Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival

While much of the country’s cherry blossoms have shed their pink and white petals by the end of April, head to the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival in Aomori Prefecture. Enjoy more than 2,600 trees in full bloom with a 400-year-old castle in the background.

Hirosaki Castle Park

Photo by: PIXTA/ taka

Constructed in the early 17th century, Hirosaki Castle lies at the heart of the park. For over two-and-a-half centuries, the castle was the center of power for the Tsugaru region, covering present day western Aomori. Following the end of the Edo period in the late 19th century, castles across the country were decommissioned or destroyed. In the 1890s, Hirosaki Castle and the grounds surrounding it were opened to the public as Hirosaki Park.  In addition to the castle and its remaining turrets, you can find several moats, bridges, green spaces and hundreds of trees.

Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival

Photo by: PIXTA/ ひでげる

Hirosaki Park is home to over 2,600 cherry trees representing more than 52 types. Depending on the variety, sakura blooms at different times in early spring:

• Yoshino cherry trees are the most common in Japan and also flower first with their characteristic light pink petals grouped in fives.
• Shidarezakura or weeping cherry blossoms with their gently falling branches holding blossoming buds.
• Yaezakura covers an entire group of sakura trees and are usually among the last ones to reach full bloom. They’re remarkable for having more than five petals in a single bloom. Indeed, some flowers can carry as many as 30-50 petals.

Popular Cherry Blossoms

For one of the most popular viewing locations, follow the crowds to the West Moat, where 300 trees stand on both banks, making for a corridor of pink and white petals. Moreover, although the varieties that you’ll find here are similar to others elsewhere in the country, many have been carefully cultivated to produce double the amount of buds. As a result, trees will appear fuller than usual.

Among the many blooms you’ll find at Hirosaki Park, there are a few that stand out from the rest. Hirosaki Park is home to Japan’s oldest Yoshino tree, which was planted in 1882. Also, be on the lookout for the heart-shaped opening in the foliage created by two neighboring trees. The location isn’t given out by the park, but they have placed a heart-shaped tree stump nearby as a clue.