The inhabitants of Kuroishi themselves present their city as a living museum. The city’s large number of historical and cultural properties make it an open-air museum, thanks to its architecture and its numerous shops of folk crafts.
Nakamachi Kormes Street
It is the only arcade in Japan that has remained almost intact since Edo’s time. It was built by the merchants to offer greater comfort to customers who came to shop on this lively street. In 2005, Nakamachi Komise Street was selected as an important preservation area for traditional buildings in Japan.
Kanehiranarian
The Kanehiranarian Garden, also known as the Sawanarian Garden, is a garden that represents the landscaped layout of the style of Bugakuryū which was popular in Tsugaru.
The Bugakuryū style differs from other landscaping styles in Japan in several ways, including the many 2 meter wide stones that spread the garden. These stones were transported from the mountains to the gardens by men without the help of horses or oxen. This may seem strange, but it was a question of creating employment opportunities, which was particularly useful for farmers in the years of bad harvest that could survive through this work. This system was set up by Ubei Kato, a local businessman and politician, and the name of the garden clearly reflects the reason why the garden was built. It took “money” and “peace” of the wish of Ubei Katō: “that money be distributed to all and that we live in a peaceful world”.
Until 2019, when the garden was a private property, the garden was only open to the public a few days a year. The owner then decided to donate the garden to the town of Kuroishi and one can now visit the park d’Avril in November.
Entry costs 400 yen.
Nakano Momijiyama
Nakano Momijiyama, was shaped in 1802 by the leader of the Tsugaru clan at the time when he brought back more than 100 kinds of maple plants from Kyoto. It has since become one of the most popular places in Aomori Prefecture to enjoy autumn foliage.
The guardians of the Nakano sanctuary on the island are birds which is quite unusual. Inside the sanctuary is a huge 600-year-old cedar.
If you want to see the stunning view of Fudō Falls, head to Nakano Momijiyama between mid-October and early November. During this period, the site is illuminated at night to allow visitors to enjoy its beautiful landscape!
Catering stands are also installed during this period.
Tsugaru Kokeshi Museum
Kokeshi dolls are wooden dolls without arms or legs that were originally sold in the Onsen cities as souvenirs in the northeastern region of Japan at the end of the Edo period. The size of the dolls was small enough for the children to hold them.
The first floor of the museum is free of charge. There is a souvenir shop, a dolls manufacturing demonstration and a workshop allowing visitors to paint their own kokeshi dolls. The highest point on the first floor is probably the jumbo kokeshi doll with a height of 4.21 meters and a giant daruma doll weighing 755 kg.
The second floor exhibits more than 4,000 kokeshi dolls from across the country. The entrance is 320 yen.
The Kokeshi dolls factory costs 1200 yen, it is recommended to book in advance (for those who do not speak Japanese the request can be made by e-mail in English).
Tsugaru Traditional Craft Centre
The traditional Tsugaru craft centre is located right next to the Tsugaru Kokeshi Museum, which exhibits local crafts, but also offers various workshops and demonstrations to discover and experience local crafts.
The Centre also has a restaurant called Momiji which opens for lunch and allows to taste local specialities, bring back various memories.
Going to Kuroishi
To get to Kuroishi by public transport, the easiest way is to leave from Hirosaki. From the Hirosaki railway station, the train journey is 30 minutes to the Kuroishi railway station. Take the train from the Kōnan Railway Company and get off at the terminal.
Kuroishi will be a beautiful stage in the discovery of the prefecture of Aomori and is easily accessible fromAomoriorHirosaki.
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