The star-shaped fort, Goryokaku

Shaped like a star, the Goryokaku fort is a unique appearance among the Japanese historical military fortifications. Built 160 years ago by the Tokugawa shogunate, its Western-style design was conceived by Takeda Ayasaburō, inspired by the French military engineer Vauban.

Goryokaku was originally planned to protect the Tsugaru Strait against the Russian fleet, but remained in history because of the Boshin civil war, when it was the place of the last battle between the former Tokugawa retainers and the Imperial Army.

After the war, the fort was completely demolished and today is just a park, but it still retains its original, five-pointed star shape...