Akita & Aomori
Akita Featured places: Akita City, Senboku City, Nyuto Onsen, etc. Akita City can be reached from Tokyo by plane in about 1 hour or Shinkansen in less than 4 hours.
Aomori Featured places: Aomori City, Hirosaki City, Tsugaru City, Towada City, etc. Aomori City can be reached from Akita City by train in approximately 2 hours.
Seitai Hoshikai
Akita City
A serene Catholic convent, featuring Japanese-style chapel architecture, tranquil prayer gardens, and the famed “Our Lady of Akita” statue—said to have wept 101 times in the 1970s.
Kubota Castle & Senshu Park
Akita City
A small reconstructed castle that was once home to the Satake family, set within peaceful Senshu Park, offering seasonal beauty.
Kakunodate Samurai District
Senboku City
A well-preserved samurai town known as the “Little Kyoto of Tohoku,” with quiet streets, historic homes, and black wooden fences—stunning in autumn with vibrant foliage and in spring with cherry blossoms.
Lake Tazawa
Senboku City
Japan’s deepest lake, known for its vivid blue water and legend of a dragon princess. Peaceful year-round, it’s especially scenic in autumn.
Nyuto Onsen
Senboku City
A secluded hot spring area in the mountains, known for its rustic inns, milky-white waters, and open-air baths.
Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse
Aomori City
A vibrant museum showcasing Aomori’s famous Nebuta Festival, with full-sized illuminated floats, hands-on exhibits, and live performances.
Aomori Gyosai Center
Aomori City
A lively seafood market where you can try Aomori’s famed fresh and seasonal seafood by building your own nokkedon—a custom rice bowl topped with your choice of fresh local catch.
A-FACTORY
Aomori City
A stylish market and food hall by the waterfront, showcasing Aomori-made products like apple cider, jams, and sweets. Shop local goods or relax with a drink while overlooking the bay.
Aomori Museum of Art
Aomori City
A striking, minimalist museum, featuring contemporary works and local artists—including the iconic giant dog sculpture Aomori-ken by Yoshitomo Nara.
Hakkoda Ropeway
Aomori City
A scenic cable car that carries you up Mount Hakkoda, offering sweeping views of forests, mountains, and seasonal beauty—particularly stunning in winter with snow monsters.
Aomori Contemporary Art Centre
Aomori City
A serene art space nestled in the forest, featuring rotating exhibitions, artist residencies, and interactive programs. Known for its curved architecture and natural setting.
Seiryu-ji Temple
Aomori City
Known for Japan’s tallest seated bronze Buddha and a towering five-story pagoda—the highest in Tōhoku—set among quiet paths and forested grounds.
Hirosaki Castle & Park
Hirosaki City
A historic Edo-period castle with a surviving 19th-century keep, surrounded by moats, bridges, and over 2,000 cherry trees, especially stunning in spring.
Hirosaki Apple Park
Hirosaki City
A scenic orchard set agains the backdrop of Mount Iwaki with over 1,000 apple trees representing dozens of varieties, offering hands-on picking experiences in season.
Takayama Inari Shrine
Tsugaru City
A scenic shrine honoring Inari, the deity of harvest and prosperity, known for its hundreds of bright red torii gates winding through the forest, creating a striking tunnel-like path.
Kamegaoka Archaeological Sites
Tsugaru City
An important Jomon-era site where the famous “Shakōki-dogū” was discovered—a small humanoid clay figure with large, exaggerated eyes resembling snow goggles.
Lake Towada
Towada City
A crater lake surrounded by forested mountains, known for its deep blue water and seasonal beauty. A peaceful spot for sightseeing cruises, lakeside walks, and autumn foliage.
Oirase Gorge
Towada City
A lush mountain stream trail that winds from Lake Towada through mossy rocks, waterfalls, and forests. Especially stunning in autumn, when colorful foliage lines the crystal-clear waters.
Recommended Food
A regional icon, Aomori’s crisp, sweet apples are among Japan’s finest. Enjoy them fresh, or in ice cream, cider, and other locally made treats.
A regional icon, Aomori’s crisp, sweet apples are among Japan’s finest. Enjoy them fresh, or in ice cream, cider, and other locally made treats.
Aomori Apple
A fun and customizable way to enjoy Aomori’s fresh seafood—build your own rice bowl by choosing toppings from market stalls.
A fun and customizable way to enjoy Aomori’s fresh seafood—build your own rice bowl by choosing toppings from market stalls.
Nokkedon
Japan’s prized bluefin tuna, celebrated for its rich flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture, caught off the northern tip of Aomori.
Japan’s prized bluefin tuna, celebrated for its rich flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture, caught off the northern tip of Aomori.
Ōma Maguro
A premium breed from Akita and one of Japan’s top three native chickens, it is prized for its firm texture and rich umami flavor—often enjoyed grilled or in hot pot.
A premium breed from Akita and one of Japan’s top three native chickens, it is prized for its firm texture and rich umami flavor—often enjoyed grilled or in hot pot.
Hinai Jidori
A traditional dish from Akita made of freshly cooked rice that’s pounded, shaped around cedar sticks, and grilled. Often served in hot pot with Hinai Jidori.
A traditional dish from Akita made of freshly cooked rice that’s pounded, shaped around cedar sticks, and grilled. Often served in hot pot with Hinai Jidori.
Kiritanpo
Recommended Accommodation
A serene ryokan offering traditional charm with garden views, soothing indoor and open-air baths, also seasonal kaiseki cuisine featuring local Aomori flavors.
A serene ryokan offering traditional charm with garden views, soothing indoor and open-air baths, also seasonal kaiseki cuisine featuring local Aomori flavors.
Traditional Ryokan
Hirosaki City
A refined riverside retreat tucked in the Oirase Gorge, offering scenic forest and river views, with elegant rooms featuring natural wood interiors. Enjoy hot spring baths, local cuisine, and nature trails.
A refined riverside retreat tucked in the Oirase Gorge, offering scenic forest and river views, with elegant rooms featuring natural wood interiors. Enjoy hot spring baths, local cuisine, and nature trails.
Luxury Ryokan
Towada City
A wellness-focused retreat blending hospitality and health, offering comfortable stays with access to personalized medical support, onsen bathing, and rejuvenating spa treatments.
A wellness-focused retreat blending hospitality and health, offering comfortable stays with access to personalized medical support, onsen bathing, and rejuvenating spa treatments.
Wellness Retreat
Towada City
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