Hirosaki Castle — the tower that was moved, and the cherry blossoms above the moat
Hirosaki Castle in Aomori is the northernmost of the twelve Japanese castles whose tenshu keep has survived from the Edo period: it was built in 1810–1811 to replace the first one, which burned down after a lightning strike in 1627. In 2015 the keep was moved off its foundation so the stone base could be repaired, and in 2026 it is being returned to its place. Nearby is a park with about 2,600 cherry trees, one of the famous spots for cherry-blossom viewing.
The history of Hirosaki Castle includes an unusual episode: in 2015 its wooden keep was lifted entirely off its site and placed nearby for more than ten years while the stone base was repaired. Here we look at how the first keep burned down after a lightning strike, what was built to replace it, and where the name 弘前 came from, which the city only received in 1628.
Hirosaki Castle: the northernmost original keep in Japan
Hirosaki Castle was the residence of the Tsugaru clan, which ruled the domain of the same name in the north of Honshu. The current three-tier keep is the northernmost of the twelve Japanese tenshu that have survived from the Edo period.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1610–1611 | The castle is built by Tsugaru Nobuhira, continuing the work of his father Tsugaru Tamenobu |
| 1627 | The first five-tier tenshu burns down after a lightning strike ignites the gunpowder stored inside |
| 1810–1811 | The current three-tier keep is built in another part of the castle to replace the lost one |
| 2015 | The keep is moved entirely off its foundation so the stone base can be repaired |
| 2026 | The keep is returned to its historic foundation; the building itself remains closed to visitors during seismic reinforcement |
How the tenshu ended up away from its foundation
The stone base under the tenshu began to sink and crack, and repairing it in place without disturbing the structure above was impossible. In 2015 the keep was moved about 70 meters and placed on a temporary foundation inside the courtyard. Work to return it to its historic site (曳き戻し, hikimodoshi) began in the summer of 2026; according to the city's plan, the keep will be back on its foundation by November.
What the name records: 弘前城
前 — значение: before, in front, previous — онъёми: ゼン — кунъёми: まえ、-まえ — 9 штрих(ов). 前 — "before, in front": the second character in the name 弘前城.
| Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 弘前城 | Hirosaki-jō · Hirosaki-jō | Hirosaki Castle — the full Japanese name |
| 御三階櫓 | go-sankai yagura · go-sankai yagura | "Three-tier keep" — the official name of the current tenshu |
| 曳屋 | hikiya · hikiya | Moving an entire building onto a new foundation |
| 石垣 | ishigaki · ishigaki | The stone wall base, for whose repair the keep was moved |
| 桜 | sakura · sakura | Cherry blossom — the main spring festival of the castle park is connected with it |
Write 前 along the guides and study the stroke order.
Where the name 弘前 came from
The name 弘前城 is read ひろさきじょう (Hirosaki-jō) and is made up of 弘 "wide, to spread" and 前 "before, in front". At first the fortress was called Takaoka (高岡 — "high hill") after the locality. In 1628, a year after the fire, the locality was renamed Hirosaki, and the castle received its current name. According to legend, it was chosen by the monk Tenkai, whom Lord Tsugaru Nobuhira revered.
Hirosaki Castle today: cherry blossoms and the keep's journey
- The city made the return of the keep to its foundation in the summer of 2026 a public event — the move could be watched live.
- The castle park is one of the famous cherry-blossom viewing spots in Japan: about 2,600 cherry trees of roughly fifty varieties grow here.
- While the interior of the tenshu is closed for seismic reinforcement, the park with its stone walls and moats continues to operate as the city's main attraction.
FAQ
- What is Hirosaki Castle?
- Hirosaki Castle is the residence of the Tsugaru clan in the north of Honshu and the northernmost of the twelve Japanese keeps that have survived without rebuilding from the Edo period. The current tenshu was built in 1810–1811 to replace the one that burned down in 1627.
- Why was Hirosaki Castle moved from its site?
- In 2015 the stone base under the tenshu began to sink, and it needed to be repaired as a whole, not just in spots. The keep was moved about 70 meters onto a temporary foundation, and in the summer–autumn of 2026 it is being returned.
- When was Hirosaki Castle built and how old is its keep?
- Tsugaru Nobuhira built the castle in 1610–1611, continuing the work of his father Tsugaru Tamenobu. The first five-tier tenshu burned down after a lightning strike in 1627, and the current three-tier keep was built in 1810–1811. The keep is more than two hundred years old.
- How is the name Hirosaki Castle written and where did it come from?
- 弘前城, read ひろさきじょう (Hirosaki-jō): 弘 "wide, to spread", 前 "before, in front". At first the castle was called Takaoka — after the locality. In 1628 the locality was renamed Hirosaki, and the castle received its current name; according to legend, it was chosen by the monk Tenkai.
- How many cherry trees grow at Hirosaki Castle?
- According to the city's tourism website, about 2,600 cherry trees of roughly fifty varieties grow in Hirosaki Castle Park — from Somei Yoshino to weeping and double-flowered forms. It is one of the most famous places in Japan for spring cherry-blossom viewing, drawing crowds of tourists every year.
Sources
Updated: 2026-09-13