Private Cherry Blossom Tour in Hirosaki with a Local Guide

This library was built to commemorate victory in the Japanese-Russo War in 1906 and was used as city library until 1931. It is a 3-story wooden mortar building with twin octagonal towers constructed in Renaissance style.

Hirosaki Park is one of Japan's best cherry blossom spots. With its abundance of over 2500 trees, cherry blossom tunnels, petal filled moats, numerous pleasant picnic areas, rental rowing boats, many varieties of cherry trees and illuminations in the evenings, it feels like multiple great cherry blossom spots combined into a single one.

Hirosaki Castle used to be a splendid five-story tower which stood on the southwestern part of the castle’s keep. The tower unfortunately burnt down when it was hit by lightning. The Laws for the Military Houses at that time prohibited the tower from being rebuilt to its original grandeur and the castle tower was eventually rebuilt as the three story tower we see today. The tower is the only castle tower in Tohoku area which was rebuilt in Edo Period and recognized as symbol of the city of Hirosaki.

Tsugaru-han Neputa Mura is a tourist spot where visitors can experience a quasi-Hirosaki Neputa Festival. The fan-shaped Neputa actually used in the festival are exhibited for viewing. Visitors can also try the taiko (Japanese drums) along with the Neputa musicians themselves. Live Tsugaru-shamisen performance are also open for viewing.

A festival is held annually from April 23 to May 5, when the blossoms are usually in bloom. Starting with the Sakura Tunnel (cherry blossom tunnel) on the west moat, the cherry blossoms of Hirosaki Park enchant visitors with a variety of displays throughout the viewing season. Visitors can paddle a small boat to view blossoms reflecting off the moat, come at night to see the trees illuminated, or see the grounds carpeted in falling blossoms.

This is the residence of a merchant family during the late Edo Period. Designated an important cultural property, today the building is used as a brewery. For generations, Ishiba family heads were named Seibei and dealt in sundry goods. It is a valuable building as one of few remaining merchant resident buildings. It has atmosphere distinctive to the snowy north with its long history marked on open hearth and pillars.