HirosakiSaishoin Gojunoto
Called the northernmost five-storey pagoda in Japan, and the most beautiful.
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Aomori
Festivals, apples, and deep forests.
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Hirosaki663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0
AomoriAomori Museum of Art
Its galleries imitate the walls of an excavation trench; it holds three of the four vast backdrops Chagall painted for the ballet Aleko.
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AomoriNebuta Museum Wa Rasse
Paper-and-light figures built for one night and destroyed after it, kept here year-round inside a ribboned red steel shell.
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AomoriYuichi Kosio · CC BY 2.0Browse by area
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FEATUREAomori now (autumn)Oirase Gorge and the Hakkoda forests glow with vivid autumn foliage.See the feature 663highland · CC BY 2.5Recommended information
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Read the answer →REGIONAL SPECIALTIES
Meet the Japan you don't know yet.
It is not only the big cities. The regions are full of charm, and special experiences you can only have in each place are waiting.
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Japan's value, to the world.
Regional culture, tradition, food, sightseeing, nature and people. A directory that delivers the appeal of each to the whole world.
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The photo is a generated image for concept purposes.INSTAGRAM / 6
Official and local Instagram photos
Local governments, tourism accounts and local posts are shown with official embeds. Photos are not stored on Value Village; they link to the original posts.
THINGS TO DO / 6
Things to do in this prefecture
Choose from what you can only do here.
01Hirosaki Blossom WalkWalk beneath blossoms around the castle keep and admire petal-filled moats.See related entries →Raita Futo · CC BY 2.0
02Feel Nebuta FestivalExperience glowing floats and the energy of dancing haneto performers.See related entries →663highland · CC BY 2.5
03Hike Oirase GorgeFollow a streamside trail through mossy woods and a succession of waterfalls.See related entries →Soica2001 · Public domain04See Hakkoda Snow TreesRide the ropeway to see Hakkoda's immense frost-coated trees.See related entries →Yuichi Kosio · CC BY 2.0
05Soak at Sukayu OnsenSoak in the celebrated waters of a historic cypress-built bathhouse.See related entries →あおもりくま · CC BY-SA 3.006Pick Aomori ApplesHarvest crisp Aomori apples in a local orchard during the fruiting season.See related entries →あおもりくま · CC BY-SA 3.0NEED TO KNOW
At a glance
- AirportAomori Airport
- ShinkansenShin-Aomori and Hachinohe stations
- From TokyoAbout 3 hr 10 min by shinkansen
- Best seasonApril–May, August, and October
- Local specialtiesOma tuna · Senbei-jiru soup · Aomori apples
- Typical temperatureSummer: around 24°C / Winter: around -1°C
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL
What each season brings
Raita Futo · CC BY 2.0Spring
MAR–MAYCherry blossoms envelop Hirosaki Castle and its moats in delicate color.
See recommendations for this season →.jpg){kind=link}
くろふね · CC BY 3.0Summer
JUN–AUGThe Aomori Nebuta Festival electrifies the city with enormous illuminated floats.
See recommendations for this season →.jpg){kind=link}
663highland · CC BY 2.5Autumn
SEP–NOVOirase Gorge and the Hakkoda forests glow with vivid autumn foliage.
See recommendations for this season →
あおもりくま · CC BY-SA 4.0Winter
DEC–FEBEnjoy deep snow at Sukayu Onsen and frost-covered trees in Hakkoda.
See recommendations for this season →
LOCAL FOOD / 13
Local food
What people have long eaten in this place. We collect the dishes themselves, not restaurants.
Senbei jiru
Chicken, daikon, carrot, burdock, mushrooms and shredded konjac are simmered in dashi, then Nanbu senbei crackers made for soup are broken into the broth and simmered.
Area：Hachinohe
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Ichigo Ni
A clear soup in which raw sea urchin and abalone are briefly simmered in dashi seasoned with salt, sake and soy sauce. Served with finely shredded leek and chopped green shiso.
Area：Nanbu region
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Kenojiru
Daikon, carrot, burdock, bracken, butterbur, fried tofu and freeze-dried tofu are chopped fine and simmered in kombu dashi, then ground soybeans and miso are added.
Area：Tsugaru region
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Kaiyaki miso
A scallop shell is used in place of a pot: miso is dissolved in dashi of grilled dried fish and dried bonito flakes, then sheet wheat gluten and beaten egg are added and set.
Area：Shimokita and Tsugaru regions
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Tara no jappajiru
The head, bones, innards and other trimmings of cod are simmered with daikon and carrot in kombu dashi and seasoned with miso.
Area：Tsugaru region
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Ika Menchi
Finely chopped squid is mixed with minced cabbage, carrot, onion and wheat flour, shaped into patties and deep-fried.
Area：Tsugaru region
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Shouga Miso Oden
Daikon, konjac, satsuma-age fish cakes, eggs and chikuwa are simmered in kombu dashi and eaten with a sauce of red miso and sugar cooked down and mixed with grated ginger.
Area：Aomori
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Kakke
Buckwheat flour is kneaded with salted water, rolled thin and cut into triangles, then simmered in a pot with daikon and tofu and eaten dipped in garlic miso.
Area：Nanbu region
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Mameshitogi
Green soybeans are boiled and mashed, kneaded with non-glutinous rice flour, glutinous rice flour, sugar and salt, formed into a bar and sliced thin. It is also eaten grilled.
Area：Nanbu region
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Bekomochi
Dough of glutinous rice flour and non-glutinous rice flour kneaded with sugar is colored in several colors, layered, shaped into a bar and steamed. Cutting it reveals a pattern in the cross-section.
Area：Shimokita region
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Keiran
Dough of glutinous rice flour is wrapped around smooth red bean paste, shaped into an egg and boiled, then served in a bowl with dashi broth.
Area：Shimokita region
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Hoshi Mochi
Steamed glutinous rice is pounded, mixed with salt, sugar and sesame and cut into pieces, dipped in lukewarm water, frozen in the winter cold and dried in the wind for more than a month.
Area：Tsugaru region
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Miso Curry Milk Ramen
A noodle dish with a soup combining miso with curry flavor and milk. Butter is placed on top, and it is served with bean sprouts, menma bamboo shoots and wakame seaweed.
Area：Aomori
Source：Aomori Prefecture Tourism and International Exchange Organization "Amazing AOMORI"
MICHI-NO-EKI / 28
Michi-no-Eki roadside stations
RestInformationLocal links
Rest facilities registered by Japan's national government. Each has parking and toilets open 24 hours, and by definition includes a facility that sells local products. This is where the making and the food of this prefecture can actually be bought.
- ShichinoheShichinohe, Kamikita DistrictRegistered April 1993Official site
- HashikamiHashikami, Sannohe DistrictRegistered April 1993Official site
- Niji-no-KoKuroishiRegistered April 1993Official site
- Kawauchi-koMutsuRegistered April 1994Official site
- ShingoShingo, Sannohe DistrictRegistered April 1994Official site
- WakinosawaMutsuRegistered April 1994Official site
- HirosakiHirosakiRegistered April 1995Official site
- OiraseTowadaRegistered April 1995Official site
- SannoheSannohe, Sannohe DistrictRegistered April 1996Official site
- NamiokaAomoriRegistered April 1996Official site
- ImabetsuImabetsu, Higashitsugaru DistrictRegistered April 1997Official site
- NangoHachinoheRegistered April 1997Official site
There are 28 stations in this prefecture in all (national registry).
LOCAL ACCOUNTS / 2
People posting this area
Japanese-language accounts that post about this area.
These are third-party accounts. They are not affiliated with Value Village and this is not an endorsement.
CITIES & TOWNS / 16
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Sorted by number of entries. Start from the name of a town.
INTERESTS / 13
Find by interest
Only the interests found in this prefecture.
Osorezan Bodaiji · あおもりくま · CC BY-SA 3.0Shrines & Temples30 entries
Osorezan Bodaiji ／ Iwakiyama Jinja
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Shirakami · Ocavis Leechroot · CC BY 3.0Nature & Scenery30 entries
Shirakami ／ Hakkoda
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Koganezaki Furofushi Onsen · 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0Hot Springs15 entries
Koganezaki Furofushi Onsen ／ Yunokawa Onsenkyo
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Fujita Garden · 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0Gardens1 entries
Fujita Garden
To the listHirosaki-jo · Raita Futo · CC BY 2.0Architecture15 entries
Hirosaki-jo ／ Maekawa Kunio Buildings in Hirosaki
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Sannai Maruyama · 663highland · CC BY 2.5Museums22 entries
Sannai Maruyama ／ Munakata Shiko Memorial Museum of Art
To the listAomori Nebuta · 663highland · CC BY 2.5Art & Crafts33 entries
Aomori Nebuta ／ Aomori Museum of Art
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Hachinohe Portal Museum Hacchi · 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0Contemporary Art3 entries
Hachinohe Portal Museum Hacchi ／ Towada Art Square
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Aomori Port and Seikan Ferry Memorial Ship Hakkoda Maru · くろふね · CC BY 4.0Craft Experiences17 entries
Aomori Port and Seikan Ferry Memorial Ship Hakkoda Maru ／ Aomori Prefectural Misawa Aviation and Science Museum
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Mutsu Kagaku Gijutsukan · kitakame · CC BY 3.0Culture & History9 entries
Mutsu Kagaku Gijutsukan ／ Jogakura Bridge
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Tachineputa · Occidentale · CC BY 4.0Festivals2 entries
Tachineputa ／ Tsugaru Shamisen
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Kanesa Bonju Plant No. 1 · Animataru · CC BY-SA 4.0Food & Markets18 entries
Kanesa Bonju Plant No. 1 ／ Hachinohe Port
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Kaidan National Route 339 · Shift · CC BY-SA 3.0Experiences28 entries
Kaidan National Route 339 ／ Shiriyazaki Lighthouse
To the listHIGHLIGHTS
Highlights of this prefecture
From entries with clearly licensed photos.
Shrines & TemplesMutsu
Osorezan Bodaiji
Long held to be the mountain where the souls of the dead gather. Sulphur vents and the still water of Lake Usori lie side by side, so that hell and paradise can be taken in at a single glance.
ArchitectureHirosaki
Hirosaki-jo
The only Edo-period castle keep still standing in northern Japan. Famous for its 2,600 cherry trees.
MuseumsAomori
Sannai Maruyama
A settlement that lasted 1,700 years. The large six-pillared building has been reconstructed.
Nature & SceneryNishimeya
Shirakami
Untouched primeval beech forest. One of the first two sites in Japan inscribed as World Natural Heritage.
GardensHirosaki
Fujita Garden
A garden on two levels: a height that borrows Mount Iwaki as scenery, and low ground fed by springs.
FestivalsGoshogawara
Tachineputa
Twenty-three metres tall. It was revived by burying the town's power lines.
SMILE NEWS / 136
Smile news from Japan and the world
Stories that lift your spirits a little, collected with their sources.
Oirase Stream 'mobile museum' comes to ASPAM
The Oirase Stream Mobile Museum is being held on the second floor of ASPAM, the Aomori Prefecture tourism and products center, from October 10 to 14. Through a large moss wall, moss terrariums and microscope viewing, visitors can experience the nature of Oirase.
source: AomoriJomon Prehistoric Sites mark 5 years as World Heritage with an Osaka forum
To mark five years since the Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan became a World Heritage site, a forum will be held at L-Osaka on November 8. It is co-hosted with three other Japanese World Heritage sites including the Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group; admission is free, with advance registration for the first 800 people.
source: AomoriWomen rangers return Darwin's rheas to the wild in Chile
In Chile's Patagonia National Park, a women-led ranger team returned 13 Darwin's rheas to the wild in April 2026. Working with the Rewilding Chile Foundation, they care for the birds around the clock; surveys once estimated only about 11 to 15 remained.
source: MongabayExplore on Instagram
Hashtags often used for this area. Each opens the tag page on Instagram.
SEASONS & EVENTS
Seasons & events
Nakano Momijiyama Light-up
2026-10-24 ～ 2026-11-08
Hirosaki Castle Chrysanthemum and Autumn Foliage Festival
2026-10-30 ～ 2026-11-08
Aomori Nebuta Festival
2027-08-02 ～ 2027-08-07
Tsugaru Shamisen
Hirosaki and others
Hirakawa Neputa Festival
Hirakawa
Kuroishi Komise Matsuri
Aomori
Ohata Hachimangu Reitaisai
Aomori
BEFORE YOU GO
Before you go
TRAVEL
Transport & stays
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