Step out of Aomori Station and turn left, and the red bulk of Nebuta House Wa Rasse is already in front of you, with the Aomori Bay Bridge and the old ferry Hakkōda-maru lined up along the harbour beyond it. Within a few minutes on foot you have the shape of the city: a working port that became a prefectural capital, with mountains and hot springs behind it.
Aomori suits travellers who want Jōmon archaeology, woodblock prints, festival floats and a hot spring bath in the same trip, and who are willing to take a bus or taxi for the sights outside the centre. Winter brings heavy snow and summer brings the Nebuta season, so what you can do shifts with the calendar.
This guide covers the sights in the town centre, the museums and archaeological site to the south-west, the hot spring resort of Asamushi Onsen, and the festival and outdoor activities that define a visit.
Top things to do in Aomori
1. Aomori Nebuta Festival
Held from August 2 to 7, this is the event that fills the streets with stalls and evening parades of huge illuminated paper lanterns showing scenes from kabuki plays and Japanese legends, pulled along while costumed dancers move around them. The night parades run from August 2 to 6, and on August 7 there is a daytime parade that ends with a fireworks display while some lanterns float on boats around the bay.
Anyone can join the parade as long as they wear the festival costume; ask about renting one at the tourist centre next to the station. If your dates do not match, the floats are on show year-round at Nebuta House Wa Rasse.
2. Nebuta House Wa Rasse
Turn left out of Aomori Station and you reach this distinctive red building, which holds exhibits about the Nebuta, including several floats, so you can see them even if you cannot come during festival season. It is the most convenient first stop in the city.
Admission is ¥600 for adults. Pair it with the harbourfront sights, since the Aomori Bay Bridge and the Hakkōda-maru Memorial Ship are both a short walk away.
3. Sannai Maruyama
This archaeological site is dedicated to the Jomon people, with many Jomon artifacts and construction remains uncovered here, and reconstructions of buildings from the period on site. Its interest lies in the two types of constructions that indicate a change from a nomadic to a sedentary way of life.
Entry is free, and the Aomori Prefectural Museum of Art is next to the site, so the two combine naturally. The Jomon diet seems to have included chestnuts, so look for the chestnut ice cream cones in the gift shop.
4. Aomori Prefectural Museum of Art
This well-maintained museum has a permanent collection featuring Marc Chagall's backdrops for Aleko and large collections by Aomori natives Yoshitomo Nara and Shiko Munakata, along with other artists from Aomori and abroad. From JR Aomori Station it is 10 to 15 minutes by car or taxi, or 20 to 30 minutes on a bus bound for "SANNAI MARUYAMA ISEKI".
Hours are 09:00 to 18:00 from June to September and 09:30 to 17:00 from October to May, and admission is ¥500. The Sannai Maruyama site is within walking distance, so visit both in one outing.
5. Hakkōda-maru Memorial Ship
Left from the train station towards the giant boat, this ferry connected Hokkaido and Aomori before the Seikan Submarine Tunnel was built and is now a somewhat run-down museum. It is worth checking out if you are interested in regional history, trains or boats.
On summer nights the rear part of the deck serves as a beer garden, which makes it a good end point for an afternoon around the harbour.
6. Aomori Bay Bridge
This bridge spans a short harbour inlet near Aomori Station and the former ferry port, and it is an easy walk from the station area.
Combine it with the Hakkōda-maru Memorial Ship and Nebuta House Wa Rasse, all of which sit close together along the waterfront.
7. ASPAM (Aomori Prefecture Tourist Center)
This large triangular building is easy to spot from the train station or the bridge, and it serves as the tourism centre for the whole prefecture. It includes a movie about the prefecture, in Japanese only, and an observation deck with views of the harbour and city for an extra charge.
Use it to gather information for the rest of your trip, then go up to the observation deck while you are there.
8. Tsugaru Kaikyō Fuyu-Geshiki
This memorial alongside the ferry terminal looks as though it honours a historical event or local hero, but it is actually dedicated to a song. "Tsugaru Strait winter scenery" is a 1977 hit ballad and an all-time karaoke favourite.
It is a quick stop on the same harbour walk as the ferry memorial ship, so see it while you are in the area.
9. Utou Shrine
About a 15-minute walk from Aomori Station, this shrine has gardens and ponds tucked away behind the main shrine. There is also a "power spot": it is said that if you wash your coins in a certain fountain there, you will be free from money troubles.
Allow time to walk the grounds behind the main building rather than just visiting the shrine itself.
10. Munakata Shiko Memorial Museum of Art
Shiko Munakata is famous for his woodblock prints, which are displayed in this very small gallery along with some of his paintings and calligraphy. It is 15 minutes by car from Aomori Station, at 2-1-2 Matsubara.
It is open 09:30 to 17:00 and closed Mondays except for national holidays and during Nebuta. Admission is ¥500.
11. Aomori Prefectural Museum
This museum holds exhibits about the natural and cultural history of Aomori prefecture, making it a useful counterpart to the archaeological site and the art museums.
It is a sensible choice for a wet or snowy day, when the outdoor sights are less appealing.
12. Asamushi Onsen
This is a hot springs resort town on Mutsu Bay with a large number of inns. At many of the inns and hotels you can pay a small fee to use the bath even if you are not staying overnight.
It makes a straightforward day or half-day out from the city, and pairs well with the aquarium in the same area.
13. Asamushi Aquarium
This aquarium features a dolphin show and a transparent underwater tunnel, and it sits in the Asamushi Onsen area.
Combine it with a bath at one of the local inns, since you can use many of the baths for a small fee without staying the night.
14. Machinaka Onsen
If you are tired and want a bath without going all the way to Asamushi Onsen, this hot spring is a few minutes' walk from Aomori Station. Turn right leaving the station and walk two blocks to Route 7, turn left, and the onsen will be on the left about a block later.
The small bath outside is nice, and the location makes it an easy way to finish a day in the centre.
15. Hakkoda Ropeway
The ropeway operates year round for skiers, snowboarders, hikers and anyone who simply wants to see the view from the Hakkōda Mountains. It runs from 1-12, Kansuizawa, Arakawa.
You can snowboard here until May. A round trip is ¥1850 and a one-way trip is ¥1180 for adults.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Nebuta House Wa Rasse, turning left out of Aomori Station, then walk the harbourfront to the Aomori Bay Bridge, the Hakkōda-maru Memorial Ship and the Tsugaru Kaikyō Fuyu-Geshiki memorial. If you want the view over the harbour and city, go up to the observation deck at ASPAM.
Afternoon: Head south-west to Sannai Maruyama and the Aomori Prefectural Museum of Art, which are within walking distance of each other. If time allows, add the Aomori Prefectural Museum or the Munakata Shiko Memorial Museum of Art.
Evening: Return to the centre and finish with a bath at Machinaka Onsen, a few minutes' walk from Aomori Station. In summer, the rear deck of the Hakkōda-maru Memorial Ship serves as a beer garden instead.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Aomori Nebuta Festival held?
It runs from August 2 to 7. The night parades take place from August 2 to 6, and on August 7 there is a daytime parade that concludes with a fireworks display while some lanterns float around the bay on boats.
Can I see the Nebuta floats outside festival season?
Yes. Nebuta House Wa Rasse, the red building you reach by turning left out of Aomori Station, houses exhibits about the Nebuta including several floats. Admission is ¥600 for adults.
Can I use a hot spring without staying overnight?
At Asamushi Onsen, many of the inns and hotels let you use the bath for a small fee even if you are not staying there. Closer to the station, Machinaka Onsen is a few minutes' walk away.
Do I need to go far from the station for the main sights?
No. Nebuta House Wa Rasse, the Aomori Bay Bridge, the Hakkōda-maru Memorial Ship, ASPAM, the Tsugaru Kaikyō Fuyu-Geshiki memorial and Machinaka Onsen are all within walking distance of Aomori Station. Sannai Maruyama, the Aomori Prefectural Museum of Art and the Munakata Shiko Memorial Museum of Art need a car, taxi or bus.
Decide whether you are travelling for the August festival or for the snow, then build your days around the harbourfront, the Jōmon site and a hot spring bath.