Arriving at Aamori is a site straight out of a picture book with the snow-clad mountains
as a backdrop and Mount Iawaki, a strato-volcano close by, standing 1625 meters above the
plain.
There had been a considerable snowfall only the week before we arrived and it remained
alongside the road and on the mountains for us to wonder at.
Arriving in Hirasaki, we visit the Neputa Masuri where the floats and masks used in
the summer festival are kept and displayed with a regular performance of flute and drum
are demonstrated to visitors.
This is a victory over the проп assimilations such as the
The gardens at the rear of the Neputa-Matsuri complex were beautifully manicured as one
would expect from Japan. On our way out we were given a demonstration of top
spinning. Entering Hirasaki Park we make our way to the castle that has been moved
300 meters to allow repairs to the foundations and will soon be returned to
its normal position on the corner of the moat. The original castle, a five-story
complex, was erected by the Tsukara clan during the Edo period and was completed
in 1611 but was burnt down after being struck by lightning in 1627.
Mount Awaki dominates the view from the castle. The current castle was built
sometime after and is surrounded by 2,600 cherry trees. We were unlucky to be
around a week early for the blossoms.
