9 Top Things To Do In Aomori Japan For First Time Visitors

If you’re planning a trip to Aomori, Japan, but aren’t sure what to do, keep reading to discover the best things to do in Aomori.

The city of Aomori is the capital of Aomori Prefecture and sits at the northernmost point of the island of Honshu.

Amori is recognized for having one of Japan’s top ten festivals, the Nebuta Matsuri, which takes place every August.

Nebuta are giant illuminated floats and the Aomori region has the most recognized artisans of Nebuta floats in Japan.

Aomori is also famous for its apples. The apple pie is one of the best I’ve ever had!

So if you like apples a trip to Aomori is a must.

In addition, if you love nature you’ll want to include a visit to the Towada Caldera Lake.

A beautiful National Park that surrounds the lake of what is the crater of a dormant volcano.

In this guide, I share my recommendations for the best things to do when you visit the charming city of Aomori, Japan.

Getting to Aomori from Tokyo

Aomori is only 4 hours north of Tokyo by Shinkansen and 3.5 hours by air.

By Train

Take the JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Shin-Aomori.

In Shin-Aomori you will transfer to a local train that will take you to Aomori Station.

Aomori Station is in the city center and is within walking distance of many hotels.

Both of the train tickets will be covered if you purchase a JR Railpass.

By Air

Japan Airlines (JAL) or All Nippon Airways (ANA) fly from Haneda Airport to Aomori Airport.

Since this is a regional airport it is compact and easy to move in.

To get to the city center you can take a bus from the airport to Aomori Station which happens to be the main bus station.

It takes approximately 35 to 40 minutes by bus to travel from Aomori Airport to Aomori Station and it costs around $2-$5 USD.

The bus from the airport to the station is included in the JR Rail Pass, as it is operated by JR Bus Tohoku.

Just show your JR Rail Pass to the driver when boarding the bus.

Taxis are also available and take about 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

These cost approximately $20–$31 USD, depending on whether you use a fixed-rate service or the standard metered fare.

Top Things To Do in Aomori Japan

1. Nebuta Matsuri

If the timing is right, the best time to visit Aomori is in August for the Nebuta Matsuri.

The Nebuta Matsuri is renowned for its spectacular illuminated floats, vibrant costumes, and energetic performances.

The festival route runs through the main roads in the center of the city.

Staying in a hotel close to those roads is the best way to ensure you arrive early to see the spectacular floats.

2. Nebuta Museum

If you can’t make it to the festival you can still see some of the magnificent floats in the Nebuta Museum WA RASSE.

Just steps from Aomori Station this modern red building draws immediate attention and was designed as an homage to the tradition of Nebuta.

The museum is home to some spectacular Nebuta floats, preserved to showcase the intricate designs and fine craftsmanship that goes into creating them.

Inside, you’ll discover fascinating exhibits that explain the rich history of the festival.

You’ll also get an up-close look at the intricate craftsmanship behind the floats, including a rare glimpse at the underside of one of these towering creations.

One of the highlights for me was the Wall of Fame—a tribute to the most celebrated artisans, complete with their biographies and stunning examples of their unique designs.

Even if you have the chance to see the festival a visit to the museum to learn about the making of these beautiful giants is a must.

The museum has a cafeteria where you can enjoy lunch and a souvenir shop you can visit without the need to enter the exhibits.

3. Visit ASPAM: AOMORI VISITOR CENTER

You’ll identify this unique building by its shape.

Its unique triangular design represents the letter “A” for Aomori.

This 15-story, 76-meter-tall building is the home of the Aomori Prefecture Tourist Center, ASPAM.

This is a great place to start your visit to Aomori.

Inside you’ll find:

• First Floor: A marketplace offering a wide range of local specialties, including freshly baked apple pies, local sake, sweets, and seasonal fresh apples. I had my first yummy piece of pie here and it was tasty, warm, and gooey.
• Second Floor: The “Interactive Zone” features a 360-degree panoramic movie theater showcasing immersive 3D digital videos of the Nebuta Festival.
• Observation Deck: Located on the 13th floor, this deck provides panoramic views of Aomori City and the surrounding bay area. Always a good way to gain perspective of a new city.
• Dining: A restaurant on the 14th floor offers local cuisine accompanied by scenic vistas.

4. Take a walkALONG Aomori Ekimae Beach

Once outside of the visitors’ building, you’ll immediately see a park and a boardwalk.

You can stroll the park and then follow the boardwalk towards the train station.

Cross the Aomori Labridge (a pedestrian-only bridge across the beach) and you’ll end up under the Aomori Bay Bridge and the Seikan Ferry Memorial Museum.

Along the boardwalk, you can see the coast of Aomori and in the summer there are several bays where you can take a dip and have a picnic.

The beach close to the Nebuta Museum and the A-Factory is quiet and calm.

This area is very pretty at night.

5. Stroll through Charming Utou Shrine

Aomori isn’t known for any lavish temples or shrines.

But just in the center of town, you’ll find Utou Shrine.

A charming area with a water feature and a cute garden.

Unlike other shrines in Japan, the buildings in this shrine are painted white and teal making it different from what you typically see.

There were few people when I visited and I was lucky to enjoy the stunning fall colors in the surrounding trees.

6. Seikan Ferry Memorial Museum

Another thing you can do in Aomori is visit the Seikan Ferry Memorial Ship Hakkodamaru.

Ferries were the primary means of travel between Honshu and Hokkaido until the opening of the Seikan Tunnel in 1988.

During that time Aomori served as the hub for travelers who needed to transfer between the train and the ferry.

Today you can visit the former ferry Hakkodamaru, which serves as a memorial to the bygone era.

Much of the Hakkodamaru is open to the public, and you can take a self-guided tour through the ship.

A unique feature of the Hakkodamaru is its vehicle deck which could hold up to 48 rail cars on four separate tracks.

The trains would enter the ship via a hatch at the rear and were stored there for the 3.5-hour journey across the ocean to Hokkaido.

This museum makes for an interesting look into travel before the Shinkansen connected the two islands.

7. A-Factory

As you step outside Aomori Station, you’ll find A-FACTORY—a cider factory and apple-themed market.

Here, you can tour the factory and watch cider production through glass windows or enjoy a tasting session.

The market offers a variety of items, including apple-based vinegar, desserts, and food products, as well as unique apple-themed merchandise.

And don’t miss their apple ice cream—it’s delicious!

8. Demo Beer

This beer bar is located on Teramachi Dori, the main street leading to Aomori Station.

It had a good variety of craft beer and a cool attitude.

9. Aomori Brew Pub

Located just two blocks from the Nebuta Museum this place makes their own beers.

They have small-batch brewing equipment you can see in-house.

They also had a good menu I couldn’t sample because my train was about to leave.

But the beer was really good and I look forward to returning here soon!

Day Trips From Aomori

Day Trip to Towada Lake

Lake Towada is the largest crater lake in Honshū island, Japan.

It is well-known for its breathtaking scenery.

This is especially true during the fall season when the red of the Japanese Maples and the yellow leaves of beech trees are reflected on the waters of the lake.

There are many different activities to do around the lake.

Because it is a little farther away (a 2-hour bus ride) and more complicated to reach, I would recommend making arrangements with a local guide.

If you want to go on your own check the bus times schedule closely.

If you visit in the fall the views should more than compensate for your troubles.

Day Trip to Hirosaki

Just a 35-minute train ride away from Aomori you can visit the castle town of Hirosaki.

This small 17th-century castle is the centerpiece of the town.

The surrounding Hirosaki Park has thousands of cherry trees, which make it a great place to view the cherry blossoms in April and May.

The town also has some well-preserved samurai homes in the Nakamachi area.

This makes this a great place for a day trip to see some traditional Japanese culture.

To reach Hirosaki take a train from Aomori Station to Hirosaki Station.

Trains leave every hour.

As an alternative, you can take a guided day tour.

A Different View of Japan

Shrines, temples, castles, and Samurai come to mind when thinking of Japan.

But this versatile country is also home to many wonderful festivals (Matsuri).

One of the most colorful and unique festivals is the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri.

But even if you can’t visit the festival, Aomori’s Nebuta Museum provides a wonderful look into this amazing festival.

Furthermore, the savory apple products and smaller city vibe give its visitors a different view of Japan.

So if you’re looking for something a little different than Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto, Aomori is a great alternative.

It certainly is on my list of places to return to in Japan.