Culture
Historical Landmark
長勝寺(Choshoji Temple)
Choshoji Temple was built in 1528 at Ajigasawa Town by Oura Morinobu(Busho [Japanese military commander] in the Sengoku period) for the purpose of praying to Buddha for the happiness of his deceased father. Then, it was moved to Hirosaki in 1610 and turned it family temple of the lord of Tsugaru Domain. It is oozing out of the style, also there are many cultural properties as a family temple.
最勝院五重塔(The Five-Storied Pagoda at Saishoin)
The Five-Storied Pagoda at Saishoin is a memorial pagoda for the soul of all people who fell in battle for unify the Tsugaru clan that was built in 1667. It is 31.2meters high. This is a rare pagoda because Tohoku area in Japan has few five-Storied Pagodas. It is well known with beautiful Sorin (metal pinnacle) pagoda.
岩木山神社(The Mt. Iwaki Shrine)
The Mt. Iwaki Shrine locates the southeast of the foot of Mt. Iwaki. It was established on the top of Mt. Iwaki originate in 780. Then it was moved to its current location.
The shrine has many devout worshippers by lord of Tsugaru Domains from the period of domain and most shrine buildings were rebuilt in Edo Period.
It is famous shrines of guard the north gate which is worshipped as a god of wealth for farming, fishery and better fortune. It is well known that the front approach to Mt. Iwaki shrine also one of the mountain path to Mt. Iwaki. The rear shrine is located near the mountaintop of Mt. Iwaki.
高照神社(Takateru Shrine)
Takateru Shrine is designated as an important national cultural property. This shrine buildings deployment is based on the spirit of Yoshikawa Shinto (one of Shinto religion). That building in a straight line from east to west such as unique construction and it is the only valuable shrine in Japan which has been praised highly.
弘前学院外人宣教師館(Hirosaki Gakuin Foreign Missionary Hall)
Hirosaki Gakuin Foreign Missionary Hall was built in 1906 as a lodging house for American women missionaries. Currently, it is designated as an important cultural property.
旧弘前市立図書館(The Old Hirosaki City Library)
The Old Hirosaki City Library is based on Renaissance design and adopted the Japanese style. It is three-story building made of wood which has octagonal twin towers. It is one of prefectural treasures in Aomori Prefecture. The first floor was restored of the old city library and relevant materials in those days can be seen. The Second floor has a corner of local publications and hobby magazines or vide and literature monuments.
![Hirosaki Church [United Church of Christ in Japan]](../img/contents/culture_01_07.jpg)
日本キリスト教団弘前教会(Hirosaki Church [United Church of Christ in Japan])
Hirosaki Church was established in 1875. It is the oldest protestant church in Tohoku area in Japan and also prefectural treasures in Aomori Prefecture. It was built 100years ago which modeled the Notre Dome Cathedral in Paris. Pillars, walls, floor and roof are built of cypresses in Aomori Prefecture. The rostrum was made with Tsugaru-Nuri(Tsugaru lacquer ware).
旧東奥義塾外人教師館(Former Toogijuku Missionary Residence)
Former Toogijuku Missionary Residence was the first private high school in Aomori Prefecture and Toogijuku’s foreign teacher used to live in. If you watch its study or bedroom, you will understand the lives of people in that period. There are 14 types’ miniature buildings such as the old library, a former city hall, churches, a department store, and more that you can view from the window on the first floor.
旧弘前偕行社(Former Hirosaki Kaikosha)
Former Hirosaki Kaikosha is a large western-style architecture based on Italian Renaissance style which was built in 1907. It is a national important cultural property now and still existing as Hirosaki Kosegakuin Memorial Hall.
青森銀行記念館(Aomori Bank Memorial Hall)
This Japanese Hybrid Style building was built for the first bank (Former main branch of the 59th National Bank) in Aomori prefecture. The ceiling of this building is papered with Kinkarakawashi (gold-embossed wallpaper: all handmade quality wallpapers which foil-stamping of metal foil on the Washi [Japanese paper]).
