Aomori City: Top Attractions to Visit, Aomori, Japan

Discover Aomori’s gigantic and vibrantly-coloured Nebuta festival floats while visiting the city’s fabulous sights.

Famous for its paper lantern-lit Nebuta Festival, northern Honshu Island’s Aomori seems sleepy and more relaxed than other Japanese cities. Especially after 7 pm. But don’t be deceived. One of the most famous festivals in Japan, the Nebuta Festival is a magnet for 3 million visitors yearly, to the Tōhoku region’s city of Aomori.

Tonight, a much rowdier and younger busload of locals arrived but it’s good to see people in the city. Since the 2010 construction of the Shinkansen (bullet train) station, Aomori has become quieter, except during the famous summer festival. The Shinkansen from Tokyo to Hakodate bypasses Aomori.

Receiving one of the most snowfalls in the world averaging around 8.5 metres (28 feet) of snow each year, visiting Aomori in April proves much cooler than Honshu Island’s more southern destinations.

With over 700 kilometres of trekking trails, Aomori is a great base to start your trek. Enjoy the laid-back pace of this city (aside from festival time), as it’s not as crazy as the more frequented Japanese cities.

Starting at the expansive JR Train Station, wandering on foot through Aomori is a great way to get your bearings. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).