Sapporo Clock Tower is one of the most famous tourist spots in Sapporo.

However it is often listed as one of “The Three Most Disappointing Tourist Attractions in Japan.” It’s true that locals hardly ever go there. So why don’t people from Sapporo bother visiting the Clock Tower? Let me explain.

First of all, the building is smaller than I expected. At first glance, you think, “Is this really a tower?” It’s only a two-story wooden building, and it stands out awkwardly among the skyscrapers. Next, the Clock Tower sits along a noisy, busy road, so it’s hard to get that special tourist spot feeling.  Another thing ― it’s pretty tough to get a good shot of the building without people or skyscrapers sneaking into the frame. It’s surrounded by tall buildings and always full of tourists, and the space is so limited that getting a photo of just the Clock Tower is almost impossible.

And finally, if you’re not into architecture, five minutes is probably all you need.

If you’ve got time to kill and want to see what all the “meh” is about, go take a look.