Take a Hayabusa train along the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori (3.5 hours) and transfer to a local train to Hirosaki (30-40 minutes). The entire one way trip takes around 4.5 hours, costs about 18,000 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass, JR East Tohoku Area Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Pass. Seat reservations are mandatory on Hayabusa trains between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori. There is about one connection per hour.
JAL operates multiple flights per day between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Aomori Airport. Flight duration is 85 minutes. The regular one way fare is around 41,000 yen, however, discount tickets are typically available for around 14,000 to 18,000 yen. A bus runs between Aomori Airport and Hirosaki (station and bus terminal), taking one hour and costing 1200 yen.
| Airline | Lowest fare | Average lowest fare |
|---|---|---|
| JAL | 13,570 yen | 16,576 yen |
Above fees and schedules are subject to change. Be sure to check current yen exchange rates.
Hirosaki's main attractions are all located close to or within Hirosaki Park, which lies a 10-15 minute bus ride or a 30 minute walk west of Hirosaki Station.
The Dotemachi Loop Bus is a convenient, tourist-oriented bus line that stops at Hirosaki Station and many of Hirosaki's attractions, including Hirosaki Park. It operates every ten minutes in a clockwise direction. One ride costs 100 yen, while a day pass for unlimited rides on one calendar day is available for 500 yen.
In addition to the Dotemachi Loop Bus, there are a few other 100 yen loop bus lines, but they operate considerably less frequently and serve areas less relevant to tourists. Furthermore, there is a network of regular city buses, which are less easy to use and more expensive, but can be faster than the loop buses.
Rental bicycles are another convenient means of getting around. From April to November, they can be rented for 500 yen per day between 9:00 and 16:00 from Hirosaki Station or the Otemon Square. Electric bicycles are available for 1000 yen per day.
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