Encompassing 9,600 square kilometers of spectacular lake, mountain, and seaside scenery, Aomori Prefecture is Japan’s 8th largest prefecture and is bursting with fun places to explore. Accommodation options range from peaceful lakeside hotels to stylish city hotels with coastal views.
Our recommendations of the best places to stay in Aomori Prefecture are perfect for weekend getaways, festival visits, and fun seasonal trips to Japan’s north.
Main image: PIXTA
What is Aomori like?
Tsutanuma Pond, just north of Lake Towada, is a particularly gorgeous place to visit in autumn. (Photo: PIXTA)
Aomori Prefecture is a well-known destination in Japan that offers stunning natural landscapes and a wealth of seasonal attractions. Whether you’re seeking the excitement of the city or the tranquility of nature, Aomori has something for everyone, including families, excursionists, and foodies.
One of the main draws of Aomori is its delicious cuisine, which revolves, in part, around seafood. Depending on the season, visitors can also experience a variety of festivals, activities, and breathtaking natural scenery featuring colorful flowers and foliage.
Aomori is a year-round wonderland to get the perfect balance of urban and natural attractions!
Getting to Aomori Prefecture
(Image: PIXTA)
Getting to Aomori from Tokyo by train
The Shinkansen bullet train is the recommended way to travel from Tokyo to Aomori Prefecture.
・From Tokyo Station, take the Hayabusa Shinkansen operated by the JR Tohoku Shinkansen directly to Shin-Aomori Station (around 4 hours; around 17,500 yen; covered under the Japan Rail Pass and JR East Tohoku Area Pass).
・From there, you can transfer to a local train to reach Aomori Station, Hirosaki, and other destinations.
By bus
Bus (either highway bus or night bus) is the cheapest option to get from Tokyo Station to Aomori, costing between 3,000 and 15,000 yen depending on route, carrier, and time of day. The trip takes around 10.5 to 11 hours.
Flights to Aomori
Aomori, Hirosaki, and Hachinohe are the main gateways to Aomori Prefecture. Flying is the fastest and easiest way to reach Aomori Prefecture, with a flight duration of just 1 hour and 20 minutes from Tokyo. There are two airports serving the prefecture: Misawa Airport for the Nanbu area and Aomori Airport for the Tsugaru area. You can browse and book domestic flights here.
Getting around Aomori Prefecture
Tsuru no Mai Bridge is Japan’s longest triple-arched wooden bridge. (Photo: PIXTA)
The train is the easiest way of moving between major cities in Aomori, such as Aomori City and Hirosaki.
Exploring cities in Aomori, buildings and activities tend to be somewhat more spread out than those around Tokyo. While they are still very walkable, a stroll will take more time. For instance, it is around a 30-minute walk from Hirosaki St…
