7 reasons why Aomori should be on your Japan travel itinerary

In Japan’s under-explored Tohoku region, the vast prefecture of Aomori unfolds as a landscape of bucolic plains and peaks. For adventurous travellers, it offers a quiet alternative to the busy southern touring circuit. One of Japan’s most famous festivals — Nebuta Matsuri — takes place here in August, but Aomori is also home to sake breweries, cherry blossom hotspots, a long dramatic coastline and Mount Iwaki, the prefecture’s ‘mini Fuji’.

1. Hirosaki Castle

One of Japan’s few remaining ‘original’ castles — most are fairly modern reconstructions — this tiered pile has been undergoing restoration work following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. It was picked up whole and moved to a temporary spot in Hirosaki Park, but will be returned to its original foundations in the park in 2026. While the outside is the most impressive bit, you can also visit the interiors and scramble up steep steps to an upper floor museum.

2. Apple culture

Apple farming has been raised to the level of art in Aomori, permeating local life. Here in Japan’s agricultural heartland, it’s not just about growing apples, but growing the very, very best. In the city of Hirosaki, giant, shiny apple sculptures greet visitors; in every cafe, flaky apple pies stare out from windows; and bars serve apple brandy and warming cider. In autumn, onsens are filled with ripe apples that slowly poach in the steaming waters, perfuming the air. And, of course, there’s also the unmissable apple trees, with orchards and dedicated parks offering pick-your-own experiences.

 (Why this Japanese prefecture is obsessed with apples)

3. Gono line

Skirting the west coast from Akita to Hirosaki, the Resort Shirakami sightseeing train provides a day trip with dazzling scenery, from dramatic coastal rock formations rising from the Sea of Japan to an abundance of pretty orchards. Pack a lunch and listen for announcements that let you disembark the train at regular intervals to snap photos, buy souvenirs or — in one bizarre case — shoot basketball hoops on a court built into the train platform.

4. Nebuta Matsuri

One of Japan’s most famous summer festivals, the Nebuta in Aomori City spans an entire week in August. Two dozen illuminated, handmade paper floats are paraded through the streets each night as costumed onlookers chant ‘Ra se ra se ra se ra’ and beat taiko drums. At other times of the year, you can still visit the Nebuta museum on the Aomori City waterfront to gain insight into the tradition and view the previous years’ award-winning floats.

5. Oirase Gorge & Lake Towada

Away from the coast that defines much of Aomori, the lush Oirase Gorge is a wonderland of ancient beech trees and thick moss, gushing waterfalls and steely rock faces. Follow a walking path up to nine miles along the gorge waterway until you reach Lake Towada, a vast and deep expanse ringed in peaks. Onsen hotel Oirase Keiryu overlooks the trickling waterway and is surrounded by hot springs cloaked in trees.

6. Kogin-zashi

This local embroidery tradition has its origins in Aomori’s cold winters: hemp-based peasant clothing wasn’t warm enough on its own, so women began reinforcing it with cotton stitching, which evolved into elaborate geometric patterns. The art is continued today by female makers at the Kogin Institute in Hirosaki. On a tour, learn how the institute works with a network of women who produce goods from coin purses to obi belts for kimono, and try it for yourself.

7. Seafood experiences

Aomori’s lengthy coastline means it’s home to abundant marine riches. In Aomori City, you can make a delicious DIY ‘scattered sushi’ — sashimi over a bowl of rice, locally called nokkedon (bowl with toppings) — in the fish market. Meanwhile, in port city Hachinohe, tour old-school fishermen’s bars with a guide. At each stop, you’ll be given a drink and snack, such as grilled squid, and get to chat to the elderly women who typically run them.