When people think of Aomori Prefecture, they usually think of one thing: apples. Aomori is famous across Japan for producing some of the sweetest apples in the country, and it actually grows around half of all the apples in Japan. Thanks to the cool climate and rich soil, the apples here are extra juicy and delicious.
So it makes sense that Aomori would have a place completely dedicated to apples: Hirosaki Apple Park.
The park is located in Hirosaki, a city in the southwest of Aomori Prefecture. Honestly, you start noticing the apple obsession the moment you arrive at Hirosaki Station. Apple decorations, apple signs, apple souvenirs… they’re everywhere.
Your apple adventure starts right outside the station, where you can catch a bus straight to Apple Park in about 20 minutes.
As soon as you arrive, you can smell the apple trees in the air. The whole park feels fresh and colourful, with red and green decorations everywhere. There’s a huge apple orchard where you can walk among the trees, and it almost feels like stepping into a giant apple-themed world.
One of the most fun parts is the gift shop, which sells basically every apple product imaginable. There’s apple juice, apple pie, apple sweets, and even cute goods featuring the park’s apple mascot. Inside the shop there’s also a small museum where you can learn about the history of apples in Aomori and different apple varieties like Fuji apple and Orin apple.
Aomori’s apples are so sweet that the region even makes its own apple cider. There are several local cider brands you can try at the park, and there’s even a brewery nearby that visitors can check out.
Even the ground in the orchard is covered with fallen apples, so it really feels like apples are everywhere you look.
If you want to see the beautiful apple blossoms, spring is the best time to visit, especially in May. But if you want to taste fresh apples straight from the orchard, the best season is late September during the harvest festival.
It’s such a fun place because it turns something simple like apples into a whole experience. Even if you’re not a huge fruit fan, Hirosaki Apple Park is worth a visit if you’re in Aomori.
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