Sightseeing Spot
Hirosaki Castle
Hirosaki Castle is a symbol of the city, and it has a long history. The first of the Tsugaru feudal lords established his rule over the Tsugaru area in the early 17th century. The second lord, Tsugaru Nobuhira, completed the castle in 1611. Remaining on the grounds are a castle tower, three turrets, five gates, and three moat systems. The Hirosaki Castle site is now a 49 ha park area known as Hirosaki Castle Park. The park is a popular destination for local residents and out-of-town visitors alike.
Ohtemon Square
Ohtemon Square was constructed in 1990 in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the establishing of Hirosaki as a city. The square is a focal point of culture and tourism in Hirosaki.
Festival Float Pavilion
The Festival Float Pavilion building was constructed in 1994 as part of the Hirosaki Municipal Tourist Center. In this pavilion, there are festival floats from towns and neighborhoods in and around Hirosaki, representing festivals that have been held since the Edo Period. Also on a display is a giant 4-meter tall drum named Joppari-Daiko (Big Stubborn Drum) that is pulled through the streets of Hirosaki during the Neputa Festival.
Choshoji Temple and Zen Temple Area
Chosho-ji (ji=temple) was the family temple of the Tsugaru family, rulers of the Tsugaru Domain during the Edo Period (1603-1867). Nobuhira, the second lord of Tsugaru, built the 16.2 meter-high Sanmon Gate in 1629. Sanmon refers to the three gates that lead to salvation from the bondage of this world.
Zen Temple Area
The Second feudal load Tsugaru Nobuhira moved Zen temples from the entire Tsugaru region to this site in 1610 to serve as a protective fortress on the southwest flank of the castle.
Sazaedo
A wealthy merchant named Nakata Yoshibei donated this structure in 1839. A spiral walkway and perpendicular stairs both inhabit this octagonal building. There are only two in the entire Tohoku (northeast) area.
Five-Storied Pagoda
This pagoda is located to the southeast of the Castle site. It was built to provide repose for the dead and was completed in 1667 after 10 years of construction. It is 31.2 meters high.
Historical House Preservation Area
The Nakacho area was called Go-ke Nakayashiki (residences of direct retainers of the feudal lord) during the Edo Period. It retains the atmosphere of the castle town and of the samurai sprit.
Ishiba House（Important Cultural Property）
The Ishiba were dealers in household goods and straw products in the Tsugaru Domain. This structure was built at the end of the Edo Period.
Former Iwata House
The Iwata house was built for samurai families and offers a unique opportunity to see and to learn about the samurai way of life.
Seigan Temple Gate
The main gate of the Seigan Temple is believed to have been built in the middle of the Edo Period. It is said that this gate was modeled on the Seiganji Temple in Kyoto. It is commonly called Tsuru-kame (Crane and Turtle) Gate.
Kakushu Temple（Important Cultural Property）
This temple has been designated as an important cultural property. The inner temple is representative of Soto Zen Buddhist architecture.
Statue of Tamenobu：The first lord of Tsugaru Domain
（located in front of the Hirosaki Cultural Center） Tamenobu attacked many castles of the Lord of Nanbu during the Civil War period of the late 16th century. He won these battles and thus obtained Toyotomi Hideyoshi's approval in 1590 to rule the Tsugaru region. He was the first lord of the Tsugaru Domain.
Former City Library
This building was erected in 1907 and served as the Hirosaki City Library until 1931. There are two Renaissance-style towers. It was designed and constructed by Horie Sakichi. (Aomori Prefectural Treasure)
Hirosaki Local Literature Museum
The Hirosaki Local Literature Museum was established as an annex to the Hirosaki City Library. It offers introductions to such local writers as Ishizaka Yojiro as well as to their works. (Note: Surnames are written first and given names second in the Japanese style)
To-o Gijuku Missionary Residence
Admission Free To-o Gijuku High School, founded in 1873, was the first private high school opened in Aomori Prefecture. This house was built as a residence for the missionaries who had come to teach at the school. It was repaired and renovated in 2005. (Aomori Prefectural Treasure)
Fujita Memorial Garden
This Japanese-style garden reopened in July 1994, as part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Hirosaki as a city. Fujita Kenichi, the first president of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, made this beautiful garden in his hometown of Hirosaki in 1919.
Memorial Hall of Aomori Bank (former 59th National Bank)
（Important Cultural Property） This was built in 1904 as the headquarters of the 59th National Bank (the 59th national bank to be established in Japan). It is a Renaissance style building, designed and built by Horie Sakichi.
Hirosaki Church -United Church of Christ in Japan
This church was founded in 1876, and was housed in two earlier structures before this building was completed in 1907. With its twin Gothic towers, the church bears similarities to the Notre Dome Cathedral in Paris. It was designed and built by Sakuraba Komagoro.
Hirosaki Catholic Church
The Hirosaki Catholic Church was designed by Father Orje and built by Yokoyama Tsunekichi in 1910. This building is in the Romanesque style and has a spire.
Hirosaki Episcopal Anglican Ascension Church
The Hirosaki Episcopal Anglican Ascension Church is a Gothic-style church and was constructed of red brick. It was designed by James Gardiner and built by Hayashi Midori in 1924.
Old Kaiko-sha building
(Now Hirosaki Kosei Women's School) Important Cultural Property This building was built in the Renaissance style. It was constructed by Horie Sakichi in 1908 to serve as a place for army officers to gather to socialize or to study.
Kagamigaoka Memorial Hall
This building was a part of the former Aomori Prefectural Junior High School (the present Hirosaki High School) and was built by Kawamoto Shigejiro in 1895.
Former Hirosaki High School Foreign Teacher's Residence
This house was built in 1925 for foreign teachers who taught at Hirosaki High School, the predecessor of the present Hirosaki University. After it was transferred to Hirosaki University, it continued to be used as a residence for members of the faculty.
Hirosaki Gakuin Foreign Missionary Residence
This house was built in 1906 to provide living quarters for the foreign missionaries who taught at the school. It was designed by Sakuraba Komagoro.
Hyakkoku-machi Exhibition Hall
The Hyakkoku-machi Exhibition Hall was built as a Japanese Kimono shop in 1886. The Tsugaru Bank bought it in 1917. Tsugaru Bank merged with Aomori Bank in 1944 and Aomori Bank donated it to the City of Hirosaki in 2001. The city then refurbished and opened it as the Hyakkoku-machi Exhibition Hall in 2004.
The clock tower of the Ichinohe Watch Store
This was built in 1898 for the Hirosaki office of the Miharado Company. The Ichinohe Watch Store took over this building and its clock tower in 1920.
Neputa Village
This museum is located at the northeast corner of Hirosaki Castle Park. It takes about 15 minutes to walk here from the Hirosaki Municipal Tourist Center. The facility was constructed out of a traditional warehouse complex. There are huge Neputa floats, classic floats and Tsugaru kites. You can try your hand at making traditional local crafts in the workshop. The souvenir shop is well stocked with many products of interest for visitors. Local musicians also offer live performances of Tsugaru Shamisen (3-stringed instrument).
Hirosaki Apple Park
Hirosaki is the center of apple production in Japan. Apple Park is located near Mt. Iwaki, and if it is clear you can get a spectacular view of it. This park features 1,000 trees and 60 varieties of apples. You can learn about apple cultivation, marketing and nutrition as well as the history of apple production. Throughout the year there are various events to enjoy, and it has something to offer to every member of the family!
Yoshino-cho Park
The memorial dog for the Yoshitomo Nara + graf A to Z exhibition in 2006 appeared in front of the Brick Brewhouse!!!