Sapporo Clock Tower 札幌市時計台

A favorite attraction in Sapporo, the Sapporo Clock Tower has a museum and gallery on the ground floor dedicated to its own history and the accomplishments of graduates and teachers of Sapporo Agricultural College.

Its clock, installed in 1881, was commissioned and purchased from the E. Howard Watch & Clock Company of Boston, and is a weight-driven mechanism.

The tower is a 10-minute walk from the south exit of Sapporo Station . It's only five minutes away from Odori Park .

An unusual aspect of the tower's clock is that it is powered solely by the force of gravity. Two weights hung at the bottom of the clock wind the gears and keep the clock ticking. These weights are wooden boxes filled with small stones, a 50-kilo one for clock ticking and a 150-kilo one for ringing a bell. Before the weight reaches the bottom, which takes about four days, it is wound back up by a crank handle.

The tower was originally intended to be used as a drill hall for the Sapporo Agricultural School. It later became a military training facility during World War II, and a library after that.

The tower now houses a small museum and gallery, while the second floor is used mainly as a presentation and event space.

The latest information may differ, so please check the official website