Hirosaki is known for its samurai district dating back to the Heian period, Hirosaki Castle, 2,600 cherry blossoms and abundant apple orchards.
Hirosaki (弘前市, Hirosaki-shi) is an old castle town
where many temples and shrines were built to spiritually
protect the area from an invasion coming from the north.
The town is located 35 kilometers southwest of Aomori
city. Hirosaki was the economic, political and cultural
center in of the Tsugaru region until it was moved to
Aomori city. Long ago it was part of the domain ruled by
the Northern Fujiwara clan also known as Oshu Fujiwara
during the Heian period. When Minamoto Yoritomo
defeated the Taira, the power was transferred to the
Nanbu Clan in the early Kamakura period. In 1571,
during the Sengoku period, one of the retainers of the
Nanbu clan, Oura Tamenobu, led a rebellion against the
Nanbu and seized castles in the Tsugaru plains. Hirosaki
is the place with the largest production of apples in
Japan. The apple horticulture was first introduced in
1877. Today the town produces over 160,000 tons of
apples per year with over 3.12 million trees and more
than 6,000 orchards. The Hirosaki Apple Park is a place
to learn about the fruit and its history with the city as well
as see over 1,000 apple trees with more than 60
varieties. For the apple lovers there is the Hirosaki Apple
Blossom Festival in May that features the fruit as well as
performances by the Ringo Musume (Apple Girls).
Speaking of festivals, Hirosaki has four big festivals, one
for every season. The Cherry Blossom Festival in spring
first started in 1918 and has 2,600 sakura trees with 50
varieties blooming. In the summer there is the Neputa
Festival, which is similar to the Nebuta Festival in
Aomori. It has beautiful illuminated floats, many of which
are shaped like a gingko leaf or fan. In the autumn is the
Chrysanthemum and Maple Leaf Festival where there
are large objects like dolls and pagodas draped in
chrysanthemums with maple leaves adorning the
background. Then in the winter is the Hirosaki Castle
Snow Lantern Festival. During this time 150 large and
small Japanese lanterns are made with artwork of
famous historical, mythical or popular figures. In Hirosaki
park 300 mini igloos are made and illuminated with
candles. A great thing about Hirosaki is their use of old
buildings. The city chooses to not demolish old unused
buildings, but work on renovating them for modern use.
Like the Ishibaki house in the Kamenokomachi district,
which was built over 250 years ago, is now being used as
a liquor store. There are companies dedicated to keeping
the amazing architecture of days past, but modifying
them for practical use.
Tohoku | Aomori | Hirosaki
Hirosaki Castle
Hirosaki Castle is one of the twelve original castles in Japan and is a place famous for its botanical gardens as well as the cherry blossom trees.
Tohoku | Aomori | Hirosaki
Hirosaki Samurai District
The Hirosaki Samurai District consists of four samurai houses that served the Tsugaru Clan long ago during the Edo period.
Tohoku | Aomori | Hirosaki
Hirosaki Castle Yuki-Doro Festival
Hirosaki Castle Yuki-Doro Festival is one of five major snow festivals of Tohoku region since 1977.
Tohoku | Aomori | Hirosaki
Neputa Mura
The Neputa Mura is a museum dedicated to Hirosaki’s famous Neputa Matsuri as well as introduce the city’s culture.
Tohoku | Aomori | Hirosaki
Fujita Memorial Garden
Fujita Memorial Park is a Japanese style garden that opened in 1991 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Hirosaki becoming a city.