Hirosaki Castle
Tsugaru Family resided in this castle in the Edo Period where the government of Hirosaki Feudal Domain was set up. In the Meiji Period, according to the ordinance to abolish castles, it was abandoned and later became a park.
This is a famous spot in Tohoku for cherry blossom viewing. There are many varieties of cherry trees, and the best time to visit is from late April to early May.
Aomori Museum of Art
This art museum is 5-minute on foot from Sannai Maruyama Historical Site, the world cultural heritage site. The highlight of this museum is ALECO for the ballet, painted by one of the prominent artists in the 20th century, Marc Chagall (1887 - 1985).
I came here just to see the Nara Yoshitomo dog sculpture. It took me a while to find it, but you actually don't need a ticket to see it.
Kinrin Lake
Kinrin Lake is one of many popular tourist spots in the hot springs town of Yufuin. The lake sits under Mt. Yufu and as such was called takemoto-no-ike (lit. “lake under the mountain”) for years. However, it was renamed to Kinrin, or “golden scales”, by Mori Kuso in 1884 when he saw the golden glimmering scales of fish as they swam at sunset.
Kinrin Lake isn't very big, so it doesn't take long to walk around. I recommend spending some extra time exploring the little shops nearby.
Ueno Park
Ueno Park, officially known as "Ueno Onshi Park," is located in Taito Ward, Tokyo. Managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Construction Bureau, the park spans an impressive area of 530,000 square meters and has a rich history.
There's a zoo, art museum, and history museum here, so the place has a strong cultural vibe. After exploring, you can also check out Ameyoko.
Kamikochi
Kamikochi offers one of Japan's most spectacular mountain sceneries. Its magnificent landscape is designated as a Special Natural Monuments along with Special Places of Scenic Beauty. Walter Weston, a British Anglican missionary praised Kamikochi in his writing “Mountaineering and Exploration in the Japan Alps” in 1896 which made Kamikochi an internationally well-known mountain area.
The scenery here is absolutely breathtaking. Everyone was completely immersed in the beauty of the landscape.
Akita-city AKARENGA-KAN MUSEUM
This museum is housed in the former Akita Bank head office, which was completed in 1912. The exterior, mainly made of red brick with white tiles and Oga stone, is based on the Renaissance style and combines strength and beauty. The exterior was designed by Naoaki Yamaguchi, an engineer, and is designated as a National Important Cultural Property.
This place used to be a bank, but now it's an exhibition hall. It features works by local artists and also displays the history of the bank.