Aomori, for some Cherry Blossoms
- Paul Hallman
- Apr 20
- 6 min read
Aomori was our second-last stop in Japan aboard the Coral Princess—one last adventure before we turn eastbound for Alaska and settle in for an eight-day, all–at-sea voyage. We stepped off the ship expecting cooler weather, but Aomori surprised us with a sunny day and a comfortable 21°C—much warmer than we anticipated.
There were plenty of organized excursions offered by the ship and local operators, but Jan and I decided to make our own plan and “travel like locals” for the day.
We left the port at 9:00 a.m. and walked along the wharf and waterfront, only to discover a large marathon was happening in the city. With road closures and crowds, there were no shuttles or easy transportation options—so walking became the only way forward.
The marathon area was packed with food trucks, sponsor exhibits and swag giveaways and Jan made the most of it. She collected a fun little haul—protein bars, drinks and small giveaways while we took in how well organized everything was. One thing that really stood out was the participant gear: prepared bags with tracksuits and competitor numbers stacked along a wall for what felt like over 100 feet. It looked like teams were racing too and the whole event had a big, energetic feel.
Our plan was to walk to the train station, take the train to Hirosaki and visit the Hirosaki Castle Ruins while the Cherry Blossom Festival was on. But travel always comes with surprises—and today’s challenge was money. If you’ve been following our previous port stops, you’ll know we didn’t have enough Japanese yen during a meal. Well, we still didn’t.
Since taxis and buses needed cash, we searched for our reliable solution: a 7‑Eleven ATM. We found one, withdrew 5,000 yen (about $43 Canadian)… and the machine gave us ONE single 5,000‑yen bill. Not exactly ideal for small purchases.
We made it to the train station, bought our tickets, and managed to grab the last two seats on the train—just in time. The seating on the train is ling benches with the backs against the windows so you are facing in when seated. At the first stop, hundreds of locals boarded and the 45-minute ride quickly became a packed house. Everyone that boarded had to stand for the trip and our view out the windows was blocked.
When we arrived in Hirosaki, we were advised to take a bus for about 20 minutes to the castle. When we reached the line, we learned the bus was coin-cash only. I rushed back into the terminal, bought something—anything—just to get change and made it back to the bus lineup right as Jan was about to board. Whew. Just in time.
The bus ride to the Hirosaki Castke ended up being closer to 40 minutes because of the crowds. The Cherry Blossom Festival draws about 2 million visitors over four weeks, and when we were there the blossoms were around 90% bloom—nearly peak. It felt like everyone had the same idea that day.
History of the Hirosaki Castle
Hirosaki Castle (Hirosaki-jō) is a hirayama-style Japanese castle originally built as the seat of the Tsugaru clan, the feudal lords who ruled the Hirosaki Domain during the Edo period.
Origins & construction: The Tsugaru family consolidated control of the region in the late 1500s. The castle itself was constructed in the early 1600s—most commonly dated to 1611, under Tsugaru Nobuhira.
What remains today: Much of what visitors see is considered “castle ruins” because the larger complex of buildings that once stood there is gone. The most famous surviving structure is the three-story tenshu (keep), which is notable because it’s one of the few original keeps still standing in northern Japan.
Why it’s smaller than many castles: The original keep was struck by lightning and burned in 1627. A replacement keep was later built (in 1810)—smaller than the original—using a surviving turret structure, which is why the tenshu feels more compact compared with castles like Himeji or Matsumoto.
From fortress to park: After the feudal era ended (late 1800s), the castle grounds transitioned into a public space. Today the former castle site is Hirosaki Park, famous for its moats, stone walls, gates and especially its cherry blossoms during the spring festival.
Hirosaki Park which is inside the Castle property, is one of Japan’s most celebrated cherry-blossom spots, with roughly 2,600 cherry trees spread across the former castle grounds and along the moats. Many of the park’s plantings were developed in the early 1900s, when the castle site was being established as a public park and the city began intentionally building out its sakura landscape. The best time to view the blossoms is typically mid-to-late April through early May, though the exact peak shifts each year depending on spring temperatures (and the moats and night illuminations make the bloom especially memorable).
The Hirosaki Park was amazing. There were families planted all around the property sitting under all the trees and enjoying a sunny Sunday afternoon. We saw the oldest tree in the park, estimated to have been planted in 1866, and it was a highlight to stand in front of something with that much history and still living. We spent about an hour walking through the park, watching entertainers, and weaving past long lines of people waiting for food.
And most of all, it was a photographers dream to be able to take photos with all the colour and magic that was in the area. There was a good breeze and at times the blossom petals would blow by as if it was snowing. Off to the back of the park stood Hirosaki Mountain and I was not able to get a good photograph of the mountain with the trees but I did see a small portion and snuck one photo. I did manage to get a photo of the oldest tree in the park and according to their post it was planted in 1866. It is in the photo below with a small wooden fence and a sign in Japanese explaining what it is.
It was also the time of year in Japan for apples to be in season and in many cities they had apple festivals. In the park they had an apple tent and we bought some apple chips. Yummy!
We decided to get out of the crowds and then hunted for an exit as it was such a large property and full of people. Eventually, we found an exit and headed back grabbing a taxi to get moving again back to the train station and on to Aomori by express train in a short 30 minute trip. The Express train was a fast ride and comfortable seating. I managed to get a few photos of the mountain range as we sped back to Aomori. The one picture managed to catch a long barn which was likely to raise some sort of farm animal but we went by so fast I could not tell what it was used for.
Back in Aomori, we walked to the Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse. It was a bright red building with a facade that appeared to have the decorative sides bent. I guess that was the architects concept and if so, it was different.
The Aomori Nebuta Festival is the city’s signature summer celebration, held each year in early August, when enormous illuminated floats (nebuta) roll through the streets at night to the beat of taiko drums, music, and chanting dancers known as haneto.
This is the entrance tunnel to view the floats and history
These are images of the floats as they were pulled through the streets
The floats are masterpieces—towering, glowing scenes that often depict legendary warriors, kabuki-style heroes, and dramatic folklore, designed to look even more intense after dark. At the Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse, you can experience that artistry up close: full-size floats displayed in vivid colour and light, plus detailed exhibits that explain how they’re built and the traditions behind the festival. Seeing the craftsmanship in person made it easy to understand why Nebuta is more than a parade—it’s a proud Aomori art form and a major part of the city’s identity.
Nebuta floats are built like giant illuminated sculptures. Makers start with a strong internal frame (traditionally bamboo, often wire/metal in modern builds) that defines the overall shape and supports the height and overhanging parts. The external skin is paperlike but a special materia. (See the photos below)
Over that skeleton, they add layers to form the figures’ muscles, armor, waves, and facial features, then cover the surface with washi-style paper panels that are carefully cut, stretched, and glued into place. The artwork is then hand-painted in bold colours and heavy outlines so it reads clearly at night. Finally, the inside is fitted with lighting (now commonly LEDs) so the paper skin glows from within, and the whole structure is mounted on a rolling base so it can be pulled and steered through the streets during the parade.
The displays were incredible—giant festival floats up close, brilliantly lit and bursting with colour. I took photos of many of the floats, and also some individual headpieces that were especially interesting, with detailed craftsmanship and dramatic expressions.
We left the museum around 5:00 p.m. and walked along the waterfront toward the ship. Under the bridge, we spotted the bright yellow “AOMORI” sign with our ship in the background—one of those perfect end-of-day views. It was a relaxing walk back to our “home,” and a fun day for Jan and me to explore.
Thanks again to Dennis for this photo. Mine was no where near this brilliant
Tomorrow is our last stop in Japan, and we’re excited to see what Hakodate has to offer before we say, “Bon Voyage to Japan.”
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