Event
Spring
■ The Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival (April 23 to May 5)
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It is said that the first cherry blossoms, or sakura, to be planted in the grounds of Hirosaki Park were so-called "misty sakura" (kasumizakura), which were brought from Kyoto in 1715. Nowadays, the park contains some 2,600 trees belonging to such varieties as Somei Yoshino, weeping cherries, and double cherries. Lit up at night they are truly a magical sight. |
● Hirosaki Castle Miss Cherry Blossom Contest (mid–April)
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The winner of the contest performs public relations activities for the city at various tourist events and other events. |
● Hirosaki Park Botanical Garden The Fujita Memorial Japanese Garden (mid–April to Novembar 23)
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Visitors can enjoy the seasonal beauty of nature. |
● National Kite Flying Contest (early May)
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This contest is held in Iwaki district every year. About 400 participants compete and are judged on their kite-flying skills and the beauty of their kites hovering in the sky. |
● Fire Brigade Inspection Parade (May 5)
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Simultaneous spraying of water from 100 fire engines impresses spectators. Firefighters also wave standards and perform ladder stunts. |
● International Tsugaru Roman Two Day March (mid–May)
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Enjoy walking at your own pace, and enjoy the fresh greenery along Tsugaru roads. |
● Apple Blossom Festival (mid–May)
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In the Apple Park, where apple blossoms are blooming in all their glory, visitors can enjoy a Tsugaru Shamisen performance. |
Summer
■ Hirosaki Neputa Festival (August 1-7)
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This festival was officially designated as a "significant intangible folk cultural asset." Lines of huge lanterns painted with the faces of fierce warriors burn against the sky, the deep throbs of enormous drums reverberate through the night. As the floats slowly wend their way through the streets of Hirosaki, they set the summer night afire. |
● Various Shrine Festivals (early–june to September)
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Various shrine festivals, entrance paths to shrines and temples filled with street stalls are crowded with people seeking cool air. |
● Firework Festival in the Historic City of Hirosaki (mid-June)
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10,000 fi reworks bloom like a gigantic-blossomed flower in the summer night sky, mesmerizing spectators. |
● Yosakoi Tsugaru Street Dancing (late-June)
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About 30 teams from Aomori and outside the prefecture perform Yosakoi dance using original costumes and choreography. |
● Star Festival in Soma (mid–July)
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The summer festival held in Soma district, bustling with lion dances, Yosakoi dances, and street stalls. |
● Iwaki Summer Festival (July 30–31)
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The annual summer festival held in Iwaki district, in which Oyama Sankei worshippers, brass bands, and the Neputa parade the shopping streets. |
● Fashion Koshien (late August)
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High school students from across the nation unveil inspired pieces in the form of a fashion show. |
Autumn
■ Hirosaki Castle Chrysanthemum and Maple Festival (mid-October to early November)
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Around the festival's main site, chrysanthemums have been planted with the utmost care, and the park is full of maple tree blossoms. And at night-time, a fantastic spectacle is created through the lighting up of the trees, bewitching visitors. |
● Culture Road (mid–September)
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On the venue on Dotemachi street, activities of various groups are introduced. Rows of street stalls are crowded with many residents. |
● Mt.Iwaki Pilgrimage (mid–September ／ lunar August 1)
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An autumn festival involving pilgrims heading to Mt. Iwaki with Shinto staffs and banners to makeprayers to the gods there for rich harvests and the well-being of families. |
● Hirosaki Shirakami Apple Marathon (early October)
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Many participants run past apple orchards in the autumn breeze. |
● Tsugaru Food and Industry Festival (mid–October)
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Local products and daily necessities are gathered in one hall to introduce "Food," at the heart of consumption, and "Industry," which is wellestablished in the local community. |
● Hirosaki Sports Recreation Festival (second Monday in October and preceding day)
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Everyone, from children to adults, can enjoy sports and recreational activities. |
● Apple and Rice Harvest Festival (mid–November)
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At this harvest festival filled with the tastes of autumn, visitors can buy agricultural produce harvested in the city, such as apples and vegetables and locally-produced foods. |
Winter
■ Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival (early February)
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A festival that started as a demonstration that Hirosaki people enjoy the snow. The main role is played by lanterns handcrafted from frozen snow. At night, when candles throw their uncertain light through the colored prints on the lanterns, the effect is pure magic. |
● Tsugaru Hirosaki Winter Journies (December 1 to February 28)
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All sorts of colorful events in this tourist campaign are planned under the theme of "East, West, Food, and Light." Included among them is "Electrical Fantasy," a night-time event involving the creation of a fantastical other world through the night-time illumination of cultural materials and other beautiful lighting. This event has become established as a poetic addition to the Hirosaki winter calendar. |
● Firefighters' Ceremony (early January)
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The long history and tradition of firefighters waving standards and marching in file along with marching trumpets are performed in this
ceremony. |
● Winter Festival (late January)
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In this festival held in the Apple Park, all visitors, children and adults alike, play with snow and have fun. |
● Candle Festival (Lunar New Year)
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In this traditional event performed in Soma district, the way candle wax runs is used to predict the harvest of the year. |
● Naked Dedication of Sacred Rope (Lunar New Year)
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This traditional event at Ki Shrine is performed to pray for a rich harvest and the well-being of families. |
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