Temples in Hirosaki

There are a lot of temples in Hirosaki, like almost anywhere in Japan. Get to see your fill during a walk around a quite northern castle town then never bother with temples ever again.
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The Good	The Not-So Good
Lots of temples!	Too many temples!
Mostly free	A long walk

Zen Temple Area (Choshoji Temple)

Leading up to Choshoji Temple is a street lined with 33 temples. You won’t be able to go in many (if any) of them and there wouldn’t be much point anyway (they are all very small). Choshoji Temple itself is a great example of an extant old temple (the large gate was build in 1629) which has survived the test of time without being burned down and rebuilt, like most temples and castles in Japan (all made of wood).

Aomori Sightseeing Guide – Zenringai Temple Street
Aomori Sightseeing Guide – Choshoji Temple
Blog post in Japanese showing inside the temple – lots of photos

Choshoji Temple is closed between December and March. Outside that period you can enter the main buildings for ¥300 (Children ¥250) (outside is free). Opening hours are 9AM to 4PM (details in Japanese).

Saishouin-Gojunoto – 5 Story Pagoda

There is not much online information about this shrine in English, however as it is basically a 5-story pagoda and functioning shrine (you will see Japanese arrive to offer prayers and maybe fill out an Ema wish block – go read them, they are mostly about exams or baseball). You don’t need to go out of your way to see it (there are plenty in Japan). If you want to, it is a short walk from most places in Hirosaki.

Aomori Sightseeing Guide – Saishoin five-story pagoda
Tsugaru Navi – Saishoin Temple Five-Storied Pagoda

Getting to the Hirosaki Temples

Below is a suggested walking route to see everything temple related in Hirosaki. There is a loop bus that will take you to and from Hirosaki Station to Hirosaki Castle Park, however the same loop bus will not take you to the temple districts. For that you have to take a regular bus and get off at Shigemori-machi Choshoji Iriguchi (Google Map location) then walk up the temple road to Choshoji Temple.

Unless you hate walking it is probably best to get the loop bus from the Station to the Park and then walk the rest of the way. The walk from the station is uninspiring so save your energy for the park and temple walk.

If you get lost there is a tourist information center right by the station exit on the castle side. Ask there and they will sort you out with bus passes and maps. If you plan to go to a local hot spring, the 2 day pass is recommended (the JR pass is not valid on private trains and buses).