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Ashinokoen Station 蘆野公園車站
Cherry Blossom Season at Ashinokoen Station
Ashinokoen Station, located in Ashino Park, is beloved for its 1,500 cherry trees and old pine trees. It is also known as a place where the local famous novelist Osamu Dazai used to play.
A highlight of this expansive park is the retro orange train of the Tsugaru Railway, which runs beneath the spring cherry blossoms along the rail track that crosses the park. When the sakura are in full bloom, the scenery can feel like a movie.
Kanagi Cherry Blossom Festival
Each year during Golden Week (April 29th through May 5th), Ashino Park in Aomori hosts a cherry blossom festival celebrating the beauty of spring. The park is dotted with over 2,000 cherry trees and many evergreen pines, and it is so scenic that it has been selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossom viewing spots. As one of Aomori’s best hanami locations, it becomes crowded with visitors during Golden Week.
General Information
- Address: Ashino Kanagi, Goshogawara, Aomori 037-0202, Japan
- Admission fee: Free
- Cherry blossom period: Late April to early May
- Number of trees: 1,500
- Varieties: Somei Yoshino, Satozakura, etc.
Ease of Access
From Hirosaki Station, take the Ōu Line to Goshogawara Station (around 50 minutes). Then walk one minute to Tsugaru-Goshogawara Station and ride the Tsugaru Railroad to Ashinokoen Station (about 20 minutes).
Location
Ashinokoen Station is located inside Ashino Park in Goshogawara City, part of the vast Ashino Chishōgun Prefectural Natural Park. The area features a railway line (operated by Tsugaru Railway), Lake Ashino, walking trails, campgrounds, a hanging bridge, the Osamu Dazai Monument (commemorating one of Japan’s great 20th-century fiction writers), and abundant trees—especially sakura. Rowboats can also be rented from the boathouse on Lake Ashino.
