Northern Japan: Part 2

 Northern Japan in Spring – Part 2: Aomori, Where Cherry Blossoms Meet Snow-Capped Mountains

As a nature lover, I found Aomori to be a delightful place to visit. Located at the northernmost tip of Japan’s main island, Honshu, Aomori is a land shaped by both mountains and sea. The prefecture is surrounded by water on three sides and divided by the volcanic Hakkoda Mountains, creating a landscape of dramatic contrasts. Throughout my visit, I enjoyed a wonderful blend of scenery, culture, and food.

Being surrounded by the ocean, Aomori is known for its exceptionally fresh seafood. It is also famous as Japan’s apple capital, producing more apples than any other prefecture in the country. Unfortunately, I’m allergic to apples, so I had to admire the countless apple pies, pastries, and sweets from a distance. While I couldn’t sample Aomori’s signature fruit, I certainly didn’t go hungry. Later in the trip, we enjoyed an impressive buffet in Hirosaki featuring a variety of Japanese dishes and an equally tempting dessert selection.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.


Hirosaki Castle: A Feast for the Senses

Hirosaki Park is one of Japan’s most celebrated cherry blossom destinations.

We missed the peak bloom by the narrowest of margins. I had hoped to witness the famous hanaikada—the “flower rafts” formed when fallen cherry blossom petals completely cover the castle moats, creating rivers of pink. Unfortunately, nature’s timing wasn’t quite aligned with ours.

Yet any disappointment quickly disappeared.

The castle grounds are home to more than 2,000 cherry trees representing about 50 varieties. Although some blossoms had already fallen, the result was still breathtaking. The ground was painted in soft layers of pink and white. Petals drifted through the air and floated across the water, while reflections shimmered in the moats below.

The castle itself almost seemed secondary to the blossoms. Rather than being the star attraction, Hirosaki Castle served as a beautiful backdrop for nature’s performance.

And then there was Mount Iwaki.

Rising beyond the castle grounds, its snow-covered peak dominated the horizon. Wherever you stood, the mountain seemed to frame the scene. The combination of delicate pink blossoms, historic castle architecture, reflective moats, and the towering white mountain created a landscape so perfectly balanced that it hardly seemed real.

It was a feast for all my senses—the sight of endless blossoms, the gentle rustle of petals in the breeze, the fresh spring air, and the feeling of being immersed in one of Japan’s most iconic seasonal landscapes. 


Seibien Garden: A Hidden Gem in Hirakawa

Before reaching Hirosaki, we stopped at Seibien Garden in the neighboring city of Hirakawa. I have visited many Japanese gardens over the years, but this one felt different.

Completed during the Meiji Era in 1893, Seibien combines a traditional Japanese strolling garden with a Western-style mansion, reflecting Japan’s transition into the modern age. The elegant building seemed almost out of place among the carefully manicured pines, ponds, and stone lanterns, yet somehow everything blended harmoniously.

Walking through the garden felt like stepping into a scene from a Studio Ghibli film. The winding paths, tranquil water, and stately old trees created an atmosphere of quiet wonder. It was easy to imagine characters like those from The Wind Rises or Spirited Away wandering through the grounds.



What surprised me most, however, was what lay beyond the garden walls. Everywhere I looked, cherry blossom trees were exploding in shades of pink. And in the distance, as if following us wherever we went, stood snow-capped Mount Iwaki. The contrast was almost surreal: spring in full bloom below and winter still lingering on the mountain above.

It was one of those landscapes that makes you stop walking and simply stare.

Another highlight of Aomori City was visiting the Nebuta Museum WA-RASS. Although I was not there during the famous Aomori Nebuta Festival in August, the museum allowed me to experience the festival year round. The massive illuminated floats depicting warriors, mythical figures and scenes depicting Japanese folklore were breathtaking upclose. The museum not only captured the artistry behind the giants creation but also explained the tradition and history of the festival. The music, drums and other musical instruments and the interactive exhibits made me feel as if I were a part of the celebration itself.


Aomori had already captured my heart. It was proving to be a place where nature and culture coexist beautifully, where every turn revealed another postcard-worthy view, and where spring seemed to unfold against one of the most dramatic backdrops imaginable. 


PHOTO GALLERY 

1. Hirosaki Park 








2. Seibien Gardens




3. Nebuta Museum 



Note: All photos by the author


Comments

Post a Comment

NEW POSTS

Ethiopia: Gondar - The Origin of Empire

Image
Chapter 3 - Gondar: The Origin of Empire Our journey through Ethiopia brought us next to Gondar, a city often called the “Camelot of Africa.” Sitting high in the northern highlands, Gondar once served as the imperial capital — the beating heart of politics, faith, and culture from the 17th to 19th centuries. I hadn’t read much about Gondar before arriving; all I knew from our itinerary was that we would visit a castle — a UNESCO World Heritage site. That meant I had to lean in and pay close attention to our guide’s narration about the history of each structure. As he spoke, a steady stream of chanting drifted from a nearby church, filling the background like a living soundtrack of faith. The Royal Enclosure: Six Castles, Six Stories We began in the Royal Enclosure, a vast compound surrounded by high stone walls. Walking through its arched gates felt like entering a lost world. Inside, six castles rose one after another, each whispering the story of the ruler who built it. Fasiledes’ C...
Read more

Ethiopia: Axum, the Cradle of Ancient Civilization

Image
Chapter 6: Axum, Cradle of Ancient Civilization  After days of winding mountain roads, rugged landscapes, and stone castles that felt pulled straight out of legend, we finally reached Axum. This wasn’t just another stop on our Ethiopian journey—it felt like stepping directly into the heartbeat of history. Ethiopia calls itself the Land of Origins, and in Axum, I understood why. With more than 2,500 years of history, Axum was once the capital of an empire that traded with Rome, India, and Arabia. Its name alone carries the weight of myth, faith, and mystery. Most famously, Axum is believed to guard one of the greatest treasures in religious history: the Ark of the Covenant. The Church of St. Mary of Zion The Stelae of Axum Our first stop was the Stelae Fields, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These towering granite obelisks are unlike anything I’ve seen before. Some stretch nearly 20 meters high, carved from a single piece of stone, their faces etched with windows and doors as tho...
Read more

Transylvania, Romania: The Land of Dracula

Image
When we hear the place Transylvania, we almost always think about Dracula, the bloody vampire, that always makes a good Halloween story. So, when I visited Transylvania early this year, it's hard not to associate the places, like the Bran Castle to the famous novel "Dracula" by Bram Stoker.  It’s said that Bram Stoker’s inspiration for the Dracula was a historical character Vlad Tepes or Vlad III, the ruler of Wallachia in the 15th century. During Stoker’s research on the region of Transylvania, he came across the brutal accounts of the atrocities committed by Vlad III, also known as Vlad Dracul, aka Vlad the Impaler. He was known for committing brutal acts of war and was under constant threat of attack from the Ottoman and Hungarian forces. During his infamous retreat from the Ottoman forces, Vlad the Impaler had the bodies of his enemies and his people alike impaled on large spikes in the field surrounding his county.   The inspiration for the made-up character ma...
Read more