Aomori Hidden Gems
19 spots
Seikan Tunnel Museum — World's Longest Undersea Tunnel
The Seikan Tunnel (青函トンネル) is a 53.85-kilometer railway tunnel connecting Honshu (Aomori) to Hokkaido (Hakodate) beneath…
Tsugaru-Iwaki Skyline — Mountain Scenic Drive
The Tsugaru-Iwaki Skyline (岩木山スカイライン) is a 9.8-kilometer toll road ascending Mt. Iwaki (岩木山, 1,625m), Aomori's most icon…
Nebuta Matsuri — Giant Illuminated Float Festival
Aomori Nebuta Matsuri (青森ねぶた祭) is one of Japan's most spectacular summer festivals, held annually August 2-7. The festiv…
Oirase Gorge — Pristine Stream & Moss-Covered Forest
Oirase Gorge (奥入瀬渓流) is a 14-kilometer mountain stream flowing from Lake Towada through primeval forest, creating one of…
Hirosaki Castle — Cherry Blossom Paradise
Hirosaki Castle (弘前城) is one of only twelve original castle towers remaining in Japan, built in 1611 by the Tsugaru clan…
Lake Towada — Caldera Lake & Maiden Statues
Lake Towada (十和田湖) is a double-caldera lake straddling the Aomori-Akita border, formed by volcanic eruptions 200,000 yea…
Shirakami-Sanchi — UNESCO Beech Forest Wilderness
Shirakami-Sanchi (白神山地) is a 1,300-square-kilometer mountain range straddling Aomori and Akita prefectures, home to the…
Sannai-Maruyama Site — 5,000-Year-Old Jomon Village
Sannai-Maruyama (三内丸山遺跡) is Japan's largest and most significant Jomon-period archaeological site, preserving a settleme…
Aomori Apples — Orchards, Picking & Apple Pie
Aomori Prefecture produces over 50% of Japan's apples, with vast orchards blanketing the countryside around Hirosaki and…
Hakkoda Mountains — Snow Monsters & Ropeway
The Hakkoda Mountains (八甲田山) form a volcanic range south of Aomori City, famous for extreme winter snowfall (up to 8 met…
Tsugaru Shamisen — Three-Stringed Soul Music
Tsugaru Shamisen (津軽三味線) is a percussive, emotionally raw style of shamisen (three-stringed Japanese lute) music origina…
Mount Osore — Buddhist Hell on Earth
Mount Osore (恐山, Osorezan, literally 'Dread Mountain') is one of Japan's three most sacred Buddhist sites, believed to b…
Furukawa Market — Build-Your-Own Nokkedon
Furukawa Market (古川市場) in Hachinohe is a bustling covered market specializing in nokkedon (のっけ丼) — the interactive 'buil…
Aomori Bay Bridge — Harborside Promenade
The Aomori Bay Bridge (青森ベイブリッジ) is a 1.2-kilometer cable-stayed bridge spanning Aomori Harbor, completed in 1994 as par…
Tachineputa Matsuri — 23-Meter Tall Float Festival
Goshogawara Tachineputa Matsuri (立佞武多, held August 4-8) is Aomori's second great summer festival, featuring the world's…
Jogakura Bridge — Autumn Gorge Viewpoint
Jogakura Bridge (城ヶ倉大橋) is a 360-meter-long arch bridge spanning Jogakura Gorge at a height of 122 meters, making it Jap…
Ichigoni Soup — Sea Urchin & Abalone Luxury
Ichigoni (いちご煮) is Aomori's most luxurious soup, combining sea urchin (uni) and abalone in a clear dashi broth, served i…
Aoni Onsen — Lamp-Lit Mountain Retreat
Aoni Onsen (青荷温泉) is a remote mountain hot spring inn accessible only via narrow forest road (or on foot), where electri…
Shimokita Peninsula — Remote Coastline & Wild Horses
The Shimokita Peninsula (下北半島) is Honshu's northernmost landmass, jutting into the Tsugaru Strait toward Hokkaido. This…