Local Specialties and Souvenirs Hirosaki City New Chitose Airport 弘前 角館 北上 Apple pie Tsugaru-Nuri lacquerware Everywhere around Hirosaki City, Cypress is repeatedly painted with Aomori Airport Japan’s largest apple producer, you lacquer and polished in a lengthy Akita Airport can enjoy applepies using good-taste 48-step procedure to yield this lac- Iwate Hanamaki Airport apples made in this “city of apple”. querware, in a craft dating from the Edo period. Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Kogin Embroidery Apple juice Haneda Airport This craft from the Edo period features A hundred percent pure apple juice. Nagoya Komaki Airport Chubu Centrair International Airport, Nagoya hemp cloth embroidered with cotton By squeezing the apples without any Itami Airport thread as reinforcement ant extra contact with air, the true taste and (Osaka International Airport) warmth for the kimonos of farmers. scent of apples are maintained. It is characterized by simple, beautiful geometrical patterns hand-stitched on indigo-dyed hemp. Aomori Tohoku Expressway National Route 7 Tokyo Owani-Hirosaki IC Hirosaki Park HIROSAKI KAKUNODATE KITAKAMI Approx. 7 h Approx. 25 min Shin-Aomori Tokyo Haneda Airport Approx. 1 h 15 min Approx. 45 min Hachinohe-kita Sapporo New Chitose Airport Aomori By bus Hirosaki Approx. 1 h 30 min Hirosaki Aomori Hachinohe Hirosaki Osaka Itami Airport Airport Approx. 55 min Semboku City (Kakunodate) Approx. 1 h 20 min Airport Nagoya Komaki Airport Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen Tsugaru Express (to Akita) Tokyo Station Shin-Aomori Station Hirosaki Station Kuji Kabazaiku Itayazaiku maple bark crafts Approx. 3 h Approx. 30 min Ashiro Ninohe traditional tree-bark crafts In Itayazaiku, the bark from young Tohoku Expressway Akita Expressway Making kabazaiku was initially a painted maple trees is cut into strips Tokyo Approx. 5 h Kitakami JunctionApprox. 1 h Omagari IC Approx. 40 min Kakunodate that are woven into baskets and other second source of income for samurai. Approx. 1 h 5 min Commonly made from the bark of vessels. This elegant artisan craft is Tokyo Haneda Airport known for its simple wood texture. Approx. 1 h 10 min the mountain cherry, these traditional Sapporo New Chitose Airport Bus or share taxi Akita Morioka Miyako Akita Airport Kakunodate Omagari crafts are known for their unique Kakunodate Osaka Itami Airport Approx. 1 h 15 min Approx. 1 h luster and unassumingly rich color. Chubu Centrair International Approx. 1 h 10 min Iwate Hanamaki Airport, Nagoya Kakunodate Airport Akita Akita Shinkansen Tokyo Station Approx. 3 h Kakunodate Station Airport Hanamaki Kamaishi Okaribayaki Naruto-mochi rice cakes Yokote Tohoku Expressway (game-flavored cooking) For generations, residents of the Tokyo Approx. 5 h Kitakami Kanegasaki IC Approx. 15 min Kitakami Tenshochi Kitakami Kakunodate region have celebrated Yokote Okaribayaki consists of meat and Approx. 1 h Ofunato seasonal vegetables seasoned with holidays and important events with Sapporo New Chitose Airport Approx. 1 h 20 min Iwate-Hanamaki Bus or taxi these cakes. Made from stone-ground Osaka Itami Airport Kitakami Japanese pepper and miso. It recre- Kitakami Airport Approx. 50 min Ichinoseki Kesennuma ates the flavors of the game meat so glutinous rice and filled with red bean Nagoya Komaki Airport Approx. 1 h 10 min beloved by the northern branch of paste, they are beloved for their chewy texture and the smooth sweetness Tohoku Shinkansen the Satake family who once con- Tokyo Station Kitakami Station trolled Kakunodate. of the filling. Approx. 2 h 30 min Top 3 Cherry Blossom Locations in the Michinoku Region Sendai Kitakami City Kitakami Approx. 1 h 45 min Kakunodate Approx. 2 h 45 min Hirosaki Kitakami croquettes Cherry blossom dye Suggested Route Kitakami croquettes are made with You may choose to purchase hand- local ingredients such as taro. Crunchy made crafts colored with plant dyes on the outside and soft and warm on from cherry blossom trees local to Hirosaki Hirosaki Park (Hirosaki Castle) Tsugaru-han Neputa Village Museum Hirosaki Apple Park the inside, these croquettes are simply Kitakami. This natural color from the Day 1 Hirosaki to die for. Michinoku-Kitakami region is truly a Saisho-in Five-Storied Pagoda Stay overnight in Hirosaki sight to behold. Kakunodate Samurai District and Cherry Bark Traditional Craft Museum Sake brewery tour and tasting Day 2 Kakunodate Japanese sweets factory tour Kakunodate Onsen Stay overnight in Kakunodate Kai-zogan Shell-inlaid Kitakami beef Kitakami Tenshochi Park and Michinoku Folklore Village Yakult factory tour Day 3 Kitakami Ebony Chopsticks Kitakami is blessed with the perfect Kitakami Oni no Yakata Museum Semi Onsen (Geto Kogen Onsen Village) A zogan work shell-inlaid ebony. The environment for raising livestock. shell patterned ebony shining white Using advanced feeding techniques, is beautiful. There are teacup holders the region’s farmers work passion- Top3 Cherry Blossom Locations in the Michinok Region! and teapot stands in addition to ately to offer some of the best and chopsticks. most delicious beef in the country. Inquiries Council for the Top 3 Cherry Blossom Locations in the Michinoku Region! https://michinokusakura.com Aomori Akita Iwate Hirosaki Kakunodate Kitakami Hirosaki Park Hirosaki Park boasts 2600 cherry trees, and its annual Cherry Samurai District Rich in history and culture, the area around the Hinokinai River Tenshochi Park A stunning cherry tree tunnel extending 2 km along the Kitakami Blossom Festival celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018. in Kakunodate seems frozen in time and is sometimes referred River. Enjoy the scenery above the water while walking under When to visit: The park offers a number of stunning sights, including flower When to visit: to as the Little Kyoto of Michinoku. Yoshino cherry trees border When to visit: 300 carp streamers, as well as the lovely views looking down Late April carpet of cherry blossoms petals that at times covers the castle Late April the river, while weeping cherry trees line streets of old samurai Mid-to-late from Jingaoka. to to April Early May moat! Early May residences. Visit at the right time to see all of Kakunodate dyed in exquisite pink. Area sightseeing Area sightseeing Area sightseeing Hirosaki City Apple Park Saishoin Temple Lake Tazawa Hirafuku Memorial Art Museum Geto Kogen Ski Resort Geto Kogen Onsen Village Hirosaki is the center of apple pro- Five-Storied Pagoda Boasting a depth of 423.4 m, the mys- This museum celebrates the works of The Geto Kogen Ski Resort is said Located southwest of Kitakami City, duction in Japan. Apple Park is located This pagoda was built about 350 years terious Lake Tazawa is Japan’s deep- local artists, such as Naotake Odano, to have some of the best snow in Geto Kogen Hot Spring Village con- near Mt. Iwaki and if it is clear you can ago by Nobuyoshi, the third load of est lake. The clear, bright blue of its Suian Hirafuku and Hyakusui Hira- Japan, in both quantity and quality. sists of eight facilities. The celebrated get a spectacular view of it. This park the Tsugaru clan, to commemorate waters offers a rich expression that fuku among others. It also holds exhi- Here you’ll find plenty of courses to Geto Hot Spring is the most remote features 1,500 trees and 80 varieties those who died in battle, friends, will captivate all who visit its shores. bitions of more contemporary artists. suit everyone from beginners to of these remote springs and boasts of apples. You can learn about apple and enemies alike, during the unifi- experts alike. a history that dates back more than cultivation, marketing and nutrition cation of Tsugaru. The five-storied a millennium! as well as the history of apple pro- pagoda, which stands 31.2 meters duction. Throughout the year there high, is considered the most beauti- are various events to enjoy, and it has ful of its kind in Tohoku. something to offer to every member of the family! Fujita Memorial Garden Mt. Iwaki Dakigaeri Gorge Nyuto Hot Spring Village Onikenbai Michinoku Folklore Village [Nationally Designated Important Intangible Fujita Kenichi, a native of Hirosaki Mt. Iwaki is a double volcano with an Dakigaeri Gorge is especially known Nyuto Hot Spring Village is one of Cultural Property] Right next to Tenshochi, you’ll find and the first president of the Japan altitude of 1,625m. There are three for both its spring and autumn foli- Japan’s most popular remote hot a grouping of about 200-year-old Chamber of Commerce and Industry, peaks; the two flanking peaks are Mt. age, and offers paths for a pleasant spring destinations. It is home to This bold and dramatic dance is truly cottages. Immerse yourself in an had the villa built in 1921. The garden, Ganki and Mt. Chokai, and the cen- walk to the gorge’s landmark Mikaeri seven unique hot spring inns that captivating. Visitors to Kitakami can authentic Japanese landscape which approximately 21,000m, includes a tral peaks is Mt. Iwaki. The mountain Falls. will surely bring peace and comfort see the sword dance being per- tells the history and evolution of garden on a hill, from which you can greatly varies in appearance depend- to the weary traveler. formed at the Kitakami Oni no Japanese village life. see Mt. Iwaki, and low-lying garden ing on where you look at it; each Yakata, as well as throughout the city with beautiful pond and irises. town claims that it has the best view during the Kitakami-Michinoku Arts of the mountain. Festival, a three-day festival that opens annually on the first Friday of August..