Centennial Memorial Tower, Memorial tower in Nopporo Shinrin Kouen Prefectural Natural Park, Japan.
The Centennial Memorial Tower is a one-hundred-meter-tall structure in Nopporo Shinrin Kouen Prefectural Natural Park, Japan. Its observation deck sits roughly 23.5 meters (77 feet) above ground and offers views over the forested grounds and surrounding hills.
The tower opened in April 1971 to mark the centenary of organized development in Hokkaido. Demolition began in May 2024 after more than five decades as a regional landmark.
The name refers to a century of organized settlement on Japan's northernmost main island, reflected in its exact height of one hundred meters. Visitors can step onto the observation platform and look out over the forested surroundings, showing how nature and human presence have intertwined over generations.
You can reach the tower via Shinrin-Kōen Station or by bus from Shin-Sapporo Station. The surrounding area is forested, and paths lead through the parkland toward the entrance.
The parkland surrounding the tower shelters over five hundred plant species and roughly one hundred forty kinds of birds. This biodiversity makes the forest an important habitat despite its proximity to urban areas and human activity.
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