Aomori 4days

In 1985, as a commemorative project for the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Kuroishi Junior Chamber of Commerce, the world's largest neputa and the world's largest taiko drum were built in Kuroishi Miyuki Park. The representative of Kurayoshi at that time created a limited time festival menu. That was the "World's Best Tenzaru". The menu became very popular and is still loved by many people today.

It is said that the garden was a great reference as part of the image of the mansion and the world in the movie "Arrietty the Borrower". It is one of the three most famous gardens created in the Meiji era. The Seibi-kan, a Western-style building with an eclectic mix of Japanese and Western styles, is a rare example of a building with different architectural styles on different floors for viewing the garden. The building retains its unique beauty in harmony with the Japanese garden, reminding us of the Meiji era of civilization and opening up of the world at the far end of Honshu. Hayao Miyazaki's autograph is also on display at the information desk!

Hirosaki Castle, the only surviving castle tower in the Tohoku region from the Edo period, is about 600m long from east to west and 1,000m long from north to south, and consists of six walls surrounded by triple moats and earthen mounds. The castle has a castle tower, three turrets, and five gates, all of which are designated as important cultural properties. The castle remains in its original form, and was designated as a national historic site in 1952. Currently, the castle has been moved to a different location due to the aging of the stone walls⁉ Have any castles been moved in Japan in the past? How unusual!

Aomori is all about apples! Hirosaki City is the largest producer of apples in Japan, and there are many sweets made with apples! The apple pies made with great care by each store are very popular among locals and tourists alike! There are many stores in this apple town, but if you are not sure which store to go to, please refer to the Apple Pie Guidebook! The stores listed are located in Hirosaki City, so if you want to enjoy real apples locally, you can’t miss it!

It is located along the Shinmachi shopping street, a 5-minute walk east of JR Aomori Station, where the Nebuta Festival is held in the summer and the Snowman Road in the winter, allowing you to enjoy seasonal events up close. It is a 5-minute walk to Aomori Bay Area, and a 4-minute walk to Aomori Prefectural Tourism and Product Center ASPAM. Rooms on the upper floors of the hotel on the ocean side offer a panoramic view of Aomori Bay.

Shirakami Sanchi is the first place in Japan to be registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (natural heritage). It is also one of the stages of Princess Mononoke. This mysterious pond is one of the 33 lakes and marshes called the Twelve Lake in the area and is very popular. It was named Aoike (blue pond) because it looks breathtakingly beautiful and blue like cobalt blue when illuminated by the sun. The pond is about 9 meters deep, and you can see dead beech trees lying and fish swimming in the water. Why it looks blue is still unknown.

The Grand Canyon of Japan is located in the Tsugaru National Park area, but is not part of the World Heritage Area, so it is surprisingly unknown to many people. In 1953, when the Twelve Lake was designated as a Prefectural Natural Park, Mamoru Kishi, an explorer who was a member of the National Park Council, visited the site and compared it to the Grand Canyon in the U.S. and said, "What a baby canyon!” That's how it came to be called the Japan Canyon. The Japan Canyon from the bottom of the valley, surrounded by white tuff cliffs, is a powerful sight!

The Fukaura area, located at the foot of the Shirakami Mountains, a World Heritage Site, has the largest catch of tuna in Aomori Prefecture! Fukaura's tuna, which migrates north to the Tsugaru Straits from spring to summer, is called summer tuna, while the nationally famous tuna from Oma, which is landed in the Tsugaru Straits, is called winter tuna. The summer tuna from Fukaura is slightly smaller than the winter tuna, but it is well known for its fatty, moist, lean meat and excellent taste. To support the summer tuna, the locals are offering a meal of Fukaura tuna steak rice bowl.

The longest wooden triple drum bridge in Japan with a total length of over 300 meters. Completed in 1994, the bridge connects the two shores of Lake Tsugaru Fujimi, which beautifully reflects the majestic shadow of Mt. Iwaki on the surface of the lake, and is loved by many people as a symbol of Tsuruta Town with its warmth of wood and gentle arch. The bridge was named after the large number of cranes that used to fly over it. The bridge, which looks like a dancing crane, is also considered a power spot for good luck and longevity, as the long wooden bridge can be read as a bridge for long life. If you cross the bridge, you can live a long life⁉︎

The Sannai Maruyama Site is one of the largest Jomon settlement sites in Japan. The remains of a village that actually existed about 5,900 to 4,200 years ago have been found. The vast ruins are still being excavated, and there have been many discoveries that have overturned the conventional wisdom of the Jomon period, such as the fact that people lived in this area for over 1,500 years and used the bounty of nature to maintain a rich diet. The site is dotted with ruins and reconstructed buildings that you can enter, making it one of the best places to visit in Aomori! You can also buy sweets made from chestnuts, as chestnuts were cultivated there in the past.

The summer festival of Aomori is the Nebuta! The colorful Nebuta, which fascinates people with its various forms depending on the creator, can be seen outside of summer as well! Nebuta no Ie WALASSE introduces the history and appeal of the festival and allows visitors to experience all that Nebuta has to offer. A large Nebuta that was actually used in the festival is displayed in a vast space that extends to the second floor. Surrounded by real Nebuta while shamisen, flute and Nebuta music plays in the background, you can immerse yourself in the world of the festival. The "Nebuta Museum" on the second floor introduces the origins and history of the festival. You can also learn about production techniques, styles, and changes in the subject matter. Be sure to check out the touchable nebuta and the nebuta masks that show the characteristics of the creators! There are also stores and restaurants where you can buy Nebuta goods and other Aomori crafts and products!

Aomori Fish and Vegetable Center is famous as the birthplace of the original "Aomori Nokke-don". After getting a ticket, you can freely go around the stores and choose the amount of ingredients you like and have them put on your warm rice! There are so many different kinds of fresh seafood, local specialties, and it's hard to decide which one to eat! You'll be amazed at how much there is! If you go in the morning, you can get freshly fried squid menchi, one of Aomori's local dishes! In addition to sashimi, there is also a butcher store where you can have your meat grilled right in front of you! Don't forget that you can also buy souvenirs!

The large park adjacent to Aomori Port is called Blue Sea Park, and on a good day, Aomori Bay and the blue sky come together to create a truly blue sea park! It is also a popular park for local residents to relax. There are benches where you can take your time to look at the sea, and if the weather is good, you can see far into the distance. Nearby, there is an eye-catching triangular building. This is the "ASPAM" tourist and product center. It is a 76-meter high, 15-story building in the shape of the letter "A".The triangle was actually inspired by the "A" in Aomori. It serves as an information base for the culture, tourism, and products of Aomori Prefecture. From the observatory, you can see not only Aomori Port, but also the cityscape of Aomori City and even Mt. Hakkoda in the distance.

青森駅から徒歩約2分！地下にこんな隠れた市場があるとは！
早朝5時から営業しているアウガには約70店舗の鮮魚・乾物・野菜などを扱う店舗や新鮮素材が味わえる飲食店が並ぶ「新鮮市場」があります。海産物を中心にたくさんのお店が並んでいるので、目移り必須。朝から飲食店を食べ歩きするのも楽しいし、その後はお土産探しも出来るし。近くの青森魚菜センターは観光客が多め、アウガ新鮮市場は地元のお客さんが多め。青森のローカルな日常が見えたり、パンフレットに載ってない情報なども聞けるかも！？早朝散歩とともに市場に立ち寄ってみてはいかがでしょう？