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SPRING TOP > AOMORI: Cherry blossoms at the Hirosaki Castle   The full-blooming cherry blossoms covering the foot of the castle tower is a magnificent sight to behold. Cherry trees along the moat surrounding the Hirosaki Castle bloom all at once. The contrast between the cherry blossoms and the pure white snow of Mt. Iwaki is breathtaking. A canopy of cherry blossoms in full bloom covers the sky, and the pure white wall of the Hirosaki Castle is in the background. Spring at the Hirosaki Castle is strikingly beautiful. The Hirosaki Park is built around the ruins of Hirosaki Castle and retains the original form of the castle built 400 years ago. With its well-preserved moats, stone walls, watchtower, gates and the castle building, it is a rare castle ruin, and has been designated as an Important Cultural Property. From the end of April through the beginning of May, about 2600 cherry trees bloom at the castle ruins. A stroll though the vast park under the falling cherry petals adds a special flavor to their beauty. A number of cherry trees with special historic backgrounds are planted throughout the park, including: the Kasumi-zakura, which a samurai from the Tsugaru Domain is said to have brought back from Kyoto; "Ontaki-zakura," which the renowned Japanese wood block printer Munakata Shiko named; and the someiyoshino that boasts the thickest trunk in the country. Visitors are amazed at the sight of pale pink blossoms spread out as if to completely cover the foot of the castle tower. The cherry blossoms at the Hirosaki Castle are the last to bloom in Japan. At night, a slightly different and mysterious beauty of these cherry trees can be enjoyed. At around the same time as the cherry blossoms at the Hirosaki Castle, blossoms from the apple tree, whose fruit is a popular Aomori product, bloom as well. Vast apple orchards spread across the foot of snow-capped Mt. Iwaki. The stark contrast between the pure white of the apple blossoms and the bright yellow of the rape blossoms is inexplicably beautiful. As myriads of flowers start to bloom at once, the earth is revived and the energy of life seems to emanate from it. The foot of Mt. Iwaki, still dotted with patches of remaining snow, is covered by the delicate grace of the apple blossoms. Aomori Prefecture is famous for its apples. The prefecture has a 120-year history of growing apples. Almost half of domestically grown apples are from Aomori. Its fresh juice has a superb flavor. Apple-lovers may find it interesting to visit several local orchards and compare the differences in flavor. The taste of fresh apple juice is unparalleled.