Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival
Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival is held in Hirosaki Castle Park from the end of April until early April and has over 2,600 cherry trees in bloom.
Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival 弘前城
Marshall Hughes
Hirosaki cherry blossom festival
The Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture is one of Japan's greatest opportunities to witness the country's iconic flowers.
The festival is held in Hirosaki Park around Hirosaki Castle, home to 2,600 trees among its 25 (or 50, depending on who is counting) species of cherry trees.
The cherry trees currently around the castle were planted in 1903, although trees were first planted around the castle some 300 years ago.
The festival is held from late April to early May, giving expats and visitors an opportunity to visit during their Golden Week holidays.
The blossoms come out much later in Aomori than in most of Japan due to its far northern location. In 2019, late April was the best time to visit.
Locals enjoying hanami during the Hirosaki cherry blossom festival
Hirosaki Flowers
Locals claim that Aomori flowers are the most beautiful in Japan because of the way they are pruned, using the same techniques that local apple farmers prune their apples.
Don't miss the nightly illumination of the cherry trees, which occurs sometime after sunset (times vary) to 11 pm.
During the cherry festival, there are several locations where you can rent bicycles. They are open 9 am - 4 pm and cost 500 yen.
Also during the festival, there are several places to rent boats to float around the moats. These cost 1,000 yen for one hour and have a maximum of three people per boat.
The Hirosaki City Museum is also located within the park.
Hirosaki Castle in its temporary location
Hirosaki Castle
Another park attraction is Hirosaki Castle. The castle was first erected in 1611, but just 16 years later, in 1627, the castle was struck by lightning and mostly destroyed.
It was rebuilt in 1810, and now measures in at three stories instead of the original five stories.
Hirosaki Castle is now one of only twelve original Japanese castles still standing.
Within the keep is the Hirosaki Castle Museum with displays of samurai swords, suits of armor, historical documents, roof tiles and other historical items from Edo Period Japan.
There is a small entrance fee to see the inside of the castle and the museum.
Hirosaki Castle has been moved about 50 meters from its permanent site in order to renovate its stone wall. It will be back to its original position in 2021.
Hirosaki Castle and Gejobashi Bridge with full cherry blossom
Moat around the park filled with fallen petals
Botanical Garden
You can find a botanical garden in the park, open from 9 am to 6 pm. Tickets can be purchased until 5.30 pm.
A few minute walk from the Kitamon (North Gate) is the Nakacho Historical House Preservation Area, where several residences of samurai who once guarded the gates of Hirosaki Castle stand.
Viewing hours for the homes, all within walking distance of each other, are 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is free.
The homes are closed on various days depending on each specific home, but all are closed August 13, and from December 29 to January 3.
If you cannot make the cherry blossom festival, there is a one-weekend Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival in early February, with the castle being illuminated from 4.30 pm to 9.30 pm nightly. There are said to be about 150 snow statues on display.
While in Hirosaki you will discover many things in apple flavors, and Hirosaki is appropriately called the apple capital of Japan. There are apple cookies, apple curry rice, apple sorbet and apple ice cream, with apple pie being available in about all the restaurants. There is even apple beer, which tastes like non-apple beer.
A peacock in the Botanical Garden
Hirosaki Park Access
Take the 100-yen Loop Bus from JR Hirosaki Station and alight at the Shiyakusho-mae stop or Hirosaki Cultural Center. Alternatively, take a local bus heading for Fujishiro Service Office.
There is a bus from Aomori Airport to Hirosaki Station that takes 55 minutes and costs 1,000 yen.
From here catch the 100 yen loop bus to the park. Get off at the Hirosaki Cultural Center or Shiyakusho-mae.
For the more energetic, it is a 30-minute walk from the station to the park.
Costs: The entrance to the castle keep and museum and Kita-no-Kuruwa costs 310 yen (children 100 yen). The Botanical Garden is 310 yen (children 100 yen). A combination ticket for both plus the Fujita Memorial Garden is 510 yen (children 160 yen). There are also group discounts available.
Hirosaki Castle Park contains a Botanical Garden
