Top 26 things to do in Aomori according to TripAdvisor

Aomori City, located in the North of Aomori Prefecture on the Honshu Island of Japan. It’s known to be a port town and used to be a departure of the ferry to Hokkaido island Today Aomori’s remarkable features and top attractions lie in its popular Nebuta Matsuri summer festival, the existence of the Sannai-Maruyama site, or mountainous zone and beautiful amazing stream Oirase. Let’s check out the list of 26 best spots to visit in Aomori.

Aomori Nebuta Festival

Aomori Nebuta Festival is the largest among the Nebuta festivals. It is a must see celebration considered to be one of the Three Great Festivals of the Tohoku Region. The summer nights of Aomori are illuminated by these huge Nebuta floats being paraded down the streets.

Sannai-Maruyama Ruins

Here are the remnants of a Jomon settlement from more than 3000 years ago. You can get an idea of the lifestyle during the Jomon period through the museum’s exhibits and interactive workshops.

Mount Osore

Along with Mount Koya and Mount Hiei, Mount Osore is one of Japan’s Three Sacred Grounds and where Bodai-ji Temple is located. In this mysterious area enshrouded with the smell of sulfur, you can experience the tranquil Buddhist world.

Shirakami-Sanchi

Within a large 130,000 hectare mountainous zone, there is an ancient virgin forest of Japanese beech trees in a beautiful valley. Shirakami-Sanchi is being preserved as a World Heritage site, and is a natural sanctuary that has retained its original appearance.

Oirase Stream

Oirase Stream is located in Aomori Prefecture, at the northernmost tip of the Honshu island. The biggest attraction of the area is the hike through the natural landscape where you can see the waterfalls and the streams.

Seiryu-ji Temple

Seiryu-ji is situated in a serene rural area. The “Showa Daibutsu”, built in 1984, is Japan’s largest sitting statue of Buddha with a height of 21.35m and a width of 15m. You can experience various activities of Buddhist education, such as a tour inside the statue itself, sutra copying inside the temple, and Zen meditation early on Sunday morning.

Hirosaki Neputa Festival

The Hirosaki Neputa Festival evokes feelings of excitement and awe when you watch the “neputa” procession. The traditional Tsugaru Joppari Taiko Drums and the festival’s excitement echo through the hot summer night.

Aomori Gyosai Center (Furukawa Market)

The specialty of Aomori Gyosai Center, a fresh seafood market, is the “Nokke-don”. You choose the sashimi that goes on top your bowl of rice so that you create your own original “kaisendon” (fresh sashimi bowl).

Chosho-ji Temple

Chosho-ji Temple was the first family temple for the Tsugaru clan built in 1528. Within its large grounds, there are features such as the oldest main temple building in Japan, the mausoleum for generations of clan chiefs, and the mysterious 500 disciples of Buddha in the Cave of the Azure Dragon.

Furofushi Onsen

Furofushi Onsen is popular for its spacious “rotenburo” or open air bath, jutting out into the sea. You can enjoy soaking in the bath while admiring the sunset. You can also savor the fresh seafood at the restaurant within the facility.

Hirosaki Castle

This is the main castle of the Tsugaru clan who unified the Tsugaru district. It has now become a park and the castle’s keep is a historical museum. Hirosaki Castle is well known as one of the most famous places to see the cherry blossoms in Japan. Approximately 2600 trees go into bloom at the beginning of May.

Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse

Summer’s great event, the Nebuta Festival in Aomori Prefecture, is recreated inside a building with huge “nebuta” floats that were paraded through the streets! The display of the large “nebuta” floats that have actually been used, is overwhelming. You can also experience the “taiko” drums and the “haneto” dance festivals.

Senjojiki Coast

The coastal terrace created from upheaval due to earthquakes is enjoyed for its dynamic scenery. The summers are lively as swimming areas and Senjojiki is famous for being selected as having one of the Top 100 Sunsets in Japan. The view from the train running along the shore is incredible.

Lake Towada

Lake Towada is a marvelous sight in each and every season. In the central area of Yasumiya where the lake’s symbol, the Otome-no-Zo statue, is located, excursion boats arrive and depart. In Utarube, there are also plenty of activities such as canoeing and camping.

Zenringai

This area is believed to be the “kimon” or the spiritually weak direction of the famous Hirosaki Castle in Aomori Prefecture. These Zen temples were grouped together to protect the southwest direction.

Tsugaru-han Neputamura

Beginning with a display of large neputa floats, you can observe performances of the traditional music of Tsugaru and handicrafts. Neputamura is a place where you can greatly feel the real Tsugaru through things such as workshops and the sales of special products.

Paddy Art

The huge rice paddies become a canvas where ears of rice are the paints to grow gigantic art. Those colorful natural ears of rice used for the art include general kinds along with ancient and new varieties. The best time to see it is between summer and fall.

Aoike Pond

This is a popular spot which is said to be the most beautiful within the Lake Juniko wetland zone located in the Shirakami-Sanchi area. The cobalt-blue pond appearing among the primeval beech forests is truly mysterious.

Lake Juniko (Twelve Lakes)

Lake Juniko is the general name for 33 lakes and ponds located in the northeast portion of the World Heritage site, Shirakami-Sanchi. Heading into the plateau filled with features such as primeval Japanese beech forests and canyons, you can view the various lakes including Aoike Pond.

Saisho-in Temple

A temple of Esoteric Buddhism for the Shingon sect which was built in 1532 in the hopes of good harvests and national peace and security. The splendid five-storied pagoda known as The Most Beautiful Pagoda of the Tohoku was completed in 1667.

Towada Art Center

The works of 33 world-renowned artists including Yayoi Kusama and Ron Muek can be appreciated here. The unique point is that there are large and small independent exhibition rooms that are known as “houses for art”.

Fujita Memorial Garden

An early 20th-century home and garden built on a villa owned by Hirosaki-born industrialist Kenichi Fujita. A Western-style home with Japanese rooms and an archaeological museum are situated on a plateau surrounded by cliffs, while on the lowland, a Japanese garden with a pond spreads out. In the Japanese rooms, you can have matcha tea or have coffee and a meal in the Western building.

A-FACTORY

A-Factory sells products including specialty vegetables and fruits, and sweets using local ingredients. Among these products, the apple cider brewed from local apples is especially popular. There are even restaurants where you can enjoy a light meal.

Former Hirosaki City Library

The Former Hirosaki City Library is a Renaissance-style Western building which has twin octagonal towers. Constructed in 1906 as a commemoration of the victory of the Russo-Japanese War, the building was used as a library up to 1931. Currently, local publications and literary documents are on display.

Aomori Museum of Art

In addition to the works of world-famous artists born in Aomori Prefecture including Shiko Munakata and Yoshitomo Nara, there is also a display of works by local artists with their own sense of character. The museum also owns and displays art by overseas artists such as Chagall and Picasso.

Munakata Shiko Memorial Museum

The museum is in tribute to Shiko Munakata, the world-famous woodblock printer born in Aomori Prefecture, and boasts the largest collection of his works in Japan. In accordance with the artist’s wishes, his art pieces which are rotated regularly are exhibited in small numbers so that visitors can take their time looking at them.

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