Hirosaki Castle is located in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture.
Hirosaki Castle was built in 1611 by TSUGARU Tamenobu and TSUGARU Nobuhira. TSUGARU Tamenobu was the first feudal lord of the Tsugaru area, located in the west part of Aomori Prefecture.

Hirosaki Castle remains almost originally structured intact, except for the south-west area, where Hirosaki Technical High School is now located. The "Ohtemon" Gate, the main gate of Hirosaki Castle, is located to the south of the castle area. The location is just in front of Hirosaki City Hall.

Hirosaki Castle has triple moats surrounding the castle area. In front of the main gate, you will see the outer moat, surrounding the third bailey, The area of Hirosaki Castle in side the outer moat is open to the public as a castle park.

The moat remains the same atmosphere as the Edo Age (1603 - 1868).

If you walk to the north from the main gate in the third bailey, you will reach the middle moat. The red bridge, named "Sugi-No-Ohashi", was very impressive.

Along the middle moat, you will see two turrets built in 1611. They are "Tatsu-Mi" Turret located at the south-east and "Hitsuji-Saru" Turret at the south-west in the second bailey.

After walking across "Sugi-No-Ohashi" bridge, you will pass through "Minami-Uchi Mon" gate, which is the main entrance of the second bailey. The gate is also an original gate built in 1611. In the second bailey, another turret is located at the north-east corner, named "Ushi-Tora" turret.

In Hirosaki castle, nine original buildings remain including the main castle building. All these original buildings are designated as important cultural properties of Japan.

As the second bailey is sand-witched by the middle and the inner moats, you will see the inner moat just after passing through "Minami-Uchi Mon" Gate.

Beyond the inner moat, you will finally reach the main bailey. At the south-east corner of the main bailey, the main castle building, "Tenshu-Kaku" remains. This is one of twelve original "Tenshu-Kaku" in Japan.

Originally, the main castle building of Hirosaki Castle was built at the south-west corner of the main bailey, in 1611. However, the first main castle building was destroyed by fire caused by lightning in 1627. The second main castle building was built in 1810 at the current site, 183 years after the first main castle building was lost.

The view of the main castle building with the combination of the red "Gejyo-Bashi" bridge was also very impressive. The scenery of Mt. Iwaki from the top floor of the main bailey was also very beautiful.

When I visited Hirosaki Castle, I walked to the north bailey from the main bailey through the fourth bailey.

The north gate located at the north of the castle was very solemn and dignified.

At the beginning of May, cherry blossoms will be in full bloom. Inside of Hirosaki Castle Park, there are a couple of old and big cherry trees with 2,600 in total. It is said that these cherry blossoms are the best in Japan. Approximately two million people visit Hirosaki Castle in this season to see beautiful cherry blossoms.

The Cherry Blossoms in Hirosaki Castle Park

In winter, Hirosaki Castle is frozen from snow. After sunset when it becomes dark, the main castle building is illuminated.

No one was in the castle. The illuminated main castle building with subtle grace and beauty.
It was a breathtaking night view.

How to get there
Hirosaki Castle is located in Hirosaki. From Tokyo, You can take a Tohoku Shinkansen to Shin-Aomori and change a train to Hirosaki. From Hirosaki Station, a bus is available to "Shiyakusho-Mae" bus stop. Hirosaki Castle is a four minute walk.

Official English Website: Hirosaki Park http://www.hirosakipark.jp/en/

Other Historical Sites near by:
Choshoji Temple
Saishoin Temple
Nakamachi Preservation District
Kuroishi Historical District