We introduce the must-visit sightseeing spots in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture. If you’re looking to explore the famous attractions, this guide is perfect for you.
First Stop: Hirosaki Castle! A Look at the Must-See Spots Inside the Castle Grounds
1. Hirosaki Castle (Hirosaki Park / Ōyōen)
When it comes to sightseeing in Hirosaki, Hirosaki Castle is an essential destination. Also known as Hirosaki Park, it spans an impressive 492,000 square meters. Famous across Japan for its cherry blossoms during the Sakura Festival, the park is beautifully maintained, offering visitors a nostalgic journey back to the Edo period. It’s a timeless spot that can be enjoyed in any season.
In addition to the Sakura Festival, Hirosaki Castle hosts several other events: the “Chrysanthemum and Autumn Foliage Festival” in the fall and the “Snow Lantern Festival” in winter. In the summer, the city also holds the Neputa Festival, and since Hirosaki Castle is near the parade route, you can easily visit after enjoying the festivities.
2. Hirosaki Castle Keep (Tenshukaku)
Hirosaki Castle, located within Hirosaki Park, was planned by Tsugaru Tamenobu, the unifier of the Tsugaru region, and completed by his son Tsugaru Nobuhira. It served as the residence of the Tsugaru clan for over 260 years until the abolition of the han system.
Today, the castle keep, along with three turrets and five castle gates, remains well-preserved as an Important Cultural Property. The excellent condition of the ruins led to its designation as a National Historic Site in 1952. During the open season, visitors can climb to the top of the castle keep (for a fee) to enjoy panoramic views of Hirosaki City and Mount Iwaki.
3.Hirosaki Castle Botanical Garden
Established in 1988 within Hirosaki Park, the Hirosaki Castle Botanical Garden covers 7.6 hectares and is divided into 23 zones, featuring 1,500 species and 124,000 plants. Highlights include the Wetland Garden, Rock Garden, and ecosystems representing the Shirakami Mountains.
The most notable features are the “Sanno-maru Garden” and the “Oishi Takegaku-style Garden,” which offer a glimpse into the flow of time from the Edo period to the present day.
- Facility Name: Hirosaki Castle / Hirosaki Park
- Location: 1 Shimoshirogane-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori
- Phone: Hirosaki Castle Museum/Arboretum Hirosaki City Parks and Greening Association: 0172-33-8733
- Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (may vary during festival periods)
- Closed: Open year-round (check for festival variations)
- Official Website: Website, Instagram, livedoor Blog
More Classic Landmarks and Historic Architecture Beyond Hirosaki Castle
4. Fujita Memorial Garden
The Fujita Memorial Garden is a villa built in 1921 by Kenichi Fujita, a prominent figure from Hirosaki City and the third president of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Located right next to the “San-no-maru Otemon” of Hirosaki Castle, it’s a perfect spot to visit after exploring the castle.
The Edo-style garden, which offers a view of Mount Iwaki, features an elegant Western-style building designed by the descendants of Sakichi Horie, a renowned modern architect representing Hirosaki City. The garden offers a blend of Japanese and Western influences, giving visitors a sense of Taisho Roman (romanticism).
Inside the garden, there are two cafes: “Taisho Romance Café” and “Craft & Japanese Café.” As the name suggests, the Taisho Romance Café preserves the atmosphere of the Taisho era. The highlight here is enjoying one of the city’s six varieties of apple pie, especially at the premium window-side seats, where the experience is truly exceptional.
At the “Craft & Japanese Café”, you can enjoy a menu inspired by traditional Japanese themes, and the café also displays and sells Tsugaru region crafts. Occasionally, they collaborate with exhibitions at the Hirosaki City Museum, so make sure to check out the museum as well.
- Facility Name: Fujita Memorial Garden
- Location: 8 Kamishirogane-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori
- Phone:
April-November: 0172-37-5525 (Fujita Memorial Garden, Winter Closure)
December-March: 0172-33-8733 (Hirosaki Castle Museum/Arboretum Hirosaki City Parks and Greening Association) - Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (may vary during festival periods)
- Closed: Varies by season and facility
- Official Website: Website, Hirosaki City Hall Website, Instagram, Facebook
5. Former Hirosaki City Library
The “Old Hirosaki City Library” was built in 1906 by architect Sakichi Horie, a carpenter who worked on a lot of Western-style architecture in Aomori Prefecture in the Meiji era. It’s a three-story wooden Western-style building featuring Renaissance elements with hints of Japanese architectural influences. It’s located near the Otemon of Hirosaki Castle, making it another perfect stop on your sightseeing itinerary.
The building was used as the city’s public library until 1931, and the first floor has been restored to exhibit materials related to its history. The second floor offers a space to explore local publications and a video corner highlighting literary monuments featuring inscriptions of literary works.
- Facility Name: Former Hirosai City Library
- Location: 2-1 Shimoshirogane-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori
- Phone: 0172-82-1642 (Cultural Assets Section, Hirosaki City)
- Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Closed: Year-end and New Year holidays
- Official Website: Website
6. Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art
Originally built as a Sake brewery warehouse the “Yoshino-cho Brick Warehouse”, the “Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art” opened as an art museum in 2020 after renovations.
The museum features permanent exhibitions, special exhibitions, and even a Night Museum event that is quite popular.
The museum also offers a café where you can enjoy food and drinks themed around the exhibits, as well as a cider factory and museum shop, making it a delightful visual experience as well.
- Facility Name: Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art
- Location: 2-1 Yoshino-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori
- Phone: 0172-32-8950
- Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Closed: Tuesdays (or the following day if it’s a holiday), Year-end and New Year holidays
- Official Website: Website, Instagram, X, Facebook
7. Iwakiyama-jinja Shrine
At the foot of Mount Iwaki, also known as the “Tsugaru Fuji,” stands the “Iwaki Mountain Shrine.”
With a history of about 1,200 years, it has been affectionately known by locals as “O-Iwaki-sama” or “O-Iwa.”
As you walk along the sacred path lined with towering cedar trees, you’ll come across important cultural properties and statues of guardian lions standing upside down. Recently, the shrine has become a popular spot for tourists seeking to improve their fortune in love and wealth.
- Facility Name: Iwakiyama-jinja Shrine
- Location: Terasawa-27, Hyakuzawa, Hirosaki, Aomori
- Phone: 0172-83-2135
- Hours: No set hours
- Closed: No set holidays
- Official Website: Aomori Tourist Information Website, Iwakisan Tourism Association Website, Instagram, X, Facebook
Experience Nature and Culture! Classic Leisure Spots
8. Tsugaru-han Neputa Village
For those looking to immerse themselves in the culture of Tsugaru, look no further than Tsugaru-han Neputa Village. This facility is located right next to the North Gate of Hirosaki Castle.
As the name suggests, the village features exhibits of Neputa (traditional festival floats), and the souvenir shop offers a wide range of local Tsugaru products, from sweets to crafts. At the “Umaiya” within the facility, you can also sample regional Tsugaru cuisine.
One of the highlights of Tsugaru-han Neputa Village is the variety of hands-on experiences available, such as playing the Tsugaru shamisen, painting Neputa-style goldfish, and creating Tsugaru lacquerware. If you’re interested, be sure to check out their website for more details.
- Facility Name: Tsugaru-han Neputa Village
- Location: 61 Kikkou-machi, Hirosaki, Aomori
- Phone: 0172-39-1511
- Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Closed: Open year-round
- Official Website: Website, Instagram, X, Facebook
9. Hirosaki Apple Park
Hirosaki Apple Park spans about 9.7 hectares and is home to around 2,300 apple trees, representing about 80 varieties. Strolling through the park itself is a pleasant experience, but there’s so much more to discover.
At the “Ringo no Ie (House of Apples)” inside the park, you’ll find around 1,200 varieties of apple-related products for sale, including seasonal apples and goods themed around Hirosaki’s beloved mascot, Takamaru-kun. You can also sample apple pies from several local shops and compare them. In the café and snack corner, you can enjoy unique menu items such as apple soft-serve ice cream, ikamenchi (a local fried squid dish), and even apple-flavored ramen.
The park’s cider factory, “Kimori,” offers tours and paid tastings. The ciders produced are available for purchase at the House of Apples.
“Mt. Suribachi-yama Observatory” is another attraction: a man-made hill created during the Tsugaru clan era for cannon targets, now offering stunning views of Mount Iwaki and the city of Hirosaki.
For group visits, the park offers free walking tours (reservations required). Additionally, twice a day, you can enjoy Tsugaru Mukashigatari (Tsugaru folk tales) in the local dialect, adding to the cultural experience.
The seasonal events are another highlight. The Apple Harvest Experience (paid) from early August to early November is a must-see event for visitors.
- Facility Name: Hirosaki Apple Park
- Location: Terasawa-125, Shimizutomita, Hirosaki, Aomori
- Phone: 0172-36-7439
- Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Closed: Open year-round
- Official Website: Website, Hirosaki City Hall Website, X
10. Tsugaru Yumeringo Farm
Hirosaki is famous for its apples, and at Tsugaru Yumeringo Farm, you can enjoy the ultimate apple-picking experience.
But the farm doesn’t just offer apples—during the summer, you can also pick cherries, blueberries, and even peaches!
Even better, visitors can participate in making simple desserts using the freshly harvested fruits. While the fruits are delicious on their own, creating homemade jam, apple pie, and tarts from them is an unforgettable experience.
- Facility Name: Tsugaru Yumeringo Farm
- Location: Yamazaki-44-4, Kozawa, Hirosaki, Aomori
- Phone: 0172-87-6089
- Hours: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Closed: Wednesdays, and from mid-November to mid-June
- Official Website: Website
10. Romantopia, A Landscape of Forest and Stars - Observatory “Ginga”
Romantopia is a resort complex nestled within the Tsugaru forests.
This facility includes the hotel “Hoshi no Yado Hakuchoza (The Swan Hotel Hakuchoza),” which features an open-air bath, as well as forest cottages, an indoor pool, a science museum, tennis courts, go-kart tracks, and even a ski resort.
Among its many attractions, the “Ginga” observatory stands out, offering a chance to gaze at a sky full of stars. It’s the only public observatory in the prefecture open to the public, and it’s equipped with one of the largest telescopes in the region. In the peaceful forest setting, you can relax and enjoy the majestic view of the stars.
- Facility Name: Romantopia, A Landscape of Forest and Stars
- Location: Sakurai-113-2, Mizukizaike, Hirosaki, Aomori
- Phone: 0172-84-2288
- Hours: 1:00 PM- 10:00 PM
- Closed: Irregular, closed in winter
- Official Website: Website, Facebook
Summary
In this article, we’ve introduced some of the must-see parks and historic sites in Hirosaki City. Visiting historical buildings and parks will give you a deeper understanding of the city’s history and cultural evolution.
Moreover, by participating in hands-on experiences such as making folk crafts or apple-picking, you can fully immerse yourself in the culture of Hirosaki.
For those looking to enrich their sightseeing in Hirosaki or learn more about the city, be sure to visit the spots we’ve introduced!