Apple-Themed Crafts and Souvenirs
The main shopping area is filled with products created by local artisans. Among the selection are apple-shaped and apple-themed traditional crafts, sweets made with apple juice, jams, cider, and a wide range of small decorative and practical items.
Some products are playful and colorful, while others showcase the refined techniques of traditional Tsugaru craftsmanship. Even visitors who are simply browsing can enjoy discovering how the apple has become an important part of the local identity.
For travelers looking for a special souvenir from Aomori, Apple House offers an unusually broad selection of items inspired by one of the prefecture’s most famous agricultural products.
Apple Cuisine and Drinks
Apple House also has a casual café and snack area where visitors can enjoy original apple-based dishes and drinks.
One popular specialty is apple curry, which combines the gentle sweet-and-sour flavor of apples with the warmth and aroma of curry spices. The menu also includes desserts such as an apple sundae and drinks including apple cider.
It is a convenient place to relax during a visit to the park, particularly after walking through the orchards or exploring the surrounding attractions.
Learn About Apples
Apple House also includes an exhibition and learning area where visitors can discover more about apples and their cultivation.
Displays include models of different apple varieties, while videos explain the history of apple growing and the various stages involved in cultivation. The exhibits are designed to be enjoyable and accessible for both children and adults.
For international visitors, this is a useful introduction to the agricultural culture behind Aomori’s famous apples and an opportunity to understand why apples have become such an important part of life in Hirosaki.
Hirosaki City Apple Park – Discover the Home of Aomori Apples
Hirosaki City Apple Park covers an expansive area of approximately 9.7 hectares and is home to around 2,300 apple trees representing approximately 80 varieties.
The park combines sightseeing, recreation, and education, allowing visitors to experience the apple industry from many different perspectives. Depending on the season, activities include apple picking, exploring orchards, learning about traditional local culture, and observing the production of cider made from locally grown apples.
Apple Picking and Scenic Views
From approximately early August through mid-November, visitors can enjoy hands-on apple picking in the park’s Production Experience Orchard.
Picking an apple directly from the tree and eating it fresh is one of the most enjoyable ways to experience Hirosaki’s apple culture. The activity is popular with both children and adults and offers a memorable opportunity to taste locally grown fruit at its freshest.
The park’s walking paths also provide beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. Looking beyond the rows of apple trees, visitors can see Mount Iwaki, one of the most recognizable mountains in the Tsugaru region.
The combination of apple orchards, open countryside, and the distinctive shape of Mount Iwaki creates an especially beautiful landscape.
Former Osanai Family Residence and Tsugaru Culture
One of the park’s cultural highlights is the Former Osanai Family Residence, a traditional farmhouse originally built in 1863, during the final years of the Edo period.
The historic house was relocated and preserved within the park and has been designated an Important Cultural Property of Hirosaki City. Features such as the traditional hearth and veranda provide a glimpse into everyday life in rural Japan during the nineteenth century.
On weekends and public holidays from April through November, visitors can also enjoy Tsugaru Mukashigatari, traditional storytelling performed in the local Tsugaru dialect. These stories offer a fascinating way to experience the region’s oral traditions and local culture.
Kimori Cider Brewery
Apple Park is also home to Hirosaki Cider Brewery Kimori, where cider is produced using locally grown apples.
The cider is made through natural fermentation, preserving the fresh character of the apples while creating a refreshing alcoholic drink. Visitors can learn about the local cider-making tradition and, where available, enjoy tasting different varieties.
For travelers interested in Japanese craft beverages, Kimori offers an opportunity to discover a style of cider closely connected to the apple-growing culture of Hirosaki.
Suribachiyama Viewpoint
Near the center of the park stands Suribachiyama, an artificial hill approximately 83 meters above sea level. The hill provides a panoramic viewpoint with views extending across the Tsugaru region.
From the top, visitors can admire landmarks including Mount Iwaki and the mountains of Shirakami-Sanchi. The 360-degree panorama makes this a popular spot not only with tourists but also with local residents.
It is an excellent place to pause and appreciate the relationship between Hirosaki’s apple orchards, surrounding farmland, and the mountains that form the backdrop to the region.
Seasonal Apple Festivals
Hirosaki Apple Blossom Festival
In May, Hirosaki celebrates the Hirosaki Apple Blossom Festival, held when the delicate white flowers of apple trees begin to bloom following the famous cherry blossom season.
The sight of thousands of white apple blossoms with snow still remaining on Mount Iwaki in the background creates a beautiful spring landscape.
The festival features stage performances, food made with apples, and popular treats such as apple pie. It is a celebration not only of the flowers themselves but also of the agricultural culture that has made Hirosaki famous as one of Japan’s leading apple-producing regions.
Hirosaki Apple Harvest Festival
In autumn, during the apple harvest season, the park hosts the Hirosaki Apple Harvest Festival.
The event celebrates the year’s harvest and gives visitors an opportunity to enjoy locally grown apples and cider. Music performances, workshops, and other activities create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Visiting during harvest season is particularly rewarding because the orchards are filled with ripening apples, allowing travelers to experience the atmosphere of “Apple Kingdom Hirosaki” at one of the most exciting times of the year.
A Place to Experience Apples with All Five Senses
Apple House and Hirosaki City Apple Park offer much more than a place to buy apple-themed souvenirs. Here, visitors can see orchards filled with apple trees, taste local dishes and drinks, learn about cultivation, pick apples directly from the trees, explore traditional Japanese architecture, and experience the festivals that celebrate the region’s apple culture.
The park also demonstrates how deeply apples are connected with the history and identity of Hirosaki. Local agriculture, Tsugaru craftsmanship, traditional storytelling, food culture, and the beautiful rural landscape all come together around the humble apple.
Whether you visit in spring to see the delicate apple blossoms, in summer and autumn to enjoy apple picking, or during the harvest festivals, Apple House is a wonderful place to discover why Hirosaki is known throughout Japan for its apples.
For travelers exploring Aomori, a visit to Apple House and Hirosaki City Apple Park provides an enjoyable and relaxing way to experience the region’s nature, food, culture, and distinctive connection with apples.