Hirosaki Castle is known as one of the leading historic castles in the Tohoku region with an original surviving keep, located within Hirosaki Park. By understanding the castle layout and the locations of paid areas, you can tour efficiently even with limited time.
If you understand how the paid areas differ from the free areas, planning your visit becomes easier. This includes the paid Honmaru and Kita-no-Kuruwa, the paths around the keep, and viewing turrets and gates from outside.
Hirosaki Castle Overview and Key Facts
Hirosaki Castle was built in the early Edo period and features an original keep, along with several surviving turrets and castle gates. It is open to the public as Hirosaki Park, and the Honmaru and Kita-no-Kuruwa are paid areas where you can see the castle’s central zone up close.
Hirosaki Castle Highlights and Nearby Spots
Highlights of Hirosaki Castle
- Walk through the castle’s central area in the paid Honmaru and Kita-no-Kuruwa sections
- Observe the exterior of the original keep and the structure of its stone walls nearby
- Visit turrets and gates to understand how the castle was designed for defense during the Edo period
Spots Within About 30 Minutes
- Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art, where you can view modern art and a historic brick building
- Fujita Memorial Japanese Garden, where you can see a Japanese garden and Western-style architecture
- Saishoin Five-Story Pagoda, where you can see one of the leading wooden pagodas in Tohoku
Activities Around Hirosaki Castle
At Hirosaki Castle, the typical flow is to walk through the paid Honmaru and Kita-no-Kuruwa areas while touring the area around the keep. You can mainly view the exteriors of the turrets and gates, and the paths along the moats help you see the overall castle structure.
Access to Hirosaki Castle
