Clock Tower Tokei dai
- from JPY 200
Sign up free — See who's going and message them.
Is this your place? Get the badge for your websiteAbout
More photos 9
1 / 9
Why go
- The tower clock, which still runs and chimes every hour.
Opening hours
Today08:45 – 17:00Show all
Know before you go
- Open every day from 08:45 to 17:00.
Tips for your visit
- Go inside: the tower houses a museum on the Agricultural College and the growth of Sapporo.
- Many city tours of Sapporo include the tower, so it is a common stop.
- Viewing and photographing the tower is popular with visitors.
Best time to visit
- The clock chimes every hour, so you can hear it on a visit within opening hours, 08:45 to 17:00.
With kids
- The upper-floor hall is occasionally used for concerts.
Interesting facts6
-
Its Japanese name is 札幌時計台, also called Sapporo Tokeidai.
Sapporo Clock Tower - Wikipedia -
It is the oldest building standing in Sapporo.
Sapporo Clock Tower - Wikipedia -
Its size and design were unprecedented at the time, unlike traditional styles.
Tour de l'horloge de Sapporo - Wikipedia -
A myth says women gave their rings to cast the chime, giving it a gentle sound.
Tour de l'horloge de Sapporo - Wikipedia -
Novels and films feature it; writers Takeo Arishima, Tama Morita and Hakushū Kitahara cite it.
Tour de l'horloge de Sapporo - Wikipedia -
1996
It features in a 1996 list of 100 natural sounds of its country.
Tour de l'horloge de Sapporo - Wikipedia
History
Its design is American, and it is one of the few surviving Western-style buildings in the city. It served briefly as a post office in 1907 and as a library from 1911 to 1918. It was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1970, and a museum was set up in it in 1976.
- 1878Built by William Wheeler as the military drill hall of the Sapporo Agricultural College.
- 1879The Howard Clock Company of Boston delivers the clock.
- 1881The clock is put to use on 12 August, after major works to fit it in.
- 1906The tower is moved about 487 metres south of its original site.
- 1970The tower is designated an Important Cultural Property.
Show all
- 1976A museum on the college and the city's development is set up in the tower.
- 1995–1998Major earthquake-resistance works are carried out.
- 2009The tower is certified as Mechanical Engineering Heritage of Japan.
Sources: Sapporo Clock Tower - Wikipedia · Tour de l'horloge de Sapporo - Wikipedia · checked 26 Oct 2026
- Website
- sapporoshi-tokeidai.jp/
- Phone
- +81 11-231-0838
Questions and answers
What are the opening hours of Clock Tower Tokei dai in Sapporo?
Clock Tower Tokei dai is open every day from 08:45 to 17:00.
Where is Clock Tower Tokei dai?
It stands at Kita 1 Nishi 2 in Chūō-ku, Sapporo. It is one of the few surviving Western-style buildings in the city.
Is there a museum inside the Clock Tower Tokei dai?
Yes. The museum inside shows the history of the Sapporo Agricultural College and the growth of Sapporo.
Does the clock at Clock Tower Tokei dai still chime?
Yes. The clock still runs and chimes every hour.
Is Clock Tower Tokei dai the oldest clock tower in Japan?
Yes, it is the oldest clock tower in Japan as of 2021. It was built in 1878.
- See who's going — faces, not ticket counts.
- Write to someone who shares your interests — no swipes, no matches, no paywall.
- Pick the event or the place to meet at — and go together.