1-Day Tour From Shin-Aomori: Hirosaki Castle & Cultural Highlights

Discover the hidden charms of one of Tohoku's most famous castle towns!

This walking tour of Hirosaki gives you time to see many of the highlights that Hirosaki has to offer. Visit historic temples, walk through scenic gardens, learn about a famous summer time festival, and view the iconic Hirosaki Castle – all in one fun-filled day! 

Highlights

• Discover the important zen temples nestled within the city of Hirosaki.
• Walk through history and learn about traditional Japanese gardens and the western influence of the area.
• Visit the must-see castle park and witness the famous Hirosaki Castle for that iconic photo.
• Learn the history of the Neputa Festival and see for yourself why its such a cherished tradition.

*For those looking to join the tour from Tokyo, please see the FAQ Section below

Description

This tour will start at Shin-Aomori Station at 9:00 A.M., where your guide will meet you in front of the red Apple Bell (りんごの鈴) display outside of the Shin-Aomori Station ticket office (midori no madoguchi, みどりの窓口 新青森).

We will then head off to Hirosaki via local train.

Our first stop for the day is Saishoin Temple. This iconic temple holds historic importance to the area and its deep ties to the regional Tsugaru Clan, a prolific samurai clan that ruled much of northwestern Aomori during the Edo period. The highlight of this historic temple is the gorgeous Five-Stories Pagoda.

There are a total of 22 Five-Storied Pagodas built during the Edo period that still exist in Japan today. The pagoda at Saishoin Temple is actually the northernmost in all of Japan. It's renowned for its design and breathtaking stability – often noted as the most beautiful pagoda in the Tohoku region.

We will then take a scenic walk through Hirosaki's temple district. This is a peaceful street that has rows and rows of historic temples. We will pass by a small but impactful structure called the Sazaedo. This red temple holds a striking resemblance to its more famous contemporary Aizu Sazaedo, Both structures have a unique spiral design hence the name sazae or turban shell.

After making our way through this temple-lined street, we will reach our next destination of Choshoji Temple. This temple grounds has nine buildings that are nationally designated Important Cultural Properties. This temple was originally established in 1528 as the family temple of the Tsugaru Clan and was moved to its current location when Hirosaki Castle was under construction.

It is a historically important temple in which many successful feudal lords are laid to rest within the mausoleums and cemetery. Choshoji Temple was built in part of a 33 temple frontline project built as a means to protect Hirosaki Castle. This type of development is said to be extremely unique to Japan. Choshoji Temple  is located at the dead end of this Zen Temple Street, marking its importance and stature even in present day.

We will then walk our way toward the castle area, where we will have a break for lunch and free time. We will meet up again in the same location to continue our tour of Hirosaki highlights.

Our next destination is the Fujita Memorial Garden. Fujita Memorial Garden is an Edo-style garden built in 1921 by a Hirosaki local named Kenichi Fujita. He was a prestigious and well educated man honored for his generous contributions to public cases and education.

There are both Western- and Japanese-style buildings on the garden grounds that offer a great window into the past of how Japan navigated its own culture with the rising influence of the west. The garden also heralds lovely flowers throughout the year including cherry blossoms, azaleas, irises, and even fall foliage. 

Next we will venture to Hirosaki Castle Park. Here your guide will take you through the promenade, offering up insights to the history of the castle as well as the vast restoration project the town has put great efforts into. 

This castle is the icon of Hirosaki, known for its gorgeous cherry blossoms in the spring and its serene views in the winter. Your guide will also take you through the botanical garden on the castle grounds giving you ample chance to take photos of the beautiful blooms during the warmer months. It's currently under major renovation, but the main castle building as well as the surrounding gates and turrets are visible.

Our final destination in this Hirosaki highlights tour will be the Tsuruga-han Neputa Museum. This museum offers an up-close look at the famous Aomori Prefecture festival, with a Hirosaki twist in the name!

Depending on the day, staff members can also offer a short performance of traditional drums and flute ensemble typically played during the festival. There is also a souvenir shop on the grounds as well as a crafts store filled with local artisans' woodworks, fabrics, and other amazing handmade products unique to Hirosaki.

We’ll wrap up our day by venturing back to Shin-Aomori Station via bus and local train, where your guide will say their goodbyes. The tour will officially conclude around 6:15 PM. Due to the nature of the tour, specifically using public transportation, it is advised that guests who wish to continue their travels onward schedule their departures later than 6:30 PM.

TOUR MEETUP POINT

SHIN-AOMORI STATION @ 9:00 A.M.

The meetup point is in from of the red Apple Bell (りんごの鈴) , located just outside of the ticket office (midori no madoguchi, みどりの窓口 新青森) near the east exit escalators of Shin-Aomori Station.

If you are arriving via JR lines, follow the signs toward the shinkansen transfer gates and find the red Apple Bell to your left in front of the glass windows of the ticket office.

If you are arriving via shinkansen, please look for signs directing you towards the east exit. As soon as you exit the shinkansen gates, you will see the ticket office directly in front of you. Just off to the left you will find the red Apple Bell.

For those coming from outside the station, you will want to enter from the east exit. Take the escalators up and follow the signs toward the shinkansen transfer gates. You will see the ticket office and the Apple Bell on your right.

You may wait near the Apple Bell until the tour begins at 9:00 A.M. Be sure to look for the guide holding a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour sign. 

NOTES

Included

• English speaking guide
• All train and bus fares during the tour
• Entry fee at all locations

Excluded

• Lunch
• Accommodation
• Extra purchases of matcha, sweets, and souvenirs
• Transportation to/from the start and end points of the tour

Other Information

• Please note that this tour uses public transport, not a private vehicle. Due to this tour using public transport, timings are subject to some change if traffic is poor, train or bus delays, or the day of travel is particularly busy. 
• This tour involves several hours of walking outdoors. We recommend that you wear shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in. Please check the weather forecast before you head to the meetup point and prepare an umbrella or raincoat if necessary.
• It is recommended that you do not bring any luggage or large bags with you on the tour. It is advised that you check if your hotel can store your luggage for you, send it ahead to your next destination, or store your luggage at or near Shin-Aomori Station.
• There will be free time during the tour for guests to purchase food and souvenirs to remember their trip.

Tour Availability Disclaimer

All listed events, activities, and experiences are subject to availability. Please note that while certain tour options may appear bookable through our platforms, this does not guarantee that every experience can be carried out as scheduled in the tour itinerary. Many activities require direct confirmation with our partner venues, and availability may vary based on the date and other factors. Should any part of your ordered itinerary require adjustment or deviation from the original schedule, or if a specific experience is unavailable, we will contact you promptly to discuss suitable alternatives or amendments.