Celebrating for cherry blossoms after long cold winter is the seasonal prize in Japan. Hirosaki is one of best places because the historical Hirosaki Castle stands behind over thousands of cherry blossoms.
Summary
Celebrating for cherry blossoms after long cold winter is the seasonal prize in Japan. Hirosaki is one of best places because the historical Hirosaki Castle stands behind over thousands of cherry blossoms.
Celebrating for cherry blossoms after long cold winter is the seasonal prize in Japan. Hirosaki is one of best places because the historical Hirosaki Castle stands behind over thousands of cherry blossoms. Various kinds of cherry trees are there, and Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival is also held for two weeks from the end of April. Cherry trees are spotlighted, so people enjoy cherry blossoms both in the daytime and at night. There are over 200 festival stalls, and some of them sell Japanese traditional festival foods and regional foods as well.
Sakura, Cherry trees, are more than Plants to Japanese
Sakura Zensen, The cherry blossom front, starts in March from Kyushu, the southern part of Japan and it lasts until the front reaches Hokkaido at the beginning of May. Hirosaki Park is the last major spot of Japanʼs main island to enjoy cherry blossoms. There are about 2,600 cherry trees, and these are well cared by Sakura-Mori, literally means guardians of cherry trees. Over 50 various kinds of cherry trees such as the Somei Yoshino, the Shidare Zakura (Weeping Cherry) and the Yaezakura (Double Layer cherry) have different timings of blooming so the park is visitors enjoy to see this pink-colored park for three weeks.
The best season to visit Hirosaki Park is usually between the end of April and the beginning of May. What is good for Japanese people and sorry for foreign travelers (unless you prefer crowded places) is it is the same as Japanʼs longest holiday season called Golden Week. During this time, Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival is held in the park and becomes the busiest place. Although you will see wonderful cherry blossoms and crowded people, the view is breathtaking and the festival mood is even fun to watch. This flower-viewing picnic is called Ohanami as their traditional custom, which has lasted over centuries.
The best season to visit Hirosaki Park is usually between the end of April and the beginning of May. What is good for Japanese people and sorry for foreign travelers (unless you prefer crowded places) is it is the same as Japanʼs longest holiday season called Golden Week. During this time, Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival is held in the park and becomes the busiest place. Although you will see wonderful cherry blossoms and crowded people, the view is breathtaking and the festival mood is even fun to watch. This flower-viewing picnic is called Ohanami as their traditional custom, which has lasted over centuries.
The History of Hirosaki City and Its Castle
弘前城本丸と桜
via www.photo-ac.com
Besides Cherry Blossoms, what kind of place Hirosaki is? It is located in Aomori Prefecture that is the most northern prefecture on the Japanʼs main island. Although the capital of Aomori Prefecture is not Hirosaki but Aomori City, these two cities have had important roles for locals. That is why Hirosaki Castle was built in Hirosaki Park and have been flourished as the castle town since the 16th century.
The castle was built during the Edo Period that Japan was finally federated by one powerful samurai family after over 300 years of fighting, so the peaceful atmosphere spread in the whole nation and the Japanese culture is dramatically flourished like Kabuki and Ukiyo-e. The castle was never damaged except the natural disaster of lightning once so you can still feel some essence of the ancient time of Japan. Hirosaki Castle is the three-story-building, and its appearance is simple; the pearl-white wall and the deep-green kawara roof. Inside is now open
as the museum and exhibits the history of Hirosaki.
The castle was built during the Edo Period that Japan was finally federated by one powerful samurai family after over 300 years of fighting, so the peaceful atmosphere spread in the whole nation and the Japanese culture is dramatically flourished like Kabuki and Ukiyo-e. The castle was never damaged except the natural disaster of lightning once so you can still feel some essence of the ancient time of Japan. Hirosaki Castle is the three-story-building, and its appearance is simple; the pearl-white wall and the deep-green kawara roof. Inside is now open
as the museum and exhibits the history of Hirosaki.
Many Fun Things to Do during the Festival
川に浮かぶ桜の花びら
via www.photo-ac.com
During the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival, visitors enjoy taking a walk in the park as looking cherry blossoms. The area is enough size to look around for two hours. The entrance fee costs how many areas you go, and the combination ticket is also available. Moats surround the castle for protection in the old days, but nowadays it becomes a fun place for boats riding. Especially cherry trees are standing aside of moats, and pink blossoms are falling in the water as if they cover the entire of moats. As you rowing a boat, the pink carpet gently moves, and it is the elegant view.
Many events are also held during the festival. Food stalls are open for all day, and it is a good chance to eat cheap Japanese eats like Takoyaki, octopus balls. You can also find Aomoriʼs regional foods such as Shoga-Miso-Oden (the stew with miso and ginger flavored) and Kuro-Konnyaku (made from an edible corm and has very rubbery texture). 2018 is the 100-year anniversary of Hirosaki Cherry Blossoms Trees, so even fireworks were launched.
In the daytime, Hirosaki Park is delightful, but this is just one aspect. After the sunset, cherry blossoms are illuminated until 11pm and become the totally different mood from the daytime. Pink trees are shining, and the water of moats reflects them. The view is fabulous and fantastic, so it is definitely worth to come twice. Japan is blessed to have four seasons, and the spring is their most favorite season. You will soon understand once the pink blossom world surrounds you while birds are delightedly humming so why donʼt you try and feel it?
Many events are also held during the festival. Food stalls are open for all day, and it is a good chance to eat cheap Japanese eats like Takoyaki, octopus balls. You can also find Aomoriʼs regional foods such as Shoga-Miso-Oden (the stew with miso and ginger flavored) and Kuro-Konnyaku (made from an edible corm and has very rubbery texture). 2018 is the 100-year anniversary of Hirosaki Cherry Blossoms Trees, so even fireworks were launched.
In the daytime, Hirosaki Park is delightful, but this is just one aspect. After the sunset, cherry blossoms are illuminated until 11pm and become the totally different mood from the daytime. Pink trees are shining, and the water of moats reflects them. The view is fabulous and fantastic, so it is definitely worth to come twice. Japan is blessed to have four seasons, and the spring is their most favorite season. You will soon understand once the pink blossom world surrounds you while birds are delightedly humming so why donʼt you try and feel it?
Information
Take the plane from Haneda Airport in Tokyo to Aomori Airport (75min). Then take the bus from Aomori Airport to Hirosaki Bus Terminal (55min). Otherwise take the bullet train from Tokyo Station to Shin-Aomori Station (3hr20min). Then take another train (Tsugaru) from Shin-Aomori Station to Hirosaki Station. It is about 20-minute-walk to Hirosaki Park either from the bus terminal or the train station. There is a bus running every 10 minutes between Hirosaki Station and Hirosaki Park.
Some places in Hirosaki Park requires admission fee. Honmaru-kita-no-kura costs ¥310 for adult and ¥100 for children. Hirosaki Castle Botanical Garden cost ¥310 for adult and ¥100 for children. The ticket for both places is ¥510 for adult and ¥160 for children. The opening hour of each place is Honmaru-kita-no-kuruwa is 7am through 9pm and Hirosaki Castle Botanical Garden is 9am through 6pm. Tickets are available until 5:30pm.
Address: 1 Shimoshirogane-cho, Hirosaki-shi, Aomori 036-8356
Tel：General Incorporated Foundation Hirosaki City Midori Association
+81–172-33-8733
Some places in Hirosaki Park requires admission fee. Honmaru-kita-no-kura costs ¥310 for adult and ¥100 for children. Hirosaki Castle Botanical Garden cost ¥310 for adult and ¥100 for children. The ticket for both places is ¥510 for adult and ¥160 for children. The opening hour of each place is Honmaru-kita-no-kuruwa is 7am through 9pm and Hirosaki Castle Botanical Garden is 9am through 6pm. Tickets are available until 5:30pm.
Address: 1 Shimoshirogane-cho, Hirosaki-shi, Aomori 036-8356
Tel：General Incorporated Foundation Hirosaki City Midori Association
+81–172-33-8733
