Northern areas of Japan such as Hokkaido and Aomori are known for winter snow activities, but the snowfree early summers also bring plenty of new sights and fun discoveries. Here, we introduce sightseeing spots and events in Aomori and Hokkaido’s Hakodate, connected by ferry and the Hokkaido Shinkansen for a leisurely excursion.
Aomori
Located on the northernmost tip of the Tohoku region is Aomori Prefecture. In addition to scenic spots and hot springs, the area is home to dazzling and energetic festivals such as Nebuta Matsuri in summer. You can also try Aomori’s famous apples as juice, cider, apple pie, and more.
＜Access＞
■From Tokyo
Tokyo Sta. → about 4 hr by JR Hokkaido Shinkansen → Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Sta. → 15 min by Hakodate Liner → Hakodate Sta.
Tokyo Sta. → 3 hr 10 min by JR Tohoku Shinkansen → Shin-Aomori Sta. → 6 mi by JR Ou Line → Aomori Sta.
■Aomori ↔Hakodate
・60 min by Hokkaido Shinkansen (Shin-Aomori Station ↔ Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station)
・3 hr 40 min by ferry (Aomori ↔ Hakodate)
This mountain range, straddling Aomori Prefecture in the southwest and Akita Prefecture in the northwest, marks its 30th anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The native beech forests are home to a plethora of precious plants and animals.
| Address | 61-1 Tashiro-Kanda, Nishimeya Village, Nakatsugaru County (Shirakami Sanchi Visitor Center) |
| Access | 55 min by bus from JR Hirosaki Sta. |
Here in Tsugaru, an area famous for its apple production, you can soak in a hot spring with floating apples 365 days a year. Apples contain compounds known to be beneficial for the skin, and they fill the bathhouse with a subtly sweet and tart scent. This facility is also open to day trippers.
| Address | 166-3 Machiiminamita, Hirakawa City |
| Access | 20 min by free shuttle bus (for overnight guests only) from JR Hirosaki Sta. (two round-trip operations a day) |
| URL | https://www-apple--land-co-jp.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=ja&_x_tr_pto=wapp |
On the shrine grounds spreads out a Japanese garden and the famous two-meter-high “thousand torii gates” weaving through it. At the far end is a lookout offering a view of the entire shrine grounds.
| Address | 147-1 Washinosawa, Ushigata-cho, Tsugaru City |
| Access | 5 min by taxi from Takayama Jinja Iriguchi Bus Stop (Konan Bus) |
| URL | https://takayamainari.jp/ |
在玻璃帷幕的工坊中，生產著以縣產蘋果製作的蘋果酒、非酒精性飲品蘋果汽水。幸運的話，還有機會看到職人手工進行的蘋果榨汁過程喔！
2樓的品鑑機可享受試飲品鑑的樂趣喔！（付費）
| Address | 青森市柳川1-4-2 |
| Access | JR青森站步行約1分鐘 |
| URL | https://jre-abc.com/wp/afactory/ |
Upon purchasing a meal ticket, you can exchange your ticket in return for various toppings to create your own unique food bowl (nokke means to “put on” in Japanese)! Open from 7 a.m., you can enjoy it for breakfast.
| Address | 1-11-16 Furukawa, Aomori City |
| Access | 5-min walk from JR Aomori Sta. |
| URL | https://nokkedon.jp/ |
・Towada Barayaki
Ingredients are onion and boneless rib of beef. The savory flavors of the soy sauce-based seasoning containing Aomori apples and garlic will make you want bowl after bowl of rice.
・Senbei-jiru
This hot pot dish consists of vegetables and other ingredients simmered in chicken broth, soy sauce-flavored soup, and broken-up senbei (rice crackers), a traditional cracker of Aomori. The soul food of Aomori, it is beloved by the locals.
This is one of Japan’s most iconic festivals. Over 20 massive nebuta floats parade in a majestic procession as the music and haneto (dancers, performers) join to embellish the summer nights of Aomori. The nebuta, made with beams, wires, and Japanese washi paper, are based on stories and other themes. Colored by the hands of the artists and illuminated from the inside, they glow splendidly in the night.
August 2-7、5-min walk from JR Aomori Sta.
Watch the procession of roughly 80 vividly-colored, fan- and human-shaped lanterns of various sizes through the city.
August 1-4, 7*（Dotemachi Route: 15-min walk from JR Hirosaki Sta.*Morning only on August 7）
August 5-6（Ekimae Route: Just outside of JR Hirosaki Sta.）
The grand, 23-meter-tall neputa parading through the city are a sight to behold.
August 4-8、5-min walk from JR Goshogawara Sta.
