[Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture] Starbucks Coffee Hirosaki Koen-mae store has a Taisho romance feel. “Sakura light-up” spreads out in front of you on winter nights

There are stylish Starbucks stores all over Japan, but Hirosaki City in Aomori Prefecture is also home to the quaint, Showa-era retro Starbucks Coffee Hirosaki Koenmae store . It is located right in front of Hirosaki Park, famous for its cherry blossoms, and in winter the cherry trees are lit up, creating a truly magical atmosphere.

In this article, we will introduce you Starbucks Coffee Hirosaki Koenmae Store and the winter cherry blossom illuminations

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Starbucks Coffee Hirosaki Koenmae store is a renovated building of the former 8th Division Commander's residence

Starbucks Coffee Hirosaki Koenmae is located on Otemon Street, overlooking the outer moat of Hirosaki Castle, a famous cherry blossom viewing spot. It is next to the main building of Hirosaki City Hall.

The building was originally constructed in the Taisho era (1917) the "Former 8th Division Commander's Residence,"

The "Former 8th Division Commander's Residence" is the residence of the commander of the Hirosaki 8th Division, which was the home of the unit featured in the Hakkoda Mountain Disaster, which was also made into a movie! If you have seen the movie "Hakkoda Mountain," you may find this place quite moving.

Starbucks Coffee Hirosaki Koenmae Store <Information>

• Name: Starbucks Coffee Hirosaki Koenmae Store
• Address: 1-1 Kamishiroganecho, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture
• Business hours: 7:00 - 21:00
• Phone number: 0172-39-4051
• URL: Starbucks Coffee Hirosaki Park Store

Google Maps

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Sakichi Horie, known as the god of carpentry

In Hirosaki City, a carpenter named Sakichi Horie, who was known as the "God of Carpenters ." Born in 1845 (the 2nd year of the Koka era), he worked on many Western-style buildings in Aomori Prefecture during the Meiji period.

Sakichi Horie was involved in public works in Hokkaido and encountered Western-style architecture, which led him to immerse himself in the study of Western-style architecture. There are records of him constructing over 1,500 buildings, but only a few of them still remain

The buildings that remain today the former Hirosaki City Library and Hirosaki Kaikosha , but the former 59th Bank is said to be Sakichi Horie's greatest masterpiece. Even after his death, his skills and spirit were passed down to his descendants and disciples.

The 59th Bank Main Branch ＜Information＞

• Name: The 59th Bank Main Branch Main Building
• Address: 26 Motonagamachi, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture
• Business hours: 9:30am - 4:30pm
• Closed: Tuesday
• Phone number: 0172-82-1642
• URL: Former Fifty-Ninth Bank Main Building

Google Maps

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Former Hirosaki City Library <Information>

• Name: Former Hirosaki City Library
• Address: 2-1 Shimoshiroganecho, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture (inside Otemon Square)
• Opening hours: 9:00-17:00
• Closed: New Year's holiday (December 29th to January 3rd)
• Phone number: 0172-82-1642 (Cultural Properties Division)
• URL: Former Hirosaki City Library

Google Maps

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The former 8th Division Commander's Residence was built by the Horie family

The former 8th Division Commander's Residence was designed and built in 1917 Sakichi Horie's eldest son, Hikosaburo

It is a modern Western-style building that exudes the romantic atmosphere of the Taisho era, with mortar-painted exterior walls, a unique roof with sharp edges, vertical windows, and a triangular roof called a gabled roof at the entrance

Currently a registered tangible cultural property of the country

After the war, the former 8th Division Commander's residence was used as the commander's quarters for the US military occupying forces.
From 1951 (Showa 26), it was used as the official residence of the Hirosaki City Mayor.
In 2003 (Heisei 15), it was designated as a national registered tangible cultural property.
Furthermore, in 2008 (Heisei 20), it was designated as a "Charming Building"

It was moved to its current location in 2020 as part of preservation and repair work, which brought its existence to the public's attention and made it known to many local residents

Inside Starbucks Hirosaki Koenmae store

The Starbucks Hirosaki Koenmae store is divided into three rooms, each with a different atmosphere. It's fun to decide which area to spend your time in depending on your mood at the time

The conference room at that time is now the bar area

The room immediately inside the entrance was formerly a conference room.
This room is now the bar area, and above the order counter is a cute and stylish round lighting fixture made from "Bunaco,"

Hirosaki Park can be seen from the waiting room at the time

The waiting room is decorated with photographs showing the changes in the building over time.
The black and white photographs create a nice atmosphere, and the room offers a view of Hirosaki Park.

The Japanese garden can be seen from the Japanese-style room at that time

The Japanese-style room is now furnished with tables and chairs of various sizes, creating a space that exudes the warmth of wood.
The Japanese garden can be seen from the window, making it a perfect place to spend some relaxing time.

is decorated with the traditional Kogin embroidery

"Sakura Light-up" in front of Starbucks Hirosaki Koenmae store

Hirosaki Park is famous for its cherry blossoms in spring, and many people visit from outside the prefecture and even the country. The
cherry blossoms around the Starbucks Hirosaki Koenmae store are spectacular, as the outer moat of Hirosaki Castle is located right in front of the store.

Cherry blossoms are usually thought of as blooming in the spring, but the cherry blossoms that bloom in the outer moat of Hirosaki Park also bloom in the winter. However, they are not real cherry blossoms

Since 2017, the "Winter Cherry Blossom Illumination" has been taking place in response to requests from local residents to see the cherry blossoms bloom in winter as well.

The cherry trees along the outer moat, 600 meters from the Otemon Gate of Hirosaki Park, famous for its flower rafts, are lit up in pink by LED floodlights. The best time to see them is when snow has accumulated on the trees. The snow on the trees is illuminated by the light, creating a beautiful scene that looks like cherry blossoms are in bloom. What's more, on snowy nights, the cherry blossom petals look as if they are dancing in the air

The Sakura Light-up has been funded through crowdfunding since 2017.
The target amount for 2017 was 300,000 yen, but the total amount raised was 413,000 yen, far exceeding the target.

For the winter of 2022, the colors will change to evoke not only spring but also the four seasons.
The colors will change from pink, which evokes spring, to green, which evokes early summer, to orange, which evokes the Neputa Festival in summer and autumn, to white, which evokes winter snow.

The lights will be on from sunset to 10:00 p.m. from December 2022 to February 28, 2023

Link: Winter Cherry Blossom Illumination Official Website

Why not spend a special moment at the retro-modern Starbucks Hirosaki Koenmae store and the fantastical cherry blossom illuminations?

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