Traveling to Aomori was by far the best experience I have had in a while. Most, when asked, only know Aomori as the prefecture that you pass to get to Hokkaido. I never understood why apples from Aomori were so delicious or what I can do with apples besides eat them, until now. I have traveled throughout all of Tohoku region, met with the various locals, and eaten the most interesting foods, but at the end of the day Aomori is where I feel the most relaxed. What makes Aomori the hidden treasure of Japan is the people. Regardless if you go west to the Tsugaru region or East to the Nanbu region, you are treated like family.
Table of Contents:
|Hirosaki Castle & Park
|Iwakiyama Shrine
|The Entrance
|The Walk
|Apple Baking at Tsugaru Yume Farm and Café
Instead of disdained looks, you get people inviting you to their homes unexpectedly to cook for you. It’s definitely easier to make connections in Tohoku that will last you a long time. There is still one part of Aomori that I still have some questions. What can I do for a day in Aomori? What are other ways could I possibly enjoy apples?
Hirosaki Castle and Park
Our first stop in traveling to Aomori is Hirosaki Castle located in Hirosaki Park. Originally built as a five-story castle by the Tsugaru clan in 1611. Unfortunately, it was once struck by lightning and then rebuilt to a three-story castle in 1810.
Hirosaki Park always attracts large crowds from around the world, for its beautiful scenery, seasonal events, and various activities. One of its major events is during cherry blossom season where the hundreds of trees that are spread throughout the whole park come to life for an amazing and breathtaking week of fun.
the park is a little over a half square kilometer and has various golden natural nuggets of pictures you can take. Three of those pictures are of Mt. Iwaki located within the castle grounds towards the back of Hirosaki castle.
The second location is a large tree behind the castle grounds near a lake that shines bright yellow during Autumn.
Lastly, the most notable and more popular among couples is the heart shape tree located near the entrance of the castle gates.
Iwakiyama Shrine
At just about a 20 min drive West of Hirosaki Castle is Iwakiyama Shrine. The shrine was built around the year 1200 and is frequently visited as a place of worship. Iwakiyama Shrine is especially popular amongst those who are attempting to get pregnant, in search of fortune, or a healthy relationship with their significant other. When traveling to Aomori you must visit here !
The Entrance
You start facing two enormous tori gates that lead you along a long pathway towards the shrine. The walk is at an uphill slant, making for a significant challenge, which provides the perfect amount of time to ponder your request for the Gods.
The best part about the shrine is not just the walk, but the breathtaking scenery that surrounds the pathway. Like Hirosaki Castle, Iwakiyama changes significantly according to the season, setting up for a glorious stage. Of course, you need to be mindful of your surroundings and be polite, there are just so many wonderful pieces to take a picture of.
The first two tori gates are actually used quite often when mentioning a visit to Iwakiyama shrine on social media. If you time it just right, you can get both the long pathway of the shrine and Mt.Iwaki, or as the locals prefer to call it, Tsugaru Fuji.
This has been my 5th time visiting Iwakiyama shrine, and every time I visit there never seem to be many people, a relieving aspect of visiting a non-crowded shrine in Japan.
The Walk
Once you get to the final entrance that leads into the shrine, you are greeted with guardian dogs. The one that faces up brings you lots of fortune, and the one that faces down is said to bring you love.
To the side of the final entrance, before the shrine, lies a small water basin that is hidden. Water sprouts out of a three-headed dragon allowing you to drink the sacred water and also cleanse your hands before the big visit. This sacred water is also good for blessing couples who would like to start a healthy and sound family.
At only a 20 min drive from Hirosaki city, I recommend you add Iwakiyama shrine to your list of places to visit in Aomori.
Apple Baking at Tsugaru Yume Farm and Café
Near Iwakiyama Shrine lies a small café where you can enjoy all things apples. Since Aomori is famous for apples, it only makes sense that when you travel to Aomori to eat delicious apple pie. At Tsugaru Yume Farm and café, you have the chance to make your own apple pie with help from one of their professional bakers.
The apples are picked straight from the trees to your hand and into your stomach. You start by assembling your apple pie according to the instructions, making sure to treat the apples with care. Do not be afraid to add your style when designing your apple pie, as it is yours.
The café carries an assortment of freshly picked goods such as various apples, apple juice, snacks, treats, souvenirs, and more. Another wonderful point of the cafe is its “free space” lounge. You can use it as a place for you to get work done while eating freshly baked snacks. You can also use the community Wi-fi and printer!
When traveling to Aomori I recommend you go apple picking. There are many ways to pick apples. My favorite one is taking a bite out of the apple while it’s hanging from the tree.
You can experience a bit of what an Aomori apple farmer does and learn some famous Tsugaru-dialect.
Conclusion
Hirosaki City has it all, from enjoying cultural sites to taking a bite of delicious Aomori apples. Every time I visit Aomori, I often forget that this is a rural part of Japan since I always feel like I have returned home. The people are what make Aomori such a fun and lively place and I definitely recommend you add it to your list of things to do when visiting Japan.
Check out STAY JAPAN to book a stay in when traveling to Aomori. and enjoy the same experience as Giovanni.