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Guide to Japanese Castles

Hirosaki Castle

弘前城

donjon
     
Alternate Name Takaoka-jo
Founder Tsugaru Nobuhira
Year 1611
Type Hilltop
Structure 3 levels, 3 stories
Condition Original
Rating ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Historical Site National Historic Site
Historical Value Top 100 Castles, Important Cultural Properties
Historical Artifacts Important Cultural Properties:
Sannomaru Outemon Gate, Sannomaru East Gate, Ninomaru Tatsumi Yagura, Ninomaru Hitsujisaru Yagura, Ninomaru Ushitora Yagura, Ninomaru South Gate, Ninomaru East Gate, Kitanokuruwa North Gate, tenshu
Location Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture
Map Google Map
Access Hirosaki Station, 25 minute walk, or short bus ride
Website Hirosaki City Important Cultural Property Site
Visited April 1999
Notes The grounds of Hirosaki are very spacious and the cherry blossoms in the spring were spectacular. I'd love to go back again soon for the Sakura festival. A half day trip to Kakunodate is also very worthwhile to see the old samurai town when you are in the area.
History

The 3 level donjon of Hirosaki-jo seems disproportionately small when compared to the huge estate encompassed by the castle today. Hirosaki-jo was originally built with a 5 level donjon which was struck by lightning and burned to the ground in 1627.The donjon was not rebuilt until 1810.

The new 3 level donjon is built atop the inner moat using the stone wall as the palisade for the donjon. Originally it was also connected to a section of yagura along the top of this moat. The yagura, however, no longer exists and the donjon stands alone. Hirosaki-jo has the only extant donjon to the east of Matsumoto-jo (Nagano prefecture) making it a historical treasure of the Tohoku region.

Hirosaki-jo is famous throughout Japan for the more than 5000 cherry trees that fill its grounds today. Every spring when the trees are in bloom thousands of visitors flock to the grounds to partake in one of Japan's finest Cherry Blossom Festivals.

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