Awe-inspiring festivals, modern art, superb seafood and the world's largest virgin beech forest
Considered one of Japan's most comfortable cities, Aomori has winter snows for alpine sports, and its temperate climate is perfect for trekking, cycling and more when the weather turns hot. Because it faces two oceans—the Sea of Japan and the Pacific—and with mountains, valleys, lakes, and shores—Aomori has year-round recreational possibilities.
Located way up at the northernmost tip of Honshu, Aomori is the last mainland bullet train stop before Hokkaido. Like many rural prefectures, Aomori goes big when it comes to festivals. The Aomori Nebuta Festival , with its massive glowing floats and chants, singing and dancing, is one of Japan's standout events. If you miss the festival, you'll get nearly as much of a thrill out of the Nebuta House Wa Rasse Nebuta Museum , the city's year-round exhibit and tribute to this extraordinary event. You can learn all about the history of this fun and fascinating festival. If you're lucky, you may even catch a weekend performance by local haneto dancers.
The art scene here is also sophisticated, from the fine modern collection at the Aomori Museum of Art to unusual places like the Aomori Museum of History, featuring a collection of 67 traditional wooden fishing vessels. Featuring work by local and international talent, it's filled with artistic and architectural delights, including pieces from Marc Chagall and Paul Klee.
If you haven’t had your fill of fresh food yet, wandering the backstreets and shorelines of Aomori is a must. Situated on Mutsu Bay, Aomori has many great places to dive headfirst into the bounty of the sea. The Aomori Gyosai Center (Furukawa Fish Market) is the city's most famous. Be sure to try the nokkedon, a rice bowl topped with the seafood of your choice. Aomori City is also a good place to hear tsugaru-jamisen, a virtuoso style of playing the three-stringed shamisen instrument.
Located way up at the northernmost tip of Honshu, Aomori is the last mainland bullet train stop before Hokkaido. Like many rural prefectures, Aomori goes big when it comes to festivals. The Aomori Nebuta Festival , with its massive glowing floats and chants, singing and dancing, is one of Japan's standout events. If you miss the festival, you'll get nearly as much of a thrill out of the Nebuta House Wa Rasse Nebuta Museum , the city's year-round exhibit and tribute to this extraordinary event. You can learn all about the history of this fun and fascinating festival. If you're lucky, you may even catch a weekend performance by local haneto dancers.
The art scene here is also sophisticated, from the fine modern collection at the Aomori Museum of Art to unusual places like the Aomori Museum of History, featuring a collection of 67 traditional wooden fishing vessels. Featuring work by local and international talent, it's filled with artistic and architectural delights, including pieces from Marc Chagall and Paul Klee.
If you haven’t had your fill of fresh food yet, wandering the backstreets and shorelines of Aomori is a must. Situated on Mutsu Bay, Aomori has many great places to dive headfirst into the bounty of the sea. The Aomori Gyosai Center (Furukawa Fish Market) is the city's most famous. Be sure to try the nokkedon, a rice bowl topped with the seafood of your choice. Aomori City is also a good place to hear tsugaru-jamisen, a virtuoso style of playing the three-stringed shamisen instrument.
