弘前市 in 青森県

Hirosaki is a castle town in Aomori Prefecture at the northern end of Honshu, spread beneath the volcanic cone of Mount Iwaki. It ruled the Tsugaru region through the Edo period, and today it is Japan's apple capital and home to one of the country's most celebrated cherry blossom festivals.

Hirosaki Castle keeps a rare original keep, small but genuine, inside a park of thousands of cherry trees; in late April fallen petals raft across the moats in pink sheets. The preserved samurai quarter lines up hedged lanes nearby, and cafes across town compete over apple pie.

Late April to early May is peak season, when the blossom festival fills the park day and night. February answers with the Snow Lantern Festival, candlelit snow sculptures glowing among the trees. Trains connect Hirosaki with Aomori and the shinkansen, and Tsugaru cuisine plus local cider rewards an overnight stay.