Sapporo Clock Tower 札幌市時計台
|
|
|
The famous Clock Tower or Tokeidai is overshadowed by much bigger and modern buildings in central Sapporo. A short walk from Sapporo Station and Odori Park.
|
|
The Clock Tower was built in 1878 as part of the Sapporo Agricultural College established largely by three Americans from Massachusetts: Dr. Willian S. Clark, William Wheeler, and David P. Penhallow.
|
|
The Clock Tower was used as a drill hall and ceremony hall. After the college moved, the building was used by local citizens for cultural purposes such as a library and lecture hall.
|
|
The construction of the tower and installation of the clock was completed in 1881. The clock was made by Howard Clock Co. of Boston, MA. It is still in the Clock Tower, sounding its original chime.
|
|
Front entrance of the Clock Tower.
|
|
The Sapporo Clock Tower is an Important Cultural Property.
|
|
The clock inside the tower is Japan's oldest. The gears and other main parts are also still the original ones. Thanks to excellent care and maintenance, the clock has come this far.
|
|
|
|
|
Inside the Sapporo Clock Tower. The first floor has various display panels and exhibits.
|
|
The exhibits explain about the history of Hokkaido's early settlement and development.
|
|
Scale model of what the Sapporo Agricultural College looked like. Notice the Clock Tower. In those days, Sapporo's population was only 2,600.
|
|
Records of songs which mention the Clock Tower.
|
|
|
Panel showing foreign instructors who taught at Sapporo Agricultural College.
|
|
Second floor of the Clock Tower. Mostly pews for a lecture hall.
|
|
A working clock
|
|
On New Year's Eve, a crowd gathers to hear the Clock Tower ring in the New Year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
