Sapporo Clock Tower (Part II)

No Clock at First

Initially, the completed training hall had a small bell tower instead of a clock tower. In 1879, a tower clock was imported from New York for the training hall. However, it was too large for the small bell tower, so a large-scale construction effort was needed to install the new clock tower. In 1881, the clock tower began informing citizens of the standard time with its clear bell sounds, after being adjusted through astronomical observations.

Central Facility for Citizens

In 1906, Sapporo District purchased the clock tower and moved it about 100 meters south for road development. Since then, the clock tower has served as a central facility for the citizens' educational and cultural activities, functioning as a library and public hall for reading and study, and hosting lectures on literature, political economy, and academics.

Symbol of Sapporo

The Sapporo Citizens' Charter, nacted in November 1963, states, "We are the citizens of Sapporo, the city where the clock tower tolls." The clock tower has been cherished as a symbol of Sapporo and as a representation of the citizens' hometown pride.

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