Hirosaki (弘前市, Hirosaki-shi?) is a city located in southwest Aomori Prefecture, Japan. As of April 2012, the city had an estimated population of 180,917 and a population density of 345 persons per km². Its total area was 524.12 km². It is a castle town and was the Tsugaru clan ruled the 100,000 koku tozama han Hirosaki Domain from Hirosaki Castle during the Edo period. The city is currently a regional commercial center and the largest producer of apples in Japan.[citation needed] The city government has been promoting the catchphrase "Apple Colored Town Hirosaki", and "Castle and Cherry Blossom and Apple Town" to promote the city image.