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Historic district · Hirosaki, Aomori
Nakacho Samurai District
A samurai residential quarter north of Hirosaki Castle, with streets lined by hedges, wooden gates and Edo-period houses open to visitors.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
A look at the place
Nakacho Samurai District in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
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About Nakacho Samurai District
Nakacho is the former samurai quarter of Hirosaki, north of the castle beyond the moat. During the Edo period, vassal families of the Tsugaru clan lived here on plots enclosed by hedges. The neighborhood is protected as a Traditional Buildings Preservation Area, which preserves the street layout, the hedgerows and the wooden gates.
The streets are narrow and quiet, lined with clipped box hedges and other trees, with gates opening onto gardens and single-story houses with low roofs. It is a residential area: many houses are still occupied, and the visit is done along the street, without noise.
Three residences are open to visitors: the former Iwata family house, the former Ito family house, which belonged to a clan physician, and the former Umeda family house. They show tatami rooms, kitchens with packed-earth floors and small gardens. Entrance is generally not charged at these houses, and opening days vary; the neighborhood information center has maps.
Nearby, central Hirosaki preserves Western-style buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such as the former municipal library and the former church and hall of the Bank of Aomori, from the time the city opened to foreign missions and education. Nakacho is the natural link between the castle park and that center.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About an hour for the streets and the three houses.
Best time
From spring to autumn, April to November, when the hedges are green and the houses are open. In winter, snow covers the roofs and fences, but some houses may close. Confirm opening days before you go.
How to get there
It is beside the castle park’s north gate, about a 5-minute walk. From Hirosaki Station, the circular buses take about 15 minutes to the castle area.
Tip
Enter the park through the north gate, Kamenokomon, after passing Nakacho: that way the route becomes one-way. Respect the inhabited houses and do not enter private gates.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Nakacho Samurai District
What to see in Nakacho?
The streets with hedgerows and wooden gates and three former samurai residences open to visitors: the Iwata, Ito and Umeda houses.
Is there an admission fee for the samurai houses in Nakacho?
Entrance is generally not charged at the three open houses, but opening days and hours vary. Check with the neighborhood information center.
Is Nakacho far from Hirosaki Castle?
No. The neighborhood is just north of the park, beside the north gate, a few minutes on foot.
Are the houses in Nakacho inhabited?
Many are. It is a preserved residential neighborhood; the visit is along the streets, and only the houses open to the public may be entered.
Beyond the guide
