[Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture] 5 Recommended Flying Witch Pilgrimages Recommended by Locals!

``Flying Witch a manga that depicts the growth of the main character, Makoto Kobata, in the beautiful nature of Aomori, and is a representative manga of Aomori that continues to be serialized eight years after the anime was aired. In this article, we will introduce five ``Flying Witch'' sacred pilgrimage spots that you can actually visit in Aomori Prefecture.

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What is Flying Witch?

``Flying Witch'' is a fantasy/daily manga serialized bimonthly in ``Bessatsu Shonen Magazine The story is set in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, and depicts the main character, Makoto Kowata, Many buildings, landscapes, and famous places in Hirosaki City appear in the story, and fans are now making ``pilgrims''

The reason the story is set in Hirosaki City is because the author of this work, Chihiro Ishizuka, is from Hirosaki. Mr. Ishizuka currently lives in Hirosaki City and posts pictures of himself enjoying rural life on his SNS.

It was made into an anime in 2016, and as of April 2024, 12 volumes have been released.

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Recommended spots for Flying Witch sacred site pilgrimage

``Flying Witch'' is famous as a work that allows you to make pilgrimages to sacred places, and was recently featured in ``Matsuko's Unknown World'' From here, we will introduce ``Flying Witch'' recommended sacred pilgrimage spots in Aomori Prefecture.

Taisho Roman Cafe

Fujita Memorial Garden is a large Western-style building in front of Hirosaki Castle . Here you will find Taisho Roman Cafe , which was the model for Cafe Concurcio As you can see by watching the anime, the route from the entrance of Fujita Memorial Garden to the Taisho Roman Cafe is recreated in detail. Even the table placement and furniture are almost the same!

Cafe Concurcio is a shop where you have to bow twice and clap once in front of the building, so if possible, I'd like to bow twice before entering. It might also be a good idea to sit in the same seat as Makoto and her friends, eat the same apple pie and gateau chocolate, and take a photo.

Information

• Name: Taisho Roman Cafe
• Location: 8-1 Kamishiragincho, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture　
• Phone number: 0172-37-5690
• URL: Hirosaki Tourism and Convention Association
• Business hours: 9:30-16:30 (hours may be extended during the Sakura Festival)
• Closed: Open all year round

Google Map

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Ishiba family residence

The Ishiba family residence near Hirosaki Castle appears as the home of Makoto's friend Nao Ishiwatari During the Edo period, the Ishiba family was a merchant family that served the Hirosaki clan, and mainly dealt in straw products. As the times have changed, the products they sell have changed, and currently they only sell alcohol and tobacco.

Although it was designated as a national important cultural property on February 23, 1973, it is still used as a residence. There is a sacred place pilgrimage notebook in the store, so if you are on a pilgrimage to a holy place, you should definitely stop by!

Information

• Name: Ishiba family residence
• Location: Oaza Kikkocho, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture
• Phone number: 0172-82-1642 (Cultural Properties Division)
• *For facility tours and events, please contact the owner/manager.

Google Map

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Aeon Town Hirosaki Hinoguchi store

Aeon Town Hinoguchi, which is crowded with local shoppers on holidays, is also famous as a pilgrimage spot for Flying Witch.

This is the place where Makoto bought a broom in the first volume of Flying Witch. The site is quite large, so it can be difficult to find the location, but there is a broom shop on the right side of the home center as you look from the front. As of 2024, the store name has changed, so you may not be able to take the exact same photo, but the parking lot remains the same, so why not stop by when you're nearby?

Information

• Name: Aeon Town Hirosaki Hinoguchi store
• Location: 2-9-6 Hinoguchi, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture
• Phone number: 0172-37-0609
• URL: Aeon Town Hirosaki Hinoguchi
• business hours:
  • Specialty stores/food court…9:00-21:00 (some stores open from 10:00)
  • MaxValu…7:00-23:00
  • DCM Sanwa…9:30-20:00
• Closed days: Depends on the store

Google Map

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Iwakiyama Shrine

Iwakiyama Shrine is an indispensable spot for pilgrimages to sacred places that appears many times in ``Flying Witch.'' The scene where the spring bringer appears on top of Iwakiyama Shrine has an indescribable atmosphere, and you can experience the same atmosphere when you actually visit Iwakiyama Shrine. By the way, there is also an upside-down guardian dog that was featured on the cover of volume 9.

Information

• Name: Iwakiyama Shrine
• Location: 27 Terasawa, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture
• Phone number: 0172-83-2135
• URL: Iwakiyama Shrine HP

Google Map

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Hirosaki Castle

It goes without saying that the famous pilgrimage spot for Flying Witch is Hirosaki Castle (Hirosaki Park).

Unfortunately, Hirosaki Castle is undergoing repair work due to its age, so it cannot be seen from the bridge... It is scheduled to return to its original position around 2025, so I would like to take a photo from the same angle as Makoto and the others. People should try visiting Hirosaki Castle after 2025.

Information

• Name: Hirosaki Park (Hirosaki Castle)
• Location: 1 Shimoshiroganecho, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture
• Phone number: 0172-35-3131
• URL: Hirosaki Tourism and Convention Association website

Google Map

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Lost sacred pilgrimage spots

``Flying Witch'' has many pilgrimage spots, but unfortunately there are also spots that have disappeared.

``Poppo,'' which became the model for ``POPO, '' where Makoto and his friends ate after school . Poppo is located on the 1st basement floor of Ito-Yokado Hirosaki store, and has always been popular with local junior high and high school students. However, due to the renovation of Ito-Yokado, the appearance changed to be different from ``Flying Witch''. In addition, it has been decided that Ito-Yokado Hirosaki store will close within 2024, and Poppo will also close.

Information

• Name: Poppo (Ito-Yokado Hirosaki store B1F)
• Location: 3-2-1 Oaza Ekimae, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture
• Phone number: 0172-33-5511
• URL: Ito-Yokado Hirosaki store
• Business hours: 9:00-21:00 (Business hours differ in some specialty stores)
• Closed: Open all year round (some specialty stores have different business hours)

Google Map

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Flying Witch Holy Land Pilgrimage Recommended Spots Summary Route

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summary

In addition to the places introduced this time, there are many other ``Flying Witch'' pilgrimage spots in Aomori Prefecture. Please visit the same places as Makoto and her friends and immerse yourself in the world of Flying Witch.

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