Goshogawara is a regional city in Aomori Prefecture, best known for its strong festival culture and ties to Tsugaru traditions. It has a quieter, more dispersed layout, with everyday life centred around local industry, food, and seasonal events. The city’s identity is most clearly expressed through the scale and craftsmanship of its Tachineputa floats. This post goes through what we did on our first of three days in Hirosaki, from wandering around Goshogawara to eating our way through numerous apple pies in Hirosaki.
Hirosaki
Tourist Information Center Hirosaki City
Brick A-Factory
Brick A-Factory, 2F 1-1, Omotemachi, Hirosaki, Aormori 036-8096, Japan
Review: Brick A-Factory, Hirosaki
Review: Gelato Natur, Aomori
Goshogawara
JR Goshogawara
This warehouse was located next to the home of Osamu Dazai’s aunt Kie. The current warehouse was reconstructed in August 2014 after the original was dismantled in 2011.
Tachnineputa Museum
立佞武多の館, Omachi-506-10, Goshogawara, Aomori 037-0063, Japan
The Tachineputa Museum is dedicated to preserving and presenting the towering festival floats unique to Goshogawara. Inside, full-scale structures rise several storeys high, allowing close inspection of their construction, materials, and painted detail. The exhibition balances spectacle with technical context, tracing how these floats are built, stored, and used during the festival.
First Float
Second Float
Third Float
Gift Shop
Mohodori Distillery
Mohodori Distillery produces craft spirits with a focus on regional ingredients and small-batch methods. The space is compact, with a clear emphasis on process and local identity rather than scale.
Review: Agripark Tsugaru Juku Apple Pie Aka~iringo
Hirosaki
Patisserie Ragueneau
Patisserie Ragueneau presents a range of Western-style pastries with a focus on precision and finish. The selection leans towards classic French forms, adapted with local ingredients. We visited both their stores in the Appliese complex attached to Hirosaki Station as well as their standalone store in Hirosaki City Centre.
Review: Ragueneau Patissier’s Apple Sticks
Review: Ragueneau Sasaki Yakkoi Sablé La France
Review: Ragueneau Sasaki Yakkoi Sablé Aomori Apple Caramel
Review: Raguenaeu Apple Komachi Pie
Review: Raguenaeu Sasaki Mori no Madeleine Apple
Verduveine
Verduveine, 18 Hyakkokumachi, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8035, Japan
Review: Patisserie Verduveine Kogashi Apple Madeleine
Review: Patisserie Verduveine Kuromame Madeleine
Review: Patisserie Verduveine Tsugaru Apple Madeleine
Patisserie Le Chocolat
Patisserie Le Chocolat, 17-1 Okachimachi, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture 036-8034, Japan
Review: Pâtisserie Le Chocolat, Hirosaki
Streetscape
Starbucks Hiroro
Review: Starbucks Coffee, Hirosaki
Hirosaki Ebi Tomato Ramen
Hirosaki Ebi Tomato Ramen, 1F M’s Fara Building, 6-6 Ekimae-cho, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture 036-8003, Japan
Hirosaki Ebi Tomato Ramen combines a seafood base with tomato acidity, resulting in a broth that sits between savoury and lightly tangy. The profile is distinct from standard shōyu or tonkotsu styles, with a brighter, more layered finish.
Review: Hirosaki Ebi Tomato Ramen, Hirosaki
Aomori–Hirosaki & Goshogawara formed part of Day 8 of a 14-day journey through Japan’s Tōhoku region in 2024.