Aomori Prefecture: Nature, Art and Tradition

Aomori Prefecture brings together impressive natural landscapes, archaeological sites, art and vibrant traditions. As you plan your trip, you can focus on different themes, such as a beech forest and alpine flowers, Jōmon history, regional craftsmanship or a festival. This variety of themes offers a good starting point for choosing the destinations that interest you most.

Nature between beech forests and mountain lakes

Shirakami-Sanchi stretches across Aomori and Akita prefectures. The Aomori side of the World Heritage area covers 12,627 hectares; its distinctive landscapes include a large, primeval and contiguous beech forest. The name therefore refers to an area spanning prefectural boundaries, while the stated area describes the Aomori portion of the World Heritage area.

Hakkoda offers a different natural setting: wetlands and lakes are scattered among the mountains, where alpine flowers bloom in summer. The seasonal distinction is important for planning: the flowers described are part of the landscape in summer. In the wider region, a hiking trail through Juniko makes an approximately 40-minute loop from the Mori no Bussankan Kyororo starting point, passing Keitoba-no-Ike Pond, the cobalt-blue Aoike Pond, the beech forest, and Wako-no-Ike and Ochiguchi-no-Ike ponds. Check trail conditions and seasonal access before your visit.

Jōmon sites, art and architecture

The Sannai Maruyama archaeological site is one of Japan’s largest Jōmon settlements and is designated a Special National Historic Site. The Aomori Museum of Art building also references this place: architect Jun Aoki drew inspiration from the archaeological site when designing it. The museum’s collection includes works by Shiko Munakata, Yoshitomo Nara and Tohl Narita. The prefecture thus highlights both early settlement history and a range of artistic perspectives.

For those interested in castles, Hirosaki Castle is a distinctive historical landmark: it is the only castle in Tōhoku built during the Edo period, from 1603 to 1867. The castle and the Jōmon site offer different ways to explore history, while the art museum adds works of art and architecture to these themes. You can decide how much each should shape your trip based on your interests.

Crafts, festivals and regional cuisine

Aomori’s regional craft tradition includes 唐塗 (Kara-nuri), a representative style of Tsugaru lacquerware. The work begins with a base made from Hiba wood. Through repeated lacquering, sanding and polishing, a durable and elegant lacquerware piece takes shape in 48 painstaking steps. These successive steps offer a glimpse of how much work goes into the finished piece.

Anyone can participate as a Haneto dancer in the Aomori Nebuta Festival, provided they follow the applicable rules. In Hashikami, はしかみいちご煮まつり is held every July, where Ichigoni is offered at local prices. If you plan to attend the festival, check the dates in advance. Apples are also part of the region’s identity: Aomori Prefecture produces around 60 percent of Japan’s apples. This is an approximate production figure that may vary depending on the reporting year.

Getting there and choosing where to stay

Aomori Prefecture is accessible by the JR Tōhoku Shinkansen, regular JR trains, long-distance buses and car. There are four Shinkansen stops in the prefecture: Hachinohe, Shichinohe-Towada, Shin-Aomori and Okutsugaru-Imabetsu. The prefecture also has two airports: Misawa and Aomori. When planning, first consider which destinations matter to you and which way of getting there suits your trip. Check schedules and routes before departure.

To choose where to stay, you can sort the destinations by your interests and then plan the most suitable route. Explore the prefecture’s destinations:

Hirosaki, Aomori, Hachinohe, Towada, Akabonai, Mutsu, Hashikami, Misawa, Nishitsugaru District, Hiranai, Hirakawa, Ajigasawa, Sotogahama, Owani, Kuroishi, Goshogawara and Oma.

For the full travel overview: Japan.