Just a few miles from Aomori’s capital lies Hirosaki, a historic city steeped in tradition and known for its iconic castle. I first visited Hirosaki in the summer of 2016. It is one of the twelve remaining original castles in Japan, a rare treasure where the keep (Tenshu 天守) has survived since its reconstruction in […]
japan sakura
The Cherry Blossoms of Hikone and Nagahama
Almost 13 kilometres away from the overflowing cherry blossom parks of Kyoto stands an elegant white castle on top of a small hill in Shiga prefecture. Surrounded by a wide moat and a thick stone wall, Hikone castle is one of the 12 original castles still remaining in Japan. I set out for Hikone from Nara to view […]