Aomori Prefecture

Best things to do in Aomori Prefecture

Aomori's Absolute Essentials

Aomori features a diverse landscape ranging from the volcanic terrain of Osore Yama, one of Japan’s most sacred sites, to the ancient beech forests of the Shirakami-Sanchi UNESCO World Heritage site. The region includes Lake Towada, Honshu’s largest crater lake, and the historic Sukayu Onsen, known for its massive wooden bathhouse. Cultural landmarks like the Tsugaru clan’s Chosho-ji Temple and the Iwakiyama Shrine complement engineering feats like the Seikan Tunnel, which connects Honshu to Hokkaido beneath the Tsugaru Strait.

Aomori's Absolute Essentials — Map

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Osore Yama

Regarded as one of Japan’s three holiest sites, this active volcanic area features the Bodai-ji temple complex, sulfurous vents, and the Sanzu River, traditionally believed to be the boundary to the afterlife.

らんで / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Shirakami-Sanchi

Shirakami-Sanchi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Tōhoku region of northern Honshū, Japan.

Batholith / Public domain

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Lake Towada

Lake Towada is the largest crater lake in Honshū island, Japan. Located on the border between Aomori and Akita prefectures, it lies 400…

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Hakkoda Ropeway

This aerial lift ascends to the summit of Tamoyachidake in the Hakkoda Mountains. It provides access to alpine hiking trails and views of "snow monsters"—conifers encrusted in ice—during the winter months.

Nogiuchi / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Sukayu Onsen

Sukayu Onsen is an onsen in the Hakkōda Mountains in the city of Aomori, Aomori Prefecture in Japan.

Urashimataro / Public domain

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Chosho-Ji Temple

A Zen Buddhist temple of the Sōtō sect serving as the family temple for the Tsugaru lords. The site features a 16th-century Sanmon gate and the mausoleums of the Tsugaru clan.

あおもりくま (aomorikuma) / CC-BY-SA-3.0

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Iwakiyama Shrine

Iwakiyama Shrine is a Shintō shrine in the city of Hirosaki in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It is the ichinomiya of former Tsugaru Domain.

663highland / CC BY 2.5

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Lake Ogawara

Lake Ogawara is Japan's eleventh largest lake and the largest in Aomori Prefecture.

khoshi3 / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Experience Tunnel

The Seikan Tunnel Tappi Shakō Line is a Japanese funicular railway in Sotogahama, Aomori, operated by the Seikan Tunnel Museum.

khoshi3 / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Seikan Tunnel Museum

The Seikan Tunnel Tappi Shakō Line is a Japanese funicular railway in Sotogahama, Aomori, operated by the Seikan Tunnel Museum.