Hirosaki Park is one of Japan's best cherry blossom spots, located in Hirosaki City in Aomori Prefecture Japan, and over 2 million people visit this park for the cherry blossom season every year.
Hirosaki Park is the place used to be Hirosaki Castle built in Edo period, and Tenshu (castle tower), Yagura (watchtower) and the castle moat are still in existence. The views of these historical architectures and cherry blossoms are very beautiful.
Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival
Hirosaki Park is almost as large as Tokyo Disney Land, and there’re 2,600 cherry trees in this park, you can enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms viewing, wherever you are in this park. This is a good place to stroll and have a picnic under these cherry trees.
Hirosaki Cherry Blossoms Festival is held in the park every year, this year the festival will be held from April 20 to May 6. The festival has many attractions like food stands, boat rental and boat tour around the castle moat.
*Tenshu (castle tower), 14 meters high and 400 tons weight, has been moved 70 meters to repair construction of stone base of Tenshu since 2015. This is the first time in the last 100 years. There's a wonderful view of Mt.Iwaki and Tenshu after Tenshu moved. Tenshu will be moved back to its original position around 2021.
Sakura-Mori
There're people called "Sakura-Mori" in Hirosaki Park, who take care of the cherry trees in the park throughout the year so that they can bloom beautifully in spring and live longer. Sakura-Mori manage the trees by using the way apple trees grown in Hirosaki City. (Hirosaki City is famous for apple producing) This is called "Hirosaki Style Management", and Hirosaki Park is only place that grows the cherry trees with this unique way in Japan.
So there're many Somei-Yoshino of variety cherry trees than 60 years, although Somei-Yoshino on average have a lifespan of 50-60 years. Some of them in the park are more than 100 years and still bloom beautiful flowers.
Additionally, there're a large number of cherry flowers on each Somei-Yoshino tree, so they look more gorgeous than average Somei-Yoshino.
Hana-Ikada/Pink Petals Carpet
After fully bloomed,
the surface of the castle moat is covered with the fallen petals, jsut like a pink carpet. It is called "Hana-Ikada" means "flower raft", because many petals flowing on water surface look like a raft floating down a river. It's picturesque views.
The best time to see Hana-Ikada is several days from end of April to early May.
Night Illumination
In Hirosaki park you can enjoy "Yo-Zakura" means cherry blossoms viewing at night. The view of cherry blossoms at night is completely different from daytime. During the festival the cherry trees in the park are lit up with spotlights, it is fantastic and very beautiful.
According to the cherry blossom forecast in 2019, they’re supposed to start to bloom on April 21 and reach full bloom on April 27.
Please feel free to contact us, if you are interested in going on a trip to Hirosaki park and Hirosaki City.
Hirosaki Park Access / Transportation
Air Tokyo(Haneda) Airport --- 1h 15min--- Aomori Airport
Osaka(Itami) Airport --- 2 hours --- Aomori Airport
Sappro(Chitose) Airport --- 55 min --- Aomori Airport
*Aomori Airpot --- Bus 55 min --- Hirosaki Station
Shinkansen Tokyo Station --- 3h 20min --- Shin Aomori Station ---
--- Limited Express 30 min --- Hirosaki Station
Hirosaki Station -- Hirosaki Park
It takes 30 minutes from Hirosaki Station to Hirosaki Park by walk,
or 15 minutes by bus.
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