5 recommended pilgrimage to the holy sites of "Flying Witch" recommended by locals! [Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture]

Flying Witch a manga that depicts the growth of the main character, Makoto Kowata, amid the beautiful nature of Aomori. It is still being serialized eight years after the anime aired, and is a manga that represents Aomori. In this article, we will introduce five Flying Witch pilgrimage spots that you can actually visit in Aomori Prefecture.

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What is Flying Witch?

"Flying Witch" is a fantasy/slices-of-life manga serialized bimonthly in Bessatsu Shonen Magazine the protagonist, apprentice witch Makoto Kowata, as have begun "pilgrimages" to the spots that appear in the work

The reason why the story is set in Hirosaki is because the author of the work, Chihiro Ishizuka, is originally from Hirosaki. Ishizuka still lives in Hirosaki and posts on her social media accounts about how she enjoys country life.

It was adapted into an anime in 2016, and as of April 2024, 12 volumes of the manga have been released

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Flying Witch pilgrimage recommended spots

"Flying Witch" is famous for being a work that allows people to make pilgrimages to its holy sites, and was recently featured on the TV show "Matsuko no Shiranai Sekai."

Taisho Roman Cafe

Fujita Memorial Garden is a large Western-style building located in front of Hirosaki Castle . It is here that the Taisho Roman Cafe, which served as the model for Cafe Concursio, is located. If you watch the anime, you'll see that the path from the entrance of Fujita Memorial Garden to the Taisho Roman Cafe has been meticulously recreated. Even the table arrangement and furnishings are almost identical!

Cafe Concursio is a shop that won't appear until you bow twice, clap twice, and bow once in front of the building, so if possible, you'll want to bow twice, clap twice, and bow once before entering. It might also be nice to sit in the same seat as Makoto and the others, eat the same apple pie and gateau au chocolat, and take a photo

Information

• Name: Taisho Romantic Tea Room
• Address: 8-1 Kamishiroganecho, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture　
• Phone number: 0172-37-5690
• URL: Hirosaki Tourism and Convention Association
• Opening hours: 9:30-16:30 (extended hours during the Sakura Festival)
• Closed: Open all year round

Google Map

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Ishiba family residence

Makoto's friend, Ishiwatari Nao . During the Edo period, the Ishiba family was a merchant family that was a major player in the Hirosaki domain, and mainly dealt in straw products. As the times changed, the products they sold changed, and now they sell alcohol and tobacco.

Although it was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan on February 23, 1973, it is still used as a residence today. There is a sacred place pilgrimage notebook inside the store, so it's definitely worth stopping by if you're on a pilgrimage!

Information

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

Google Map

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Aeon Town Hirosaki Hinoguchi store

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

This is the place where Makoto bought her broom in volume 1 of "Flying Witch." The site is quite large, so it can be difficult to find, but the broom section is on the hardware store side on the right side when viewed 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 if you're in the area?

Information

• Name: AEON Town Hirosaki Hinoguchi store
• Address: 2-9-6 Hinoguchi, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture
• Phone number: 0172-37-0609
• URL: AEON Town Hirosaki Hinoguchi
• business hours:
  • Specialty stores and food courts: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM (some stores open from 10:00 AM)
  • MaxValu: 7:00-23:00
  • DCM Sanwa...9:30-20:00
• Closed days: Varies by store

Google Map

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Iwakiyama Shrine

Iwakisan Shrine appears many times in "Flying Witch" and is an essential spot for pilgrimages. The scene where the spring bringer appears above Iwakisan Shrine has an indescribable atmosphere, and you can experience the same feeling by actually visiting Iwakisan Shrine. Incidentally, there is also an upside-down guardian dog statue that was featured on the cover of volume 9

Information

• Name: Iwakiyama Shrine
• Address: 27 Terasawa, Hyakuzawa, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture
• Phone number: 0172-83-2135
• URL: Iwakiyama Shrine website

Google Map

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Hirosaki Castle

It goes without saying that the most popular pilgrimage spot for "Flying Witch" is Hirosaki Castle (Hirosaki Park)

Unfortunately, Hirosaki Castle is currently undergoing repairs due to its age, so it can no longer be seen from the bridge. However, it is scheduled to be returned to its original location around 2025, so if you want to take a photo from the same angle as Makoto and her friends, 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 pilgrimage spots

There are many pilgrimage spots for Flying Witch, but unfortunately some of them no longer exist

"Poppo," which was the model for "POPO," where Makoto and her friends eat after school . Poppo is located on the first basement floor of the Ito-Yokado Hirosaki store, and has long been popular with local junior and senior high school students. However, due to the renovation of the Ito-Yokado, the store's appearance has changed to something different from that in "Flying Witch." In addition, the Ito-Yokado Hirosaki store is scheduled to close within 2024, and Poppo's closure has also been decided.

Information

• Name: Poppo (Ito-Yokado Hirosaki store, basement floor 1)
• Address: 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 (Some specialty stores have different business hours)
• Closed: Open all year round (some specialty stores have different opening hours)

Google Map

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Flying Witch pilgrimage recommended spots 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. Be sure to visit the same places as Makoto and her friends and immerse yourself in the world of Flying Witch

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