This site is a web media that delivers all kinds of trivia, from sightseeing and gourmet spots in the six Tohoku prefectures to local, customs, and history.
The Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival 2024 will be held from April 12th to May 5th, 2024. Hirosaki's cherry blossoms, said to be the best in Japan, are characterized by their blooming in layers, and are said to have originated from the pruning method used for apples, Aomori's signature fruit.
The Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival, which is held every year from around mid-April until the end of the Golden Week holidays, usually attracts many visitors, and it has been announced that the number of visitors in 2023 will be approximately 2.04 million over the 21 days.
The main attraction of the Sakura Festival is of course "Sakura!", but you'll also want to enjoy the food stalls. There are many food stalls set up at the Hirosaki Sakura Festival, and there are famous food stalls that you can only get here
In this article, we'll introduce you to information about Hirosaki's Sakura Festival 2024 and five must-try food stalls at the festival. If you're planning on visiting the festival, be sure to check it out!
Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival 2024 Event Information
Provided by: Hirosaki Park General Information Site
Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival 2024 will be held on the following dates
Venue: Hirosaki Park
Dates: Friday, April 12th to Sunday, May 5th, 2024 *This year, the dates have been brought forward to accommodate the early blooming of the cherry blossoms.
Nighttime illumination
Period: Sakura Festival period *April 12th to May 5th, 2024
Time: Sunset to 10:00 PM *This may change depending on the cherry blossom blooming situation
The Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival is divided into paid and free areas, and admission fees vary depending on the location, but are as follows:
Paid area admission fee
individual
organization
[Single ticket] One-day admission ticket to Hirosaki Castle Honmaru and Kitanokura
Adults (high school students and above): 320 yen Children (elementary and junior high school students): 100 yen
Adults (high school students and above) 250 yen Children (elementary and junior high school students) 80 yen
Adults (high school students and above): 320 yen Children (elementary and junior high school students): 100 yen
Adults (high school students and above) 250 yen Children (elementary and junior high school students) 80 yen
[Hirosaki Castle Annual Pass] Annual admission ticket to the Honmaru and Kitano-Kai castles
Adults (high school students and above): 1,040 yen Children (elementary and junior high school students): 310 yen
none
[Combined ticket] One-day admission ticket for Hirosaki Castle Honmaru/Kita no Kaku, Hirosaki Castle Botanical Garden, and Fujita Memorial Garden
Adults (high school students and above): 520 yen Children (elementary and junior high school students): 160 yen
Adults (high school students and above): 470 yen Children (elementary and junior high school students): 130 yen
[Common Year-Round Pass] A common year-round pass for the Honmaru and Kitano-Kai of Hirosaki Castle, Hirosaki Castle Botanical Garden, and Fujita Memorial Garden.
Adults (high school students and above): 2,090 yen Children (elementary and junior high school students): 620 yen
none
Please note that admission times are limited during the Sakura Festival, so please refer to the map below
Paid areas and times
April 12th to April 22nd
April 23rd to May 5th
Hirosaki Castle Honmaru and Northern Quarter
9：00～17：00
7：00～21：00
Hirosaki Castle Botanical Garden
9：00～17：00 *Admission tickets are sold until 4:30 p.m
9：00～18：00 *Admission tickets are sold until 5:30 p.m
Information about the Flower Raft in Hirosaki Park
Speaking of the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival, the flower raft on the outer moat of Hirosaki Park is also famous. This the "Most Beautiful Sights in the World You Must See Before You Die" and has been a hot topic in recent years. During the festival (April 12th to May 5th, 2024), a section of the outer moat bank, which is normally closed to the public, will be opened to the public so that people can get a close-up look at the spectacular cherry blossoms.
*The map above is taken from Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival 2024
Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival Temporary Free Parking
A temporary free parking lot will be open during the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival. Hirosaki Park is about a 20-minute walk from the free parking lot
Fujimibashi Temporary Parking Lot
Capacity: 400 cars
Available dates: April 19th to May 5th, 2024
Opening hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM *Closed when the water level rises
Iwakibashi Temporary Parking Lot
Capacity: 500 cars
Available dates: April 19th to May 5th, 2024
Opening hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM *Closed when the water level rises
Google Map
It is expected to be very crowded during the event. If the temporary free parking lot is full, you will only be able to use the paid parking lots around Hirosaki Park, so we recommend that you plan your trip well in advance.
5 recommended food stalls at Hirosaki Sakura Festival 2024!
We've gone on a bit too long with the details about the event, but from here on, we'll introduce five food stalls recommended by locals that you can only eat here, from the approximately 200 stalls that line the streets every year!
A specialty of the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival! Black konjac
One of the specialties of the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival black konjac . Its jet-black appearance makes a big impact! The jet-black broth in which the konjac is boiled is seasoned with soy sauce and salt. You might be worried that it will be very salty, but contrary to its appearance, the flavor is not strong. So why is it so black? Since soy sauce and salt alone do not produce jet-black konjac, various rumors are circulating among the locals, such as "They boil it in cola," "Maybe it contains squid ink," and "It's probably hijiki seaweed broth." The secret behind its black color is a trade secret, so even the locals don't know the truth.
Because it sells like hotcakes during the Sakura Festival, the flavor sometimes doesn't penetrate all the way to the center of the konjac... But even so, you won't feel like you've been to the Hirosaki Sakura Festival unless you try this black konjac. If you come to the Hirosaki Sakura Festival, why not try some black konjac and discover the secret behind its dark color?
The sweet sauce is addictive! Kameya's Takoyaki
The second place we'll introduce Kameya's Takoyaki . Those who try Kameya's takoyaki for the first time will probably be surprised by its simple appearance. There's no bonito flakes, no green laver, and no mayonnaise, and the visuals seem to say that you should enjoy the sauce and the dough. Just the appearance alone is enough to make it unique. When you try it, you'll be surprised by how sweet both the sauce and the dough are! The bonito flakes, green laver, and mayonnaise don't go well together, and in fact it's so sweet it's like eating a candy.
At first, you'll be surprised by its sweetness, but as you eat it, you'll find it becomes an addictive and mysterious treat. It's a familiar flavor in Tsugaru, even at Yoimiya, so if you're curious, be sure to give it a try
Warm up on a cold day with this! Ginger Miso Oden
Although the Sakura Festival is held in mid-April, the nights in Aomori can get quite chilly. So, we recommend trying "ginger miso oden," ! Ginger miso oden, known as a local dish in Aomori Prefecture, is also a popular dish at the Hirosaki Sakura Festival. The ingredients, such as whelk and bamboo shoots, are unique to oden in other prefectures.
Some stores even offer pink cherry blossom-shaped konjac, which has become a hot topic as it looks great on Instagram
Ginger miso oden is sold at multiple stalls, so it's fun to find the flavor that suits you best. Why not warm yourself up with some ginger miso oden and enjoy the cherry blossoms at night?
Enjoy a variety of flavors! Sakano Dango
Another famous product that has people lining up just as often as the black konjac the dumpling shop halfway up the hill . There are so many flavors to choose from, it's hard to decide, but my personal recommendation is the grilled dumplings. The slightly sweet rice cakes and the sweet and salty miso sauce go so well together that you won't be able to stop eating them.
In addition to the grilled dumplings, they also sell pumpkin flavored dumplings, grass dumplings, and mochi with cherry blossom bean paste. You'll want to eat them all, but each one is large and filling, so it's best to share with someone
Miraculously sweet! Takekimi's Tempura
If you come to the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival, you should definitely try the "Takekimi Tempura ." Takekimi is popular for its sweetness, which is hard to believe for corn, and tempura brings out that sweetness to the fullest. With every bite, sweet juice spurts out from the large pieces of flesh, making it so juicy that you could get burned if you're not careful.
The only seasoning is salt, which brings out the sweetness of the dakekimi! They are bite-sized, so you don't have to worry about the sauce dripping, making them great for eating on the go
Other stalls that will be exhibited at the Hirosaki Sakura Festival 2024 can also be found on the map on the official website of the Hirosaki Sakura Festival 2024. The map is embedded below for your reference
Google Map
summary
While the focus tends to be on the cherry blossoms, the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival also has a wide variety of food stalls. In addition to the standard food stalls that are set up every year, new food stalls are constantly opening up. When you come to the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival, be sure to enjoy the food stalls along with the cherry blossoms!
Information
For inquiries, please contact the Hirosaki Tourism and Convention Association (located in the Hirosaki City Tourist Center)
