'''Aomori''' (___X [http://www.pref.aomori.jp/home-e.html]) is the northernmost prefecture on the island of Honshu, Japan.

Cities

  • Aomori - the capital
  • Hachinohe - current terminus of the Tohoku Shinkansen line
  • Hirosaki - the "Kyoto of the North", former capital of the Tsugaru clan
  • Itayanagi - home of the International Chapel, and a church service in English
  • Misawa - a beautiful city by the sea
  • Mutsu - the administrative hub of the Shimokita Peninsula
  • Tsuruta
  • Goshogawara
  • Regions

    Aomori is divided into three main regions, each with their own dialect.

  • Tsugaru - on the west side of the prefecture, includes Aomori and Hirosaki
  • Nanbu - occupies the southeastern part of the prefecture, includes Hachinohe and Misawa
  • Shimokita Peninsula - axe-shaped peninsula in the northeast, includes Oma and Mutsu
  • Other destinations

  • Lake Towada - beautiful caldera lake
  • Oirase Valley - famed for its scenic beauty
  • Showa Daibutsu - huge statue of Buddha in Aomori in a beautiful temple complex
  • Shimokita Peninsula - the axe-shaped northeastern wedge, featuring the dread mountain of Mt. Osore and the hot springs of Yagen Valley
  • Tsugaru Peninsula - haunt and hometown of writer Osamu Dazai
  • Shingo - small town featuring the final resting place of Christ as well as Aomori's pyramids
  • Shirakami-Sanchi - World Heritage Site for its undisturbed beech forests, famous for the Anmon-no-Taki Waterfall
  • Talk

    Get in

    By plane

    Aomori and Misawa both have domestic airports with flights to and from Tokyo.

    By train

    Hachinohe is the northernmost terminus of the Shinkansen (bullet train). Local and express trains also run throughout the prefecture.

    The second longest train tunnel in the world, the Seikan tunnel, runs between Aomori and the northern island of Hokkaido, connecting to Hakodate and onward to Sapporo.

    By bus

    JR and various local carriers offer numerous buses to, from, and throughout the prefecture.

    '''123bus''' [http://www.123bus.net/index.html] is another company which provides daily night time bus services between Tokyo and Aomori. 123bus has online booking service in English.

    By ferry

    Ferries in Aomori, Hachinohe and Oma (at the tip of the Shimokita Peninsula) offer services to and from various destinations, including Hokkaido.

    Get around

    See

    Do

    Eat

    Besides the obvious seafood (especially '''scallops'''), Aomori is famous for its '''apples'''.

    Drink

    Get out

  • Hokkaido
  • Iwate Prefecture
  • Akita Prefecture