[Visiting power spots and Hirosaki] Travel through Aomori

The sacred grounds, surrounded by the outer rim of the mountain, are isolated places that cannot be seen from the outside. Osorezan Bodaiji Temple was founded in 862. It is said that Ennin, the founder of the Jikaku Daishi religion, was guided by a prophecy in a dream and founded Osorezan Bodaiji Temple in Shimokita at the end of his journey to preach his teachings in various countries.

Locals have long said that "when people die, they go to Mount Osore." Gokurakuhama Beach, with its beauty reminiscent of the Pure Land, Jigokudani, with its sulfurous smell, the desolate Muken Jigoku, and Chinoike Jigoku... At Sai no Kawara, there are stones piled up by parents to mourn their young children who died, and a windmill spinning round and round, creating a melancholy atmosphere.

In the grounds of Osorezan Bodaiji Temple
There are four public baths.

All of them are milky white, acidic green springs containing hydrogen sulfide, with Hie-no-yu being effective for neuralgia and rheumatism, Kotaki-no-yu for gastrointestinal disorders, Hanazome-no-yu for acne and cuts, and Yakushi-no-yu for eye disorders. In the old days, people would purify themselves in these Hot springs before visiting Osorezan Bodaiji Temple.

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The Hirosaki Brick Warehouse Museum is a renovated brick warehouse that preserves the memories of 100 years. The Yoshino-cho Brick Warehouse, which was built as a sake brewery in the Meiji and Taisho periods and has shaped the landscape of Hirosaki as a modern industrial heritage site, was renovated into a museum based on the concept of "inheriting memories."

In addition to introducing cutting-edge art from Japan and abroad, the museum also collects and exhibits contemporary works that relate to the history and culture of Hirosaki and the Tohoku region. In addition to the art exhibition room, the museum also has a studio, a public gallery, and a library.

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Hirosaki Ascension Church is a Protestant church belonging to the Tohoku Diocese of the Anglican Church in Japan, which follows the traditions of the Church of England, and was established in 1896 as a place for evangelism. It is a red brick building designed by missionary James Gardiner and built by Hayashi Midori in February 1921. (Only the exterior can be viewed.)

If you walk about 13 minutes from Hirosaki Shoten Church towards Hirosaki Castle, you will come to this Catholic church. This is also a recommended photo spot!

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We head to the Former To-o Gijuku Foreign Teachers' House, a fashionable Western-style building with a fairytale feel. To-o Gijuku was the first private school to open in the prefecture in 1870 (Meiji 5), based on the Keikokan, a domain school of the Hirosaki domain. This Foreign Teachers' House is a Western-style building built in 1900 (Meiji 33) as a residence for foreign missionaries invited to the school. There is a coffee shop on the first floor, where you can enjoy apple pie, coffee, and more, while gazing at the miniature buildings in Otemon Square from the window.

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