00
Meeting Place	JR Sapporo Station
Adult Rate	¥17,800
Child Rate	¥11,000

Got a question about visiting Sapporo? Click the ‘INQUIRY’ button below to contact us and let’s get planning together!