[Aomori Prefecture] Japan's best cherry blossom viewing spot! Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival

Hirosaki Park in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, is said to be the best in Japan. The annual Hirosaki Sakura Festival attracts 2.45 million people, making it one of Japan's largest cherry blossom viewing spots. The most popular attraction is the Hanaikada, which is slightly past its peak cherry blossom viewing season. The park is filled with about 2,600 cherry trees, and you can see a flood of cherry blossoms, as well as the famous Hanaikada, which can be seen in the inner moat surrounding the castle ruins. Admission to Hirosaki Park is free, and admission is required only for the main castle, Hirosaki Castle. The cherry blossoms at Hirosaki Park are voluminous and fluffy, unlike the typical Somei Yoshino cherry trees. This is because, although it is generally said that cherry tree branches should not be cut, Hirosaki's cherry blossoms are protected by the "Team Sakuramori," a group of cherry blossom professionals, who have been working to protect the branches of cherry trees from the apple cultivation in Aomori. By applying the pruning techniques used in the cherry blossom festival, the cherry blossoms are carefully cultivated so that the dense cherry blossoms can be enjoyed, with larger clusters, more flower clusters, and a longer lifespan than ordinary Somei-Yoshino cherry trees. The best time to see the cherry blossoms is usually at the end of April. The best time to see the flower rafts is usually around Golden Week, but in recent years, the timing may be earlier or later due to global warming, so you need to check the flowering status frequently. By the way, you can enjoy a stylish cherry blossom viewing experience by taking a sightseeing boat through the flower rafts with cherry blossoms falling from the inner moat of the Higashi-naimon Gate. Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 Fee: 1,500 yen for junior high school students and above *As of April 2023 Date: Friday, April 18, 2025 - Monday, May 5, 2025 Admission: Free for the garden, 320 yen for adults/100 yen for children for the main citadel Special illumination: April 18th to May 5th, from sunset to 22:00 Time required: Approximately 2 hours for one round Access: 30 minutes on foot from JR Hirosaki Station, approximately 8 minutes by taxi, approximately 20 minutes by bus in the direction of Hirosaki Park or the Cultural Center #Seasonal places in Japan #Aomori Prefecture #Famous cherry blossom spot #Amazing view