We hope third time lucky as I have lost this post twice. I am going to split this day into 3 different posts as the internet as mentioned previously is suspect and keeps dropping.
Goryokaku Park Area:
We walked to Goryokaku Park following the tram line. The Fort Goryokaku's unique star shaped citadel has its origin in the 16th century Europe. A number of these citadel cites that were completely surrounded by forts were built during this war torn era. With the progress in guns and canons, these pentagon, star shapped structures that reduce blind spots during gun battles were erected to protect the local population from the colonising hordes.
In 1854, the Tokugawa shogunate ended the period of isolation that had lasted about 200 years by signing a treaty of peace and amnesty with the USA. Commadore Perry who came with his fleet of American battleships to inspect Hokodate following its designation as an open port was welcomed.
The conflict on whether to open Japan or keep it isolated, escalated into a campaign which eventually led to the outbreak of the Boshon War in 1868.
Deserters from the former shogonates army, unhappy with the decisions, took over the Fort for one year in 1868 eventually defeated by the ruling Meiji Government Army in 1869.
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