Aomori Hidden Gems
The apple orchards and beech forests at the top of Honshu, where Japan's most explosive summer festival meets some of its oldest surviving woodland.
12 spots
Climate & Best Season
Cold and famously snowy — the Hakkoda mountains record among the deepest snowfall on earth. Mild summers around 25°C; visit August for Nebuta, October for autumn colour.
Famous For (Food)
- Apples
- Ōma bluefin tuna
- Scallops
- Senbei-jiru (cracker hotpot)
Signature Sights
- Nebuta Matsuri
- Shirakami-Sanchi beech forest
- Lake Towada & Oirase Gorge
- Hirosaki Castle cherry blossoms
Oirase Gorge — Pristine Stream & Moss-Covered Forest
Oirase Gorge (奥入瀬渓流) runs 14 kilometers from Lake Towada's outlet through old-growth forest where moss coats every bould…
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…
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…
Mount Osore — Buddhist Hell on Earth
Mount Osore (恐山, Osorezan — 'Dread Mountain') sits on Shimokita Peninsula as one of Japan's three holiest Buddhist sites…
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…
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…
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…
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…