Shinkorō, Clock tower in Izushi, Japan
Shinkorō is a wooden clock tower built atop the former Sannomaru Gate, with a working mechanical clock mechanism and traditional drums inside. The structure has a simple wooden design that stands out in the historic Izushi district.
Built in 1871, the tower received its first clock in 1881 through a gift from physician Ikeda Chūjō. The timekeeping mechanism has undergone three replacements over the years while the wooden structure remained intact.
The tower remains an active part of daily life here, announcing the time twice each day with drum sounds that echo across the neighborhood and serve as a familiar rhythm for residents.
The tower is a short walk from the Izushi-eigyosho bus stop, taking about five minutes on foot, or accessible by car via National Route 312. The surrounding streets in the historic district offer good views of the structure from different angles.
This structure ranks among Japan's oldest wooden clock towers and shares that distinction with a similar tower in Sapporo on Hokkaido Island. Few examples of such early wooden timekeeping towers survive to the present day.
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