Hirosaki City - The Original Castle Keep
Joined 2023
Hirosaki has many attractions, such as the thousands of ancient cherry trees, surrounding the castle and is Japan’s biggest apple producer.
There are about 50 apple-pie restaurants.
Hirosaki grew up around its castle, protected by Shinto Shrines to the north and Buddhism temples to the south-west.
Come with me and I'll share my extensive knowledge about the city and make this a memorable experience!
*This fee DOES NOT include transportation fee.
Ex. 8 seaters taxi - 50,000yen every 6 hours
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At the Aomori Station or Your Hotel Lobby
At Aomori station or You Hotel Lobby
We will initially meet at 9AM at either Aomori Station or Your Hotel Lobby then we will take the taxi (or other agreed upon method of transportation) to Hirosaki City
Hirosaki Castle Park
Completed in 1611, the castle was occupied by generations of the Tsugaru clan. The castle keep was rebuilt in 1810 and has now been turned into a small historical museum.
It dominates the 121-acre / 49ha public park, which is very famous throughout Japan for the flowering of its 2,600 cherry trees, from the end of April to mid-May.
The botanical gardens in the park are worth strolling through to see the many styles of garden in different seasons.
Neputa - Mura Village
Let's experience Hirosaki's unique summer time festival within the Neputa-Mura Village!
Here you will see:
Neputa Float: Containing some of the highly decorative festival floats with illuminated screens or gigantic fans used during the Famous Hirosaki festival, the Neputa Matsuri Festival.
Did you know that the word neputa derives from nepute or “drowsiness” in the local dialect? This allegedly refers to the farmer’s custom of placing giant lanterns along the riverbank in order to keep them awake when they were returning home from a hard days work.
The museum also offers free live performances featuring:
● Shamisen: Japanese traditional 3 stringed musical guitar.
● Neputa Festival Music where you can try hitting the gigantic drums
*The following are NOT included in the fee:
●Lunch and Shopping: Ramen and others (Aomori Ramen-dried sardine-based soup, Sushi, Tempura (Mountain vegetables).
●Aomori Specialties (varieties of crafts, cake and others)
●Workshops: wooden dolls, pottery, locale ware.
Fujita Garden OR Zenrin Temple OR Nakacho Samurai Houses
You can ONE choose amongst the following:
*Fujita Kinen Teien - Garden
In its 26,312 sq yd / 22,000sq m area, you will find a Japanese house with a floor made from Yakusugi (ancient pines), archeological hall, a tea ceremony pavilion.
A somber Taisho-era dwelling with a magnificent veranda.
The garden also features a café - the apple pie here is best!
*Entrance fee is 320yen
**Attending the tea ceremony with some sweets fee is 1000yen per person
***Attending the handcraft workshop has an additional fee that changes per event; fees are generally around 300-2000yen - please ask for what the current event is!
OR
*Zenrin-Gai
Thirty - three Zen temples flanks this peaceful “Buddhist way “leading to the Tsugaru family temple of Chosho - ji, containing 500 small statues of the disciples of Buddha.
*There is NO additional fee required
OR
*Nakacho Historic Quarter - Samurai Houses
The people who served the Daimyo (King of local districts in Japan), lived in this district.
Several houses are open to visitors. The Iwata House shows how a Samurai family would have lived at the time (16c- 19c) around 400 years ago.
*Ninja house is near this district
**There is NO additional fee required
Return to Aomori Station or Your Hotel Lobby
We will take the taxi (or agreed upon method of transportation) back to either your hotel lobby or Aomori Station
Ending Point
At the Aomori Station or Your Hotel Lobby
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Tour Guiding Fee
All events mentioned in the itinerary (museum fee, apple picking fee, restaurants, hot springs, etc.)
Food costs
Taxi/Transportation fee
Tour Important Information
We will be traveling a lot around the castle, garden, temple, shrine - you will feel refreshed afterwards.
If you do not see the tour which you are looking for or want to add or subtract something, let me know what you want to do and where you go soon!
Very welcome in always!
• Market opens usually at 10 am, so you cannot visit before then.
• This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
• Several places we will visit do not accept credit cards, so please bring cash.
Hirosaki is nicknamed the Kyoto of Northern Japan, here you will experience true Japanese culture without the overwhelming tour groups.
Upon approaching the castle, you will experience the botanical gardens leading up to the picturesque castle.
When you are in the area, you can feel the Edo atmosphere and imagine walking amongst the samurai.
Afterwards, wake yourself from the dreamy feeling when visiting the Neputa-Mura Village and be empowered by the festival music from the drums and flutes. Let's enjoy some sake while you're here as well - sake tasting is available throughout the city.
Regardless of your choice for the last activity, you will feel the historical presence as you finish your day.
If you give at least a 3 weeks - 1 month in advance notice - other days will be available, to the best of my ability; Available every day in January, February and March
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2023
About Tour Guide Tomohiko K.
*I am generally unavailable on Weekdays however if you schedule at least a week in advance, I am available all days*
*Please contact me if you have any questions!*
Hello, my name is Tomohiko! I am from Aomori City and have lived here for over 60 years.
I love traveling and have already visited more than 30 nations so far. After my official retirement as a public officer, I obtained the Japanese Government Licensed Guide Certificate and am nowadays very pleased to guide foreign tourists all over the world.
Did you know that the Fuji apple is not from Mt. Fuji...but is actually from Aomori Prefecture' Fujisaki town? Aomori is proud to be the biggest apple producer in Japan. In Hirosaki city alone, there are over 40 apple-pie restaurants.
・Let's enjoy real Japanese culture and history together! Let's experience real Samurai history, Kimono culture, local traditional festivals, castle, Japanese garden, temple, shrine, Japanese tea ceremony, food and Sake.
・I often go to the local sea food and vegetable markets and eat fresh foods and would love to show you some secret, hidden restaurants that only Aomori locals know about - let's go on an adventure together!
・If you like sushi and fresh seafood - let me introduce to you Nokkedon ? What is it? Come to Aomori and find out! I am waiting for you!
<Qualifications>
・Chairman of Aomori International Voluntary Association (AIVA)
・Part-time Lecturer, Aomori City Higher Nursing Academy
・National Government Licensed Guide-Interpreter
・ Medical interpreter who have passed the Ministry of Health, Labor
and Welfare's "Medical Interpretation Curriculum Standards"
examination.
Reviews
“A Magical Snowy Journey Through Hirosaki with Tomohiko! ”
Our tour of Hirosaki City with Tomohiko was an unforgettable experience! Despite the heavy snow in Aomori, the guide made sure we were comfortable and tailored the tour to our interests. Listening to authentic local music, trying delicious local cuisine and seeing the original castle keep covered in snow was absolutely magical! Tomohiko shared so many interesting facts about the city, its history, and culture. We truly enjoyed the tour and learned so much along the way. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Hirosaki!
Tomohiko K.
I am very delighted to guide you to Hirosaki City, which was hit by a record-breaking heavy snowfall. The suspension of the JR Ou Main Line and other public transportation continued. You are my wonderful guests, originally coming from Moscow, and St. Petersburg. Avoiding the crowds and bustling cities of Kyoto and Osaka, your trip to Tokyo, Aizuwakamatsu, Matsushima, Sendai, Yamadera, Aomori, Hirosaki, Hakodate, Noboribetsu, Shiraoi, Lake Toya Sapporo Tokyo. Did you all enjoy !! The cold in Moscow and St. Petersburg is severe than Hirosaki, but Y've never seen so much snow! You love Japan and have a Shiba Inu named Kotaro. I am glad to hear that you did enjoy the local food culture of Aomori, so I guided you to Tsugaru Domain Neputa Village and Izakaya. You seemed to be impressed by the Tsugaru shamisen and Tsugaru folk songs. Maria likes sea urchins, she said that the very fresh raw sea urchins are very delicious. It's the best she has ever eaten!! You and Maria love to drink local Aomori Sake, and Ochen Hukusna! (It's very delicious). Next time, I would like to guide you to the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival in Mid-April to May and the Nebuta Festival in the first week, August. Odate City, south of Hirosaki City, famous for Akita dog. I would like to express thanks for joining my tour and wish you and Maria good luck and health ! Ochen Shipasiba ! Tomohiko Kudo, Aomori in Japan.
“Feel cheated while in Aomori ”
We booked this tour thinking this is the price including taxi fare but it ended up this is for guides only, we had to pay 50000 yen’s for taxi. Very disappointed. The offer/ pricing should be clear so it’s not misleading.
Tomohiko K.
Dear Ms. Jamilia. I would like to say thanks for joining my tour. I am sure that your group 34 people could enjoy the tour. How about the Aomori Nebuta Festival? I am very sympathetic to you that you had a bad feeling to the tour booking. Each tour like my yours and other tours have below message after a tour introduction and explanation. 【Inclusions & Exclusions】 What‘s included Tour Guiding Fee What‘s not included All events mentioned in the itinerary (museum fee, apple picking fee, restaurants, hot springs, etc.) Food costs Taxi/Transportation fee But it seems that the message note is not a little clear so that we would like to make it more clear for guest to see it easily. Thanks so much for having my tour again. The cherry trees bloom in the Hirosaki castle park, in 2,600 trees with a variety of 50 kinds is the most beautiful in the world. The Hirosaki Cherry Trees Blossom festival is held from mid-April to the beginning of May. If you have an opportunity to visit Japan again, please come to Hirosaki in Spring and I will provide special guide to you. Sincerely yours, Tomohiko Kudo
“Special day, top guide!”
On the occasion of my milestone birthday, Mr. Tomohiko provided us with a perfectly varied excursion to Hirosaki. He took our special wishes into consideration. A special day with a special guide that we will not forget.
Tomohiko K.
Dear Rolf-dieter F. I would like to say thanks so much for joining my tour and be very honored to have your wonderful comment on my tour again. I will never forget the memory with you in my mind forever. I am sure that you could enjoy your Japan tour. I am looking forward to visiting your city in Germany someday and also guiding you in August for appreciating the Nobuta Festival in Aomori. Sincerely yours, Tomohiko Kudo
$241/ per group
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