Page 313 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

The moat-surrounded
Hirosaki Castle, the former
home of the Tsugaru family

streets lead to Hirosaki Park, gate has extra-deep eaves
the old castle grounds of the because of the heavy snows
Tsugaru lords. The castle was common in the area. A side
destroyed by lightning but its hall contains polychrome
picturesque 1810 keep, some statues of the Buddha’s 500 DRINK
smaller tow ers, several gates, disciples. The main hall has
and three moats remain. the naturally mum mified Ichinosuke
Kamenoko mon, the imposing body of the 12th Tsugaru lord. This izakaya (pub)
main gate, is on the north, The streets around the specializes in Aomori’s
where historic samurai houses castle were designed to twist traditional food and
still stand. Nearby is the and turn to confuse enemy jizake, or local artisan-
Tsugaruhan Neputa Mura, forces. The large Kankokan made sake.
displaying the Neputa floats (municipal informa tion center) ! G1 ⌂ 1-5-19 Yasukata,
used in Hirosaki’s refined just south of the park is a good Aomori-shi, Aomori
summer festival. place to get oriented. It also 030-0803
The wooded castle park is has dis plays of local crafts. § (017) 763-0590
famous for its cherry blossoms, Other craft outlets include
at their best in late April. The Tanakaya, on the corner of
Municipal Museum, inside the Ichiban-cho, with its range Tsugaru Joppari
Isariya Sakaba
park, has exhibitions of local of traditional and contem-
history. Twenty-two temples porary Tsugaru lacquerware. This farmhouse-style
izakaya hosts live
line the approach to Chosho-ji, Miyamoto Kogei, on Minami
the Tsugaru family temple set Sakura-cho, sells baskets of shamisen music.
on a bluff overlooking the akebi, a vine fruit that grows ! G1 ⌂ 2-5-14 Honcho,
Hirosaki plain and Mount wild in the mountains. Aomori-shi, Aomori 030-
Iwaki. Its handsome two-story 0802 ∑ maruto
Tsugaruhan Neputa Mura misuisan.jpn.com
" ⌂ 61 Kamenokomachi
HIDDEN GEM § (0172) 39-1511 # 9am– A-Factory
Rice Work! 5pm daily Learn all about apple-
Inakadate village near cider brewing at this hip
Hirosaki is famous for Municipal Museum space, which combines
its rice paddy artworks. " ⌂ 1-6, Shimoshiroganecho a factory and a bar.
Perspective drawing § (0172) 35-0700 # 9:30am– ! G1 ⌂ 1-4-2 Yanakawa,
methods are used to 4:30pm Thu–Wed Aomori-shi, Aomori
make the images look 038-0012
their best when seen Chosho-ji ∑ jre-abc.com
from the 72-ft (22-m) " ⌂ 1-23-8 Nishi-Shigemori
observation platform. § (0172) 32-0813 #Mar–Nov:

9am–4pm daily, appt Dec–Feb
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