Sunday, June 19, 2016

Hirosaki Castle - Japan

Hirosaki Castle is a hirayama-style Japanese castle constructed in 1611, located in central Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture.

© Pin Up Co., Ltd
JP-390147, sent by Midori.
Hirosaki Castle was built in 1611 by the Tsugaru Clan. A three-story castle tower, fortified moats, castle gates and some corner turrets (yagura) survive or were reconstructed. The castle is located in Hirosaki Park, a spacious public park of about 0.6 square kilometers.
The castle's original five-story keep burnt down in 1627 after being struck by lightning. Rebuilt in 1810, the present three-story keep is the only one in the Tohoku Region that was not rebuilt in the modern era, amongst only a handful in all of Japan.

Copyright © 2001 Shigeru Kanehara
JP-790608, sent by Yuki.
Hirosaki Park is one of Japan's best cherry blossom spots. With its abundance of over 2500 trees, cherry blossom tunnels, petal filled moats, numerous pleasant picnic areas, rental rowing boats, many varieties of cherry trees and illuminations in the evenings, it feels like multiple great cherry blossom spots combined into a single one. A cherry blossom festival is held annually from April 23 to May 5, when the blossoms are usually in bloom. - in: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3700.html

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