Hirosaki Lantern Festival

Hirosaki Festivals

Misawa ITT

Your Ticket to Japan

35th

Hirosaki Castle Map

Castle Tower

Gate

Scaffold

Bridge

Restroom

Pavilion

Bus Stop

Ishiba Liqur Shop (Preservation District) North Gate

Red Bridge

Cow & Tiger Scaffold

Castle Tower

East Inner Gate East Gate

Sheep & Monkey Scaffold Dragon & Serpent Scaffold

Fujita Memorial Japanese garden

South Gate

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Toll Area

Hirosaki

Hirosaki: Tsugaru’s Castle Town Hirosaki was once the capital of Aomori Prefecture. Although that title has been assigned to Aomori City, many still see Hirosaki as the cultural and historical hub of the prefecture.

It is the only city in the prefecture with a proper university, therefore its citizens are regarded as more educated and cosmopolitan.

Hirosaki was founded in 1603 by Lord Tsugaru Tamenobu.

It was the prefectural capital until the Meiji Restoration joined the Nambu and Tsugaru territories (southeast Aomori and western Aomori, respectively) into a unified prefecture.

Aomori City was chosen as the new capital, but it never attained the more highbrow appeal that Hirosaki still holds.

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Hirosaki While Aomori City was almost completely obliterated in World War II, Hirosaki escaped unscathed, preserving its traditional landmarks and architecture. This is not to say that Hirosaki was an entirely pleasant city to spend time in. As was common in feudal times, Lord Tsugaru deliberately designed the city to be as confusing as possible to invaders. The streets are a maze of winding, meandering lanes, rarely leading where one would expect them to. A sense of direction is a detriment in Hirosaki—a visitor would be better off wandering aimlessly and hoping for the best.

Patience and diligence eventually allows one to reach Hirosaki Park, the centerpiece of the city. Within the park are more mazelike footpaths, which eventually lead to the most recognized landmark in Hirosaki, the castle. Surrounded by a moat and built high upon a stone precipice, the castle appears today much as it did in Dazai’s time, and much as it did during Lord Tsugaru’s time.

In Spring, during the brief blooming period of the cherry blossoms, literally millions of people flock to Hirosaki park to bask under the cherry trees and have their picture taken next to the castle.

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Hirosaki Facts City Emblem : City Flower : City Tree :

Manji Cherry Blossom Apple Tree Hirosaki’s city emblem, the manji or reversed swastika, has a long history.

In feudal times it was used as the family crest of the local Tsugaru clan. It is said to symbolize the rejection of selfish motives and the devotion of the individual to society. It was adopted as the city emblem in June, 1900.

Hirosaki’s cherry blossoms make a spring spectacle unequalled throughout Japan.

During the Cherry Blossom Festival, from April 23–May 5, some two million visitors flock to Hirosaki from far and wide. The cherry blossom was named the official city flower on April 1, 1993.

Apples are reputed to be good for both health and complexion. Hirosaki boasts the greatest apple production in all Japan, with an annual yield of more than 130,000 tons, equivalent to fourteen percent of the national harvest. The apple tree was declared the city tree of Hirosaki on April 1, 1993.

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Hirosaki Snow Lantern Festival

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Hirosaki Castle is renowned throughout Japan for its fabulous cherry blossoms. This threestory castle tower remains standing in its original form since it was rebuilt at the end of the Edo Era. Even the original five castle gates still remain, making it unique among such castle structures. The contrast between the castle and its surrounding cherry trees create a varied landscape in each of the seasons.

This winter’s festival will be held from Thursday, February 9 to Sunday, February 12. In addition to the glow from the lanterns, the snow-covered castle as well as the ancient pine trees will be illuminated. From the main castle to the lotus pond, about 300 candle-lit mini kamakura will create an enchanting atmosphere sure to delight visitors.

The snow lanterns come in a variety of sizes and shapes. There are lanterns with pictures of samurai warriors similar to those in the Neputa Festival and some come in strange shapes. The hopes and dreams of each citizen are reflected in these lanterns.

In recent years, Hirosaki has become a popular winter spot for tourists as well. The Hirosaki Snow Lantern Festival that began in 1977 is now one of the five biggest snow festivals in the Tohoku region. Civic groups carve the snow lanterns by hand and light them with candles. This movement was started by citizens to bring the community closer during the long winter nights of the northland and their efforts bore fruit in the success of this event.

At the main venue of the Shinomaru, there are huge snow sculptures and historic buildings as well as a large slide. Parents and children alike enjoy these attractions as well as entertaining events held during the festival.

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Hirosaki Castle Alternate Name: Takaoka-jo Founder: Tsugaru Nobuhira Year: 1611 Type: Flatland-mountain Structure: Three levels, three stories Artifacts: Donjon (massive inner tower), five gates,

Three yagura (watchtower) Location: Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture

History: The three level donjon of Hirosaki-jo seems disproportionately small when compared to the huge estate encompassed by the castle today. Hirosaki-jo was originally built with a five-level donjon, which was struck by lightning and burned to the ground in 1627. The donjon was not rebuilt until 1810.

The new three-level donjon is built atop the inner moat using the stone wall as the palisade for the donjon. Originally it was also connected to a section of yagura along the top of this moat. The yagura, however, no longer exists and the donjon stands alone. Hirosaki-jo has the only existing donjon to the east of Matsumoto-jo (Nagano prefecture), making it a historical treasure of the Tohoku region.

Hirosaki-jo is famous throughout Japan for the more than 2,600 cherry blossm trees that fill its grounds today. Every spring, when the trees are in bloom, thousands of visitors flock to the grounds to partake in one of Japan’s finest cherry blossom festivals.

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Festivals in Hirosaki: Four Seasons

Cherry Blossom Festival

Neputa Festival

The park’s cherry blossoms are beautifully set off by the white of the castle walls and the green of the pine trees, making an enchanting sight for visitors and bringing out the very best of the spring season in Tsugaru.

The night skies burn with the vivid colors of illuminated warrior figures. Huge festival drums powerfully underscore the infectious refrain of flutes and fifes.

This is Neputa, the fire festival, which celebrates the brief northern summer here in Hirosaki and stirs the blood of its citizens.

Spring • Hirosaki Castle Miss Cherry Blossom Contest (mid-April) • Spring River and Stream Cleanup Campaign (late April) • Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival (April 23–May 5) • Hirosaki Castle Botanical Gardens & Fujita Memorial Garden open (mid-April–November 23) • Children’s Day Gathering (May 5) • Regular Fire Fighting Review (May 5)

Summer • Evening Festivals (late May–September) • Swimming Pools open (late June) • Early-Morning Vegetable Market opens (late June–early November) • Citizens’ Health Festival (mid July) • Summer River and Stream Cleanup Campaign (late July) • Hirosaki Neputa Festival (August 1–7)

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Maple and Chrysanthemum Festival

Snow Lantern Festival

The autumn colors of the maple leaves stand out against the castle’s pines. Ornamental chrysanthemum dolls and fragrant blossom wreaths add to the overall atmosphere of the castle setting.

Snow lanterns depict valiant samurai; snow huts are illuminated by flickering candlelight. Snow and light combine to cast a magical spell over Hirosaki Park.

Autumn • Citizens’ Culture Festival (early September–mid November) • Culture Road (mid September) • Hirosaki Castle Maple and Chrysanthemum Festival (early October–early November) • Citizens‘ Sports Festival (October 10) • Apple Marathon (mid October) • Apple and Rice Harvest Festival (late October) • Childrens‘ Festival (November 3) • Tsugaru Industry Fair (early November) • Silver Manji Award Ceremony (late November) • Sports Award Ceremony (late November)

Winter • Ski resorts open (mid-December) • Fire Fighters’ New Year’s Demonstration (January 6) • Coming-of-Age Ceremony (January 15) • Outstanding Craftsman Commendation Ceremony (late January) • Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival (mid February) • Cross Country Ski Meet (mid February)

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