Event Calendar
Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival
(April 23 - May 5)
The former castle site is home to around 2,600 ornamental cherry trees, which are famous throughout Japan. The best known variety is somei-yoshino. When the cherry trees are in full blossom the park is indescribably beautiful, especially at night when the castle site buildings and trees are illuminated.
Hirosaki Neputa Festival
(August 1 - 7)
The night sky is ablaze as the procession of vividly decorated floats winds through the streets and the air thunders with the poundings of the drums. The city comes alive, awakened from the summer doldrums by the emotion and excitement of the Neputa Festival.
Hirosaki Castle Autumn Chrysanthemum and Maple Leaf Festival
(middle October - early November)
The castle grounds seethe with emotion as the brilliant autumn hues of 1,000 maple trees play off the deep green of the pines. You are also struck by the sharp scents of the chrysanthemums that adorn the dolls in the festival pavilions.
Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival
(early February)
The Hirosaki Castle Park site offers beautiful winter scenes that elicit a myriad of poetic winter visions. During the festival, 50 or so snow lanterns and about 300 snow statues beckon visitors into this fantasy winter world.