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This is a story about a few years ago when I took a vacation to visit my family in Akita Japan.
I always take the Narita Express from Narita Airport to Tokyo station, where I transfer to the Tohoku Shinkansen.
I found a Asian foreigner who sit beside my seat who was acting unfamiliar to Japanese train and talked to him. He told me that he was a Filipino from Cebu and tried to go to Aomori.
My hometown Akita and Aomori are neighboring prefectures, and the Tohoku Shinkansen splits into two way to Aomori and Akita so I decided to travel with him. According to him, he was working at an nuclear fuel reprocessing plant and there were many Filipino working at the facility.
Aomori prefecture is also not so famous as Tokyo and Osaka, so this time I would like to introduce sightseeing spots, festivals, and events in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
Where is Aomori Prefecture?
Aomori Prefecture is the northernmost prefecture in Japan's Honshu and Tohoku areas, and its prefectural capital is Aomori City.
The prefecture ranks 31st in population and 8th in the area. Geographically, it faces the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Sea of Japan to the west, and the Tsugaru Strait to the north.
The entire prefecture is designated as a heavy snowfall area, and some areas are designated as special heavy snowfall areas, which are particularly snowy.
The prefecture's main industry is agriculture, with one of the highest production outputs in Japan. Aomori Prefecture is the top producer of the main items and major production areas, including apples (Hirosaki City, etc.), garlic (Towada City), cassis (Aomori City), and Chinese yam (Misawa City). Nanoha is an apple, but Fuji is known as a representative variety of Aomori.
In Aomori, there is the Seikan Tunnel, which connects Hokkaido and Honshu(main island). This tunnel was dug about 100m below the seafloor of the Tsugaru Strait, and with a total length of 53.85km, it is the largest transportation tunnel in Japan and 4th longest tunnel in the world, and the longest and deepest undersea tunnel and narrow-gauge tunnel in the world.
Events in Aomori Prefecture
Aomori Nebuta Festival
Aomori City
The Aomori Nebuta Festival is one of Japan's leading festivals. Tourists from all over the country visit during the festival, and the number of visitors counts 2.8 million over the six days. Every year from August 2nd to 6th, about 20 Nebuta floats run through the center of Aomori City. The size is 9m wide, 7m deep, and 5m high, and the richly colored decorations that reproduce scenes from historical figures and myths are unique to this festival. Every time the "Nebuta" approaches, the audience cheers loudly. The highlight is the night of the 6th when the festival reaches its final stage. 500 to 1,000 have to floats are attached to each Nebuta float, and they bounce around with the shouts of 'Rassera', making the whole town very lively. At the night festival on the 7th, the "Nebuta" and a fireworks display will be held to welcome the spectacular finale.
Date and time:
August 2nd (Tuesday) to 7th (Sunday) *Held on the same day every year regardless of the day of the week
access
About 7 minutes on foot from JR Aomori Station
Hachinohe Sansha Festival
Hachinohe City
The Hachinohe Sansha Taisai Festival, which boasts a history of approximately 300 years, is registered as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan and a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The highlights are the portable shrine procession of the three shrines, Ogami Shrine, Chojayama Shinra Shrine, and Shinmeigu Shrine, and the operation of gorgeous floats. About 27 floats that reproduce scenes from myths and kabuki will appear. The floats are huge, with a maximum width of 8m and a height of 10m.
The festival starts on July 31st and attracts about 1.5 million tourists during the period. On the eve and after festivals, all the floats are displayed in the public square in front of the city hall and the center of Hachinohe, and there is also a musical performance by the musicians.
date and time
July 31st (Wednesday) - August 4th (Sunday)
July 31, 18:00-21:00
August 1st 15:30-19:00, 2nd 18:00-21:00, 3rd 15:00-19:00, 4th 18:00-20:00
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10-minute walk from JR Hon-Hachinohe Station
Kuroishi Yosare
Kuroishi City
Along with Awa Odori and Gunjo Odori, Kuroishi Yosare is considered one of Japan's three major dances festival. About 200 years ago, Bon Odori in Kuroishi City, which is adjacent to Aomori City, became popular. The sight of many dancers filling Komise Street, which retains the atmosphere of the Edo period, is full of emotion, and you can enjoy the feeling of slipping back in time. ``Nagashi Odori'' is a dance of Tsugaru folk songs in which 2,000 dancers walk through the center of the city. In between songs, the audience gets involved in the "Mawari Odori," dancing in a circle, and the whole city gets excited. Also, from the 18th to the 20th, the "Mawari Odori" is held around the turret in the square in front of the station, and anyone can jump in and participate.
Date and time:
August 15th (Mon) and 16th (Tue), 2022 (Nagashi Odori)
19:00-20:30
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A 12-minute walk from Konan Railway Kuroishi Station
Tourist spots in Aomori
Hirosaki Castle
Hirosaki City
Tsugaru Tamenobu, the founder of the Hirosaki clan who unified Tsugaru, planned to build the castle, and the second lord of the clan, Nobuhira, built the castle in 1611. Don't miss the castle gate and the castle tower, which remain the same size as they were at the time. About 2,600 cherry trees of about 50 varieties bloom in the park, mainly Someiyoshino, and it is also famous as a cherry blossom viewing spot. The "flower raft" where petals flow on the water surface of the moat, and the "cherry blossom carpet" where the moat is filled with petals are beautifully colored.
Opening Hours: Honmaru/Kita no Kuruwa 9:00-17:00, Botanical Garden 9:00-17:00
Closed: November 24th to March 31st Price Honmaru/Kita no Kuruwa: Adults 310 yen, children 100 yen Botanical garden: Adults 310 yen, children 100 yen
*Common ticket (Honmaru/Kita no Kuruwa, Botanical Garden, Fujita Memorial Garden) Adults 510 yen, children 160 yen Access [By train] From JR Hirosaki Station, Konan Bus bound for Shiyakusho, walk from Shiyakusho-Mae Koen Iriguchi stop. 4 minutes
[Car] About 25 minutes by car from Tohoku Expressway "Owani Hirosaki IC"
Oirase stream
Towada City
The Oirase Stream is about 14 kilometers long and joins the Tsuta River from Nenokuchi of Lake Towada. The dynamic landscape covered with deep natural forests is beautiful, and the cliffs approaching on both banks are welded tuff formed by pumice and volcanic ash deposited at high temperatures, creating a powerful view. Along the roads and sidewalks built along the mountain stream, there are many highlights such as Ashura no Nagare and Choshi Otaki.
Access <Yakeyama, the gateway to the Oirase mountain stream>
[Train/Bus] From Tohoku Shinkansen/Hokkaido Shinkansen/JR Ou Main Line Shin-Aomori Station, take the JR Bus bound for Lake Towada Yasumiya and get off at Yakeyama.
* JR Bus is suspended in winter depending on the route
[Car] About 60 minutes from Tohoku Expressway "Towada IC"
Lake Towada
Towada City
A vast lake straddling Aomori and Akita prefectures. Located on top of a mountain at an altitude of 400 meters, it is a typical double caldera lake formed by volcanic activity about 2,000 years ago and filled with water. It is said to be proud of its depth. The fantastic view of Lake Towada covered in snow in winter, including the season of fresh greenery and autumn leaves, is worth a must-see.
Access [Train/Bus] From Shin-Aomori Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen/Hokkaido Shinkansen/JR Ou Main Line, take the JR Bus bound for Lake Towada Yasumiya and get off at Lake Towada Yasumiya.
[Car] About 45 minutes from Tohoku Expressway "Towada IC"
Summary
Aomori Prefecture, the northernmost prefecture of Japan's Honshu and Tohoku areas, is famous for its Nebuta festival, apples, and the Seikan Tunnel.
Compared to Tokyo and Osaka, Aomori Prefecture is not as well-known in the world, but many sightseeing spots entertain visitors, so please visit Aomori Prefecture at least once.