Discover the serene beauty of Fujita Memorial Garden (藤田記念庭園), the second-largest Japanese-style garden in the Tohoku region. Originally built in 1919 as the villa for local businessman Kenichi Fujita, this 21,800-square-meter landscape is a masterpiece of Taisho-era design, seamlessly blending Eastern and Western influences. The garden is divided into two distinct levels: a highland area featuring a retro Western-style house (Yokan) with a charming tea room, and a lowland stroll garden centerd on a tranquil pond, waterfall, and a traditional red bridge. With stunning borrowed scenery of Mt. Iwaki and a seasonal calendar of cherry blossoms, irises, and vibrant autumn foliage, Fujita Memorial Garden is a must-visit cultural oasis just a short walk from Hirosaki Castle.
What to Do at Fujita Memorial Garden
- About Fujita Memorial Garden
- Taishō Roman Tea Room (大正浪漫喫茶室)
- Fujita Memorial Garden’s Opening Hours, Admission Fee, and Access Information
Refer to HERE for the garden’s map.
About Fujita Memorial Garden
The property, completed in 1921, was the villa of a successful businessman, Kenichi Fujita (藤田謙一). The garden covers 21,800 square meters, making it the second-largest in northeastern Japan (just behind Motsuji Temple’s garden in Hiraizumi).
On the ground of the property, there is a Japanese-style house surrounded by a Japanese garden and a Western-style house with a Western-style garden.
Surprisingly, traveling between the two different styles isn’t jarring or confusing. It is probably due to the talent of the gardeners and architects back in the early 1900s.
In autumn, the spot is as beautiful as Hirosaki Park. If you get the Hirosaki Park + Hirosaki Castle combo ticket, don’t forget to drop by this memorial garden on your way out of Hirosaki Park (because it will be free to enter!).
If you plan to visit the garden, allow about 30 minutes (unless you are dropping by the café).
Tip: If you want to make yourself a cup of matcha in the traditional setting, speak to the staff. The 15-minute experience is available from 10 am to 4 pm. The cost is 1,000 yen.
Fujita Memorial Garden’s Flower Calendar
- Cherry blossom: Mid to late April
- Rhododendron: early to mid-May
- Iris: mid to late June
- Autumn foliage: November
Taishō Roman Tea Room (大正浪漫喫茶室)
On the first floor of the Western-style house, there is a café, Taisho Roman Tea Room. The cafe is so famous that almost everyone who visits Hirosaki Park stops by. The spacious terrace seating is a luxurious spot where you can have a cup of tea while looking out at the beautiful garden (*´ω｀).
The most popular dish is a range of apple pies. When we say “a range”, we mean that the top 7 most popular apple pies across Hirosaki City are also sold here!
So if you eat eggs, don’t forget to order a few and find out which apple pie you like best!
If you are a vegetarian or vegan, order their spicy keema curry (the 3rd photo in the IG post above). But note that the rice portion and the curry paste aren’t proportional. We ended up eating the curry rice with the toast we had with us. Otherwise, it was simply too salty (´▽｀*).
The best seats are the terrace seats because of the garden view. If you weren’t assigned to those seats, you can still enter the terrace area. Just remember, don’t disturb the customers there.
We were lucky that those who sat at the end table sensed we wanted to take photos of the garden, and said “please feel free to get close to the glass wall”. So, we got a photo of the garden view from the tea room with Mt. Iwaki as the backdrop!
Tips:
☛ If you are only coming for the Taisho Roman Tea Room, you don’t need to pay the admission fee to the garden.
☛ If you don’t have time queuing but want to try the apple pie, you can take it away.
Visiting the Taishō Roman Tea Room During the Peak Season
If you plan to visit the Taisho Roman Tea Room when festivals are held in Hirosaki Park, stop by the tea room first for a number. During the peak season, the business hours are divided into 60-minute sessions. Because the tea room can accommodate only nine groups of customers at any given time, all the numbers are likely to be taken before noon.
When we visited the cafe, an electronic registration system was used. You need to enter your name and seat preference. They will notify you to return to the tea room when it is your turn, either via Line (a similar app to WhatsApp) or by phone.
Note that it didn’t seem like the registration system was English-speaking-friendly. If you don’t read Japanese, please ask a staff member for help.
Fujita Memorial Garden’s Opening Hours, Admission Fee, and Access Information
- The garden is open from 9 am to 5 pm.
- The last entry is at 4:30 pm.
- The cafe is open throughout the year from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.
- The last order is taken at 4 pm.
- The admission fee is
- 320 yen for adults
- 100 yen for children
- Free if you are only visiting the Western-style house
- If the garden is open for other nighttime events, the opening hours will be from 9 am to 8 pm.
- The last admission is at 7:30 pm.
- As the garden is next to Hirosaki Park, refer to Hirosaki Park’s ccess Information for how to get to Fujita Memorial Garden.
- If you are taking a bus, get off at Shiyakusho Mae (市役所前)
Tips:
☛ A combo ticket is also available to enter both areas (520 yen for adults and 160 yen for children). With this combo ticket, you can also access the Paid Area in Hirosaki Park.
☛ It is free to enter the garden on the last Sunday of June.
Where Else to Visit in Hirosaki?
Of course, Fujita Memorial Garden won’t be the only attraction you want to visit in Hirosaki. As the cultural heart of Aomori Prefecture and Japan’s undisputed cherry blossom capital, this historic castle town offers a perfect blend of feudal history, stunning botanical gardens, and unique Western-style architecture. So, in addition to Hirosaki Apple Park, allocate some time to explore other attractions in one of the big cities in northeastern Japan!
Find out more about our other recommended spots around the park in our Hirosaki City article!
