
Guide to Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival
Each winter, as snow blankets Aomori Prefecture, local artists in Hirosaki transform the grounds around Hirosaki Castle into a spectacular display of light and shadow. The Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival combines traditional Japanese snow lantern crafting with one of Japan’s most beautiful and original castles, creating a unique, magical winter celebration that’s not to be missed.
Event
Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival
Dates
10 a.m.–9 p.m., February 7–11, 2025
(illuminations from 4:30 p.m., closes at 8 p.m. on the last day)Location
Hirosaki Castle (Hirosaki Park), Aomori Prefecture
Entrance fee
Free
The art of snow lanterns


Each February, hundreds of lanterns line the paths of Hirosaki Park, creating intimate pools of golden light against the snow. These aren’t mass-produced decorations; local residents carefully handcraft each lantern, packing and shaping the snow using traditional snow-forming techniques. There are also hundreds of miniature kamakura (snow domes) lit up, creating a mesmerizing view.
The festival's centerpiece is the castle itself, its dark wooden walls and swooping rooflines dramatically lit against the night sky. The stone foundation walls, dating back to 1611, provide a stark contrast to the soft glow of the lanterns dotting the grounds below.
Beyond the lanterns

While the snow lanterns are the star attraction, the festival transforms the castle grounds with an array of winter artistry. Visitors can walk through a mesmerizing, open snow tunnel while enjoying the illuminated artwork that lines its walls.
Throughout Hirosaki Park, illuminated snow paths guide visitors between attractions. Families particularly enjoy the snow playground, where snow slides offer thrilling winter fun for younger kids. Food stalls line the pathways, serving warm winter treats, while live performances add to the festive atmosphere.
The festival also coincides with the Hirosaki Winter Cherry Blossom Illumination, where state-of-the-art projection mapping lights up the cherry blossom trees surrounding the castle, creating the appearance of bright pink cherry blossoms in winter.
How to get there

If you’re traveling to Hirosaki Park from Tokyo Station, your journey begins on the Tohoku Shinkansen bound for Shin-Aomori Station, which takes approximately three hours. Once at Shin-Aomori, transfer to the JR Ou Line for a 40-minute ride to Hirosaki Station. The final leg of your journey can be hopping onto a local bus for a quick 15-minute ride to Hirosaki Park.
Travelers from Sapporo Station can take the Hokuto 14 Limited Express Hakodate train to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station, which takes about 3.5 hours. From there, transfer to the Hokkaido Shinkansen heading towards Shin-Aomori Station, a one-hour ride. From Shin-Aomori Station, take the JR Ou Line for 40 minutes to Hirosaki Station and then a 15-minute local bus ride to Hirosaki Park. The entire trip can take over six hours, so it’s recommended that you leave early.
Where to stay: Hotel Route-Inn Hirosaki Ekimae

For festival visitors, Hotel Route-Inn Hirosaki Ekimae offers an excellent home base with its prime location right next to Hirosaki Station. From the hotel, you can reach the castle grounds in about 15 minutes via local bus or take a quick 10-minute taxi ride.
The hotel offers a selection of single and twin rooms, each equipped with comfortable bedding and efficient heating systems designed to keep you warm and cozy during Aomori’s cold winter. Every stay includes a complimentary breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant, where you’ll find Japanese and western options, as well as local Aomori dishes. Guests will particularly appreciate the public bath, which provides a therapeutic soak after long days out exploring Aomori Prefecture and the Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival.
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