Hidden Treasures of Aomori: A Comprehensive Guide to Japan’s Northern Frontier

Have you seen Aomori in the autumn season? It’s said that the color of its lush greenery turns into a vibrant blue. This magical phenomenon is the reason the city is called “Blue Forest” in Japanese. Join us as we explore the landscapes, culture, and attractions of Aomori in Japan.

Introduction: Discovering Aomori

Aomori, Japan, refers to the Aomori prefecture and also to its capital city of the same name. As a prefecture, it occupies the northernmost part of Japan's main island, Honshu. Aomori City is known for its magnificent natural views of mountains, ponds, and lakes. The vegetation in the city is unrivalled in its beauty, making it the perfect destination for people seeking a serene escape.

But what truly sets Aomori apart is how well the city blends natural splendor with a rich cultural heritage. Every year, the locals celebrate several vibrant festivals, including the famous Nebuta Matsuri, a summer festival with giant lantern floats. There is also no shortage of historical sites in the city. One of such sites is the world-famous Shirakami Sanchi, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

Geographical Overview: Where is Aomori Located?

Aomori Prefecture is a part of Japan's northern Tohoku Region and consists of 40 municipalities and 10 different cities. As the northernmost prefecture of Honshu, there is no land connected to the north of this region.

Instead, on the north of Aomori lies the Tsugaru Strait, which separates it from Hokkaido Island. Just ahead of its eastern borders is the Pacific Ocean and next to its western shores lies the Sea of Japan. The prefecture encloses Mutsu Bay, which is divided into Aomori Bay (the western lobe) and Noheji Bay (the eastern lobe). It’s divided into the Tsugaru-Nanbu and Shimokita regions.

Aomori City is located at the geographical center of Aomori Prefecture and south of Mutsu Bay. It’s a part of the Tsugaru area. The city faces Aomori Bay to the north and the Hakkoda Mountains to the south. Aomori’s unique position is the secret to its magnificent natural environment. This makes it a unique destination in Japan and an ideal vacation city for lovers of mountainous views.

Cultural Riches: What is Aomori Famous For?

Despite its sightseeing appeal, Aomori is most famous for its diverse cultural practices, food, and sites. Many people recognize the city as the venue for the Nebuta Festival. This annual summer event features a parade of giant, doll-shaped lanterns. Millions of people travel to Aomori City from all over the world just to see this festival. We’ll dive into the details of the festival later in this post.

The city also holds several historic sites that serve as windows to ancient Japan. One of such sites is the Sannai-Maruyama ruins, an archaeological site with artifacts and structures from prehistoric settlements, particularly the Jomon Period (c. 14,000–300 BC). The prefecture is also famous for producing some of the best apples in the world, considering both quantity and quality. You’ll find all kinds of orchards and shops in the city for picking or buying these fruits. The orchards also serve as great spots for viewing apple blossoms.

Must-Visit Attractions in Aomori

Looking for where to go in Aomori City? It’s home to dozens of tourist attractions, including parks, museums, historical sites, and cultural landmarks. Let’s dive into a short guide to the top attractions in Aomori.

Hirosaki Castle and Park

Hirosaki Park is arguably the most popular location for tourists in Aomori Prefecture. Besides the fact that it’s a world-famous cherry blossom viewing spot, Hirosaki Park is surrounded by several attractions, including a castle keep, botanical garden, and shrine.

The main park is home to more than 2,500 cherry trees. It’s considered an ideal hanami (cherry blossom viewing) spot because of facilities like picnic areas, rentals, sakura (cherry blossoms) tunnels, and tree illuminations. This is by far the best place to visit during the cherry blossom season (typically April 23–May 5).

Hirosaki Castle is located on the western side of the park. Originally built in 1611 by the Tsugaru Clan, its only surviving or rebuilt structures are a castle tower, gates, moats, and turrets. Other attractions next to Hirosaki Park are the Hirosaki Castle Botanical Garden and the Gokoku Shrine. 

Aomori Museum of Art

The Aomori Museum of Art is the most popular museum in Aomori Prefecture. Located close to the Sannai Maruyama ruins, the museum’s buildings have a similar design to the buildings of the ruins.

You’ll find both temporary and permanent exhibitions in unique display spaces that were dug into the ground, much like excavation sites. These trench-like spaces house giant paintings created by Marc Chagall and originally used as backdrops for ballet performances. You will also find a permanent collection of Munakata Shiko’s woodblock prints.

Fans of pop art may love to see Nara Yoshitomo’s cartoonish work or his 8.5-meter-tall canine statue, popularly known as the Aomori Ken (Aomori Dog).

Shirakami Sanchi

Shirakami Sanchi is a massive mountain range that lies in both Aomori and Akita prefectures. This ecological wonder was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 because of the virgin beech forest located in its central core zone. This beech forest is the largest in East Asia and has been free of human exploitation. To enter this zone, you would need to obtain a special permit.

Even if you can’t see and explore the forest in person, you can still learn about its ecology and history at the Shirakami Sanchi Visitor Center. The main attractions of the mountain range are its hiking trails, with the most popular routes leading to natural landmarks like the Anmon Falls, Juniko lakes, Nihon Canyon, Mount Futatsumori, and Mount Shirakamidake (tallest peak of the range).

Nebuta Warasse

The famous Nebuta Matsuri is held in early August, but Nebuta Warasse allows you to experience its magic throughout the year. It’s a museum dedicated to the history, spirit, atmosphere, and traditions of the annual Nebuta festival.

One of the museum’s main attractions is a corridor lined with images of the festival’s history dating as far back as 300 years. The main building also serves as the location for "Haneto" dancers to perform the traditional Nebuta Matsuri dance to the sound of flutes and taiko drums.

Nebuta Warasse is the second-best place to see actual floats used in the festival. Visitors can explore the intricate craftsmanship and evolution of floats used in past festivals.

Hakkodamaru Memorial Ship

In 1988, the Seikan Tunnel was built, passing underneath the waters of the Tsugaru Strait and allowing trains to move people and goods between Honshu and Hokkaido. JR Hokkaido is currently in charge of operating the train line. Before the tunnel’s construction, ferries were the major means of transport between the two islands. One of those ferries was the Hakkodamaru. It lost relevance after the tunnel’s construction and is now a memorial ship at the Aomori Port.

It’s the best place to learn about Aomori’s historic era as the hub for sea travel between Honshu and Hokkaido. You can get a paid tour of the ship, where you’ll see historic photos, ferry models, and preserved cabins.

Exploring Aomori City: A Hub of Culture and Cuisine.

There is no shortage of things to do in Aomori City. We’ve compiled a list of the activities that best represent the city’s unique culture, according to frequent tourists.

Explore the Fresh Seafood Markets

Unless you’re vegan, you’ll love the wide array of seafood options in Aomori, one of the biggest producers of seafood in Japan. The best places to find fresh and cooked fish are the seafood markets in the city.

Furukawa Fish Market (also known as Aomori Gyosai Center) is the most popular spot. Located in  central Aomori, this public fish market has a special system that allows visitors to create their own seafood bowl (donburi) using local fish.

A short distance north of Furukawa and underneath a shopping center lies Auga Fish Market. Like Furukawa, Auga is filled with vendors selling fresh food from the sea, including tuna, seaweed, squid, and scallops.

Visit Contemporary Art Galleries

Aomori is also home to different kinds of unique yet contemporary art. Besides the Aomori Museum of Art and Hakkodamaru Memorial Ship, there are many other places to find beautiful, culturally significant art. The Aomori Contemporary Art Center and the Aomori Prefectural Kyodokan are two other popular destinations for art lovers.

Taste Aomori Apples

Get a taste of the best apples in Japan by exploring the orchards in Aomori. The nearby Hirosaki City is responsible for producing more apples than any other Japanese city. You can buy these apples at grocery stores in Aomori City or take a day trip to Hirosaki City Apple Park and pick your own apples.

Find Souvenirs

Take a piece of Aomori home with you by shopping for souvenirs in the city. We recommend that you visit the A-Factory, a market near Aomori Station. It’s the best place to find local specialty items, including Tsugaru lacquerware, kogin-zashi (cotton embroidery), Tsugaru shamisen (a traditional three-stringed Japanese instrument), and the Nebuta flute. The market also contains a cider brewery, where you can buy apple-based products.

Outdoor Adventures: Experiencing Aomori's Natural Landscape

Feel free to take full advantage of Aomori’s natural landscape by indulging in the available outdoor activities. Hiking is a must-try, with so many possible options in the city. The Shirakami Sanchi mountain range has hiking trails leading to all kinds of natural wonders, including waterfalls, lakes, canyons, and mountain peaks.

For a more diversified outdoor adventure, we recommend a visit to Towada-Hachimantai National Park. This mountainous area passes through Aomori, Iwate, and Akita prefectures. It consists of several stunning mountains, lakes, hot springs, and forests. Towada-Hachimantai National Park has several hiking trails for you to explore. You can also board a sightseeing boat and explore the beautiful Lake Towada.

Local Delights: Aomori’s Culinary Scene

To get the full benefits of Aomori's culinary offerings, we recommend that you focus on the local specialty dishes. By now, it’s no news that seafood plays a major role in Aomori’s food culture. The city is one of Japan’s largest producers of scallops, flounders, and bluefin tunas. Restaurants in the city use fresh seafood to make the following dishes and more:

• Kaiyaki miso: dish made of omelettes and scallops served in the fish’s shell. It includes green onions (scallions) and miso.

• Igamenchi: snack made by deep-frying squid (ika). It tastes great with beer.

• Miso ginger oden: dish made by shimmering fish cakes, squid balls, daikon radish, and eggs in light soy sauce and dashi soup base.

Many eateries borrow from the cuisine of nearby Hokkaido and serve a special noodle dish known as miso curry milk ramen. They also serve the readily available Aomori apples as appetizers.

Festivals and Events: Aomori’s Vibrant Celebrations

Aomori Prefecture has two main festivals that attract visitors from all over the world. The first is the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival, which takes place in Hirosaki City, and the second is the Nebuta Festival in Aomori City.

Nebuta Matsuri is an annual event that takes place on August 2–7. It’s arguably one of the greatest festivals in the Tohoku Region. It consists of a vibrant parade of two-dozen giant lantern floats carried through the streets of Aomori City. The floats are made from washi paper and could take a year to finish. Their designs and paintings depict deities, spirits, mythical figures, and TV characters. Feel free to read our recent article about the Nebuta Festival.

Day Trips from Aomori: Exploring the Vicinity

One of the best aspects of staying in Aomori City is how easily you can access other landmarks and attractions on its outskirts. The following are nice day trips you can take:

• Hirosaki town: You can easily take a short train ride from Aomori City to Hirosaki City, where you’ll find the historic town of Hirosaki. Popular attractions there include Hirosaki Castle, preserved Samurai District, and Otemon Square.

• Shimokita Hanto: The Shimokita Peninsula is also accessible by train from Aomori City. Its main attraction is the Osorezan or “Fear Mountain,” a physical manifestation of Buddhist hell.

• Hotokegaura: On the west coast of Shimokita Hanto lie several rock formations that were designated a Natural Monument of Aomori Prefecture in 1934. You can’t get there by land, so you need to take a boat from Mutsu City if available.

Tips for Traveling to Aomori

The best time to visit Aomori is during the spring and autumn seasons. That way, you can move around under favorable weather conditions and also see the seasonal colors of the natural landscapes.

Aomori is accessible from Tokyo via the Aomori Airport or JR Tohoku Shinkansen line. You can easily get around the city via the bus network that connects Aomori Station to the main attractions, like the Aomori Museum of Art, Lake Towada, and Sannai Maruyama. Local trains and limited express trains shuffle between Aomori Station in the city center and Shin-Aomori Station on the outskirts.

While some tours are provided in English, you should learn a few key phrases in Japanese to make your journey smoother.

Conclusion:

By offering both cultural depth and stunning natural beauty, Aomori has positioned itself as one of the lesser-known gems of Japanese tourism. Considering the environment, rich food culture, and fun activities available, it’s clear that the capital city and the rest of the prefecture are worth visiting.

Explore a unique part of Japanese food culture by eating the best treats from the country. We’ll send you a Bokksu Snack Box subscription box of the most exquisite sweets and snacks every month. Subscribe today for your first mystery box!