Japan’s first Western-style fort. It was designed by rangaku (Western Learning) scholar Ayasaburo Takeda, and built by the Shogunate as a security fortress for the north of Japan. Building commenced in 1857 and took seven years. As there are five bastions forming a star shape, it was named Goryokaku, which means “Five-Bastion Castle”. There was once a magistrate’s office, but all that remains now is an arsenal and a well.