Hirosaki Castle

Hirosaki Castle

Hirosaki Castle
4
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • b2run
    Ontario, Canada285 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Japanese architecture
    While the castles of Europe are much more imposing, the Hirosaki Castle has nice grounds and typical Japanese architechture. You can get a pretty good view from the castle windows. It can get pretty crowded during cherry blossom festival and during the summer.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written March 22, 2024
  • YASUHIRO・S
    Yokohama, Japan895 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    It is famous for cherry blossoms, stone wall construction, and the only existing keep in Tohoku.
    30 minute walk from Hirosaki Station. A common pass to the castle tower, botanical gardens and gardens costs 520 yen. The castle tower and turrets are shooting spots, and it is small like a snow country. As a souvenir, I bought a collaboration file 400 yen magnet 400 yen between Hirosaki Castle and Iwakiyama.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written July 8, 2024
  • かわやん
    Nagoya, Japan134 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    A trip to Aomori and Akita, Hokkaido
    2024.07 Thursday / Hirosaki Castle (Aomori-Akita trip, Hokkaido) [Time required] 40 minutes [Cost] 320 yen [Parking] Retained in Neputa Village, Tsugaru Domain Comment: The premises are full of cherry trees including the park part. In the spring, I could see that the cherry blossom rafts and other trees were full of flavor. The castle itself is a three-story existing keep. They seem to be repairing the stone walls, and it was as if they were not being pulled. The castle itself was not much to see. 【Previous stop】Neputa Village, Tsugaru Domain 【Next stop】 Oyu Ring Stones
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 14, 2024
  • bochitabi
    Sendai, Japan1,866 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The keep is moving due to the stone wall construction
    There are many National Important Cultural Properties in the castle such as Sannomaru, Oitemon and East gate, Ninomaru, South gate, East gate, Tatsumi-yagura and Ushitora-yagura, Kita no kaku, Kamekomon and Honmaru. Because of the construction of the stone walls, the castle keep is still moving, but you can enter inside. The botanical garden is located in Sannomaru and Gokoku Shrine is located in Shinomaru.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written September 3, 2024
  • PeterSam
    Japan11,872 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Cherry Blossoms in the Castle in Spring and Autumn Leaves
    When I visited, the "Chrysanthemum and Autumn Colors Festival" was being held at Hirosaki Castle Botanical Garden. The autumn colors were at their best. Hirosaki Castle was built in 1610 by Nobuhira, the second lord of the domain, by Tsugaru Tamenobu, who had achieved the unification of Tsugaru. The following year, Takaoka Castle, with its five-story keep, was completed, and the castle town was also being prepared. In 1628, the name was changed from "Takaoka" to "Hirosaki". For 260 years, until the abolition of the domain, the prosperity of the area as the center of Tsugaru administration can still be seen today.
    Visited November 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written November 10, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles833 reviews
Excellent
306
Very good
366
Average
140
Poor
15
Terrible
6

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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kaoru59jp
Osaka, Japan426 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Couples
I visited on the first day, from sunset to night, and it was the first time I'd been able to experience so many different atmospheres during a cherry blossom viewing, with rafts of flower petals floating in the castle moat and the cherry blossoms reflected on the river's surface like a mirror.
The cherry blossoms, castle tower, and mountains in the background made for an incredibly luxurious scene.
It was so beautiful and moving.

The next day, I returned during the day to see Hirosaki Castle under a blue sky.
I hadn't planned on going to the same place twice during my trip, but
it was that great.

Not only was the scenery beautiful, but it was also cherry blossom season, so the festival was a huge success.

Google
Written August 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alasdair M
Edinburgh, UK46 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Couples
Fascinating castle and park. the castle has been physically moved to allow the ramparts to be rebuilt. All very interesting from the construction aspect. Sadly we arrived a day or two too early to fully appreciate the cherry blossom surrounding the castle. Timing is everything!
Written May 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

my c
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Friends
The expanse of the castle grounds, the number of trees, and the viewing platforms at the summit make up for the modest and unattractive castle keep's size. I visited in the winter off-season when there were a lot fewer people, but my buddy said that during the Sakura season, it is one of the busiest spots in Japan. You can get a close-up glimpse of the gates and watchtowers, which are still standing.
Written March 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Redflyer99
San Francisco, CA74 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022 • Family
The actual castle keep is fairly small and unimpressive but what is impressive is the size of the castle grounds, the viewing platforms at the top and the amount of trees. I went during the off season in winter where there were much less people but according to my friend it's packed during Sakura season as one of the most popular places in Japan. Gates and watch towers are still intact and can be viewed up close.
Written November 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Martina1888
Inverness, UK505 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Solo
You can get a combined ticket for the Castle, the Botanical Garden and the Fujita Memorial Garden. The views from the platforms on the castle grounds are great and inside the Castle tower there's a small exhibition about how the tower was templarily moved. I visited late September and there weren't too many other visitors.
Written October 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ピアイ piai
Toyama Prefecture, Japan1,641 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Solo
This was my first visit to Aomori Prefecture, and I have now conquered all 47 prefectures and all 12 remaining castle towers in Japan. It was fitting that this castle was the last prefecture castle, and it was the only one in the Tohoku and Kanto regions that still has a surviving castle tower. Currently, the stone walls are being restored, and the castle has been moved to its current location, but you can take photos of it with Mt. Iwaki from the temporary observation deck. The roof tiles are copper. It felt about the same size as Maruoka Castle, Marugame Castle, and Uwajima Castle.
Google
Written November 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

中島はるさめ
Koshigaya, Japan114 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
It would be the best in cherry blossom season. I went in August, so it was just too hot (lol). I walked and walked but couldn't see the main castle. When I finally got there, it was a pretty small castle. I was a little disappointed. I'd like to visit again in cherry blossom season.
Google
Written August 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Onyib
Las Pinas, Philippines186 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Solo
The Sapporo Ice Festival may be bigger and more popular, but the snow lantern festival around Hirosaki Castle (first week of February) is less crowded and very quiet, too. Make sure you’re all bundled up before going, it gets pretty cold and take a short break at the Starbucks near the castle, it’s really pretty. Not sure if I missed the ticket gate but everything was for free, did not go into the tower, though.
Written February 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TAKA
Yokote, Japan343 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Couples
The castle tower was impressive, but the combination with Mt. Iwaki was also magnificent, and the scenery was overwhelming!
There are many places to visit outside the moat, so you can enjoy a fulfilling tour! I would like to visit again once the restoration work on the stone walls etc. is completed.
Google
Written February 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Roger K
Sydney, Australia538 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2015 • Solo
Made my own way from Aomori to Hirosaki by train on the JR Ou Line. The one way trip takes about 40 minutes, costs 670 yen.

Hirosaki Castle lies within Hirosaki Park which lies about a 10-15 minute bus ride (100yen) or a 30 minute walk west from Hirosaki Station.

I took the 100 yen bus from Hirosaki Station as did most tourists visiting the Castle.

Opposite the main entrance to the Castle is Otemon Square, being a stepping off point for visitors to Hirosaki Castle. It has an Information Center with maps, pamphlets and advice about the city's other sightseeing spots.

Enter the grounds and start walking around the complex with well signposted walk ways.

The castle was surprisingly small is size. Maybe I was expecting something like Osaka Castle but it wasn't to be.

Unfortunately at the time of my visit, the Castle was under repair and no entry was allowed into the actual building or walled internal compound. Visitors could still walk around and through the park grounds.

All around the park you could see large maple and cherry trees but as it was summer at the time of visit, they were all in full leaf....and surprisingly(not) very few visitors. Apparently Hirosaki Castle is one of the top viewing locations for Cherry Blossoms and you can imagine an impressive display with the Castle as a back drop.

On existing the north gate, I tried to find some of the old samurai residences in the former samurai district that surrounded the Castle in times gone by wandering the local streets, but with no signage of where they were, I was unsuccessful.

I returned to Hirosaki station on foot as it was a easy 30 minute walk(make sure you have a map) instead of trying to link up with the 100 yen tourist bus loop.
Written September 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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