1
Tsugaru-han Neputa-mura

See, eat, experience and feel the charm of Tsugaru

Tsugaru-han Neputa-mura (Tsugaru Clan Neputa Village), located near Hirosaki Park, is an all-weather Property. There are many buildings, including a store selling hand-baked rice crackers and a farm produce market, but the first place you should visit is the Hirosaki Neputa no Yakata no Yakata (Hirosaki Neputa Museum). Not only is there a display of the magnificent and delicately beautiful Hirosaki Neputa, but there is also a live performance of the Tsugaru shamisen, whose lively sound and fierce bachi play will enchant you. After the shamisen, the festival music of the Hirosaki Neputa with flutes, drums, and bells begins, creating a festival atmosphere of enthusiasm among the locals. Shamisen and festival music are performed every 50 to 70 minutes, so be sure to check the opening time first.

Demonstrations of folk crafts and Experience menus are also available.

Also on the grounds is a Japanese garden of the Oishi Bugaku school, a national tangible monument, and a teahouse called "Yokian," a cultural property designated by Hirosaki City. Both were built in the Meiji era (1868-1912), and are historically significant, creating a serene atmosphere on rainy days. At Tsugaru Kura Kobo Takumi, a rice warehouse that has remained from the era of the feudal domain, visitors can experience making Tsugaru lacquerware, Tsugaru kites, kogin-sashimi, goldfish nepta, Shimogawara-yaki pigeon flutes, and various other folk crafts. In addition, a demonstration corner of Tsugaru's traditional "Zuguri" spinning top and a Dining Area where visitors can enjoy local delicacies are also popular.

Tsugaru Han Neputa Village

• 61 Kameko-cho, Hirosaki-shi, Aomori MAP
• From JR Hirosaki Station, take the Hama-no-machi/Ishiwatari line of the Konan Bus (approx. 15 min.), alight at Kamego-cho Kakaku (Kamego-cho corner), and walk approx. 1 min.
• 9:00-17:30 (last admission at 17:00)
• No holidays
• Admission: Adults 550 yen, high school and junior high school students 350 yen, elementary school students 200 yen, toddlers (3 years and older) 100 yen
  Experience fee: goldfish neputa painting and apple clay bell painting: 1,150 yen / pigeon flute painting: 1,350 yen
• 0172-39-1511
• Fee required（Free for 1 to 2 hours depending on Property availability)

2
Tachineputa no Yakata (Tachineputa Museum)

Tachineputa, a 23-meter-high craft, is worth seeing.

There are many "Neputa (nebuta) festivals" in Aomori Prefecture, but the Neputa of Goshogawara City is called "Tachineputa" and is characterized by its height of over 20 meters. The "Tachineputa Museum" exhibits three of the actual neputas used in the festival, and can be viewed throughout the year. At 23 meters tall and 19 tons in weight, Tachineputa is the size of a small building, but it is not only intimidating, but also astonishingly beautiful in its colorful colors, human movements, and the details of its ornaments. The Tachineputa is made in parts over the course of a year in a workshop adjacent to the exhibition room, assembled prior to the festival, and then taken to the streets on the day of the festival. The workshop is open to the public and can be visited free of charge.

Tachineputa, which disappeared from the town, will be revived.

Tachineputa was popular during the Meiji and Taisho periods, but as electric wires and taller buildings made it difficult to operate them in the city, they were gradually downsized, and eventually disappeared completely. However, in 1993, a blueprint of the old Tachineputa was found in Goshogawara City, which sparked a revival of the festival, and in 1996, with the help of volunteers, the festival was revived for the first time in 80 years. Today, it has become a popular summer festival nationwide.
Visitors can take the elevator up to the 4th floor and go down the ramp to see Tachineputa. Every 30 minutes, a video introducing the festival and history of Goshogawara City and Tachineputa is shown.

Tachineputa House

• 506-10 Omachi, Goshogawara-shi, Aomori MAP
• 5 min. walk from JR Goshogawara Station
• 9:00-19:00 (Mon. to Mar. - 17:00, Aug. 4-8 - 17:00, Dec. 31 - 15:00)
• January 1 (Sun) (may be open)
• Adults 600 yen, High school students 450 yen, Junior high school and elementary school students 250 yen
• 0173-38-3232
• Free (2 hours) Visitors to the Tachineputa Exhibition Hall or Art Exhibition Gallery, and those who spend more than 2,000 yen for purchases, food and drink in the museum.

3
Aomori Prefectural Museum of Art

A museum where you can meet Aomori dogs (Aomori Ken)

Since its opening in 2006, the Aomori Museum of Art has attracted the attention of art fans. In addition to exhibition rooms, the museum's expansive grounds include a theater, studios, community gallery, and workshop space, making it a place to enjoy and disseminate a variety of art forms. The museum was made famous by "Aomoriken" by Yoshitomo Nara, an internationally acclaimed artist born in Hirosaki City. The 8.5-meter-high canine objet d'art, located in the space facing the permanent exhibition room, has a gentle or sleepy expression that captures the imagination of the viewer.

Take your time to enjoy a wide range of art genres

The pure white square building is the work of architect Jun Aoki. The museum itself is also an artistic space, with the original font created by graphic designer Atsumi Kikuchi used for the museum's signage.
The museum's wide-ranging collection includes works by Japanese artists such as Shiko Munakata, Kyo Narita, Yoshitomo Nara, and Kyouichi Sawada, all of whom were born in Aomori Prefecture. In particular, the four stage backdrops for Chagall's ballet "Areco," on display until March 2021, are not to be missed. Chagall's fantastic world unfolds in a huge space measuring 9 meters in height and 15 meters in width.

Aomori Museum of Art

• 185 Chikano, Yasuda, Aomori-shi, Aomori MAP
• From JR Shin-Aomori Station, take the Konan Bus "Nebutan-go" 100-yen bus (approx. 10 mins) to the Prefectural Art Museum-mae stop, a short walk from the bus stop. 20 mins from JR Aomori Station, take the Aomori City Bus bound for Sannai-Maruyama Ruins, a short walk from the Prefectural Art Museum-mae stop.
• 9:30-17:00, last admission at 16:30
• The museum is closed on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month, and at the end of the year (and on other occasional days).
• Adults 700 yen, college students 400 yen, free for high school students and those under 18 years old
• 017-783-3000
• Free of charge

4
Nebuta House Wa Rasse

Popular sightseeing spots in Aomori City

At Nebuta House Wa Rasse, visitors can see many large Nebuta floats, shop for souvenirs and folk crafts, and enjoy a meal. The restaurant offers a view of Mutsu Bay and local seafood, and is located about a 1-minute walk from JR Aomori Station, making it a popular place to stop while waiting for your train.
On the second floor is the Nebuta Museum. The museum displays all kinds of information about Nebuta, including the history and production process of Nebuta, the many "Nebuta masters" who have been involved in Nebuta production, and the "Nebuta masters" who have left their mark on history, conveying the passion of the Aomori people for Nebuta.

Experience the power and beauty of the Nebuta Festival

The Nebuta Hall, directly connected to the Nebuta Museum, displays four award-winning large Nebuta that have been used in actual festivals, as well as medium-sized Nebuta and Nebuta parts. The sight of these large Nebuta, each measuring 9 meters wide, 7 meters deep, and 5 meters high, is truly a sight to behold. It is a fantastic space overflowing with vivid colors. The front and back sides of the large Nebuta depict different scenes, so it is fun to compare the front and back sides, such as a heroic battle scene and a peaceful scene depicting animals and women.

Nebuta House Wa Rasse

• 1-1-1 Yasukata, Aomori-shi, Aomori MAP
• Approx. 1 min. walk from JR Aomori Stn.
• 9:00-18:00 (May-August: 19:00), Shop Aimory 9:00-18:30 (May-August: 19:30), Dining Area Uokokuinoda 11:00-19:00 (May-August: 20:00)
• August 9, 10, December 31, January 1
• Adults 620 yen, High school students 460 yen, Junior high school and elementary school students 260 yen
• 017-752-1311
• Fee required（Free for 1 to 2 hours depending on Property availability)

5
Aomori Prefectural Asamushi Aquarium

Let's join the Experience menu!

Located in Asamushi, a famous recreation area, the aquarium attracts visitors of all ages. The aquarium has many interesting exhibits, including a tunnel aquarium that recreates a scallop and ascidian farm in Mutsu Bay, Japan's first successfully bred juvenile wolf fish, a fantastic array of jellyfish, and the popular chin sea eel.
The extensive Experience menu is also not to be missed. From a simple touch with a tiger shark or the popular children's bug, to feeding sea turtles, shaking hands with dolphins, and even observing dolphin breeding and training, there is something for everyone. We encourage you to participate.

See dolphins, seals, and other sea idols

At the dolphin pool, dolphins perform four times a day (five times on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays). For an additional fee of 2,000 yen per couple, visitors can watch from special seats set up by the pool.
The dolphins, seals, and penguins are also shown being fed. The smiling faces of the dolphins and the relaxed faces of the seals are a sight to behold.

Aomori Prefectural Asamushi Aquarium

• 1-25, Babayama, Asamushi, Aomori-shi, Aomori MAP
• 10 min. walk from JR Asamushi hot spring station
• 9:00-17:00 (last admission at 16:30 *Subject to extension during G.W. and Bon Festival)
• No holidays
• Adults 1,020 yen, elementary and junior high school students 510 yen, free for infants
• 017-752-3377
• Free of charge

6
Former Touoku Gijuku Gaijin Kyoshikan

Visit a Western-style house where missionaries lived

To-Ou Gijuku" is a private Christian high school still located in Hirosaki City, founded in 1872 as the first private school in Aomori Prefecture, based on the Hirosaki Domain's "training school". Due to the relocation, the site of the school became Otemon Plaza, but within the plaza is a preserved residence of foreign missionaries who were once invited by the Toooku Gijuku, and visitors are free to tour the inside.
The Western-style house with red roof and green trim was built in 1900, and the beautiful space with chimneys, fireplaces, and large bay windows is furnished with old furniture and reproduces the lifestyle of the time.

The cafe on the first floor is the perfect place to take a break!

On the first floor of the Western-style building is "Salon de Café Ange," where visitors can enjoy tea, sweets, and French lunch in a nostalgic space with a fireplace.
From a seat by the window, you can also view the miniature Western-style buildings that line Otemon Square. These are one-tenth scale models of Western-style buildings that once stood in Hirosaki City from the Meiji to Taisho periods. Fourteen buildings, including the former Hirosaki City Hall and Hirosaki Public Hall, are lined up in a row.

Former Tooku Gijuku Gaijin Teachers' House

• 2-1 Shimoshiragincho, Hirosaki-shi, Aomori MAP
• 15 min. on the Konan Bus from JR Hirosaki Stn. bound for Shiyakusho (City Hall), approx. 1 min. walk from Shiyakusho-mae bus stop.
• 9:00-18:00 (Coffee shop: 9:30-18:00, L.O.17:30) *Hours may be shortened in winter.
• No holidays
• Free of charge
• 0172-37-5501(Municipal Tourism Center)
• Parking is available in the underground parking lot of the Municipal Tourist Center.

7
Hoshino Resorts Aomoriya by Hoshino Resorts

The heat of Nebuta is 365 days a year! Aomori's theme park-like inn

Approximately 40 minutes from Hachinohe Station by free shuttle bus. Aomoriya is a hot spring hotel where you can fully enjoy Aomori's festivals, dialect, and other cultural aspects. Every part of the hotel is decorated with festival decorations, making just walking around the building exciting. Every night, a musical show of Aomori's four major festivals is held. Visitors can enjoy Aomori's unique culture through activities such as horse-drawn carriage rides through the park, which stretches over an area of approximately 220,000 tsubo, and "Ukiyu," a hot spring that soothes visitors with its high quality spring water.

Hoshino Resorts Aomoriya by Hoshino Resorts

• 56 Aza Furumakiyama, Misawa City, Aomori Prefecture MAP
• 10 minutes walk from Misawa Station of Aoimori Railway
• 050-3134-8094（Reservation center/9:30-18:00)
• Available
• Click here for reservations
  Hoshino Resorts Aomoriya by Hoshino Resorts Reservation Site
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8
Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu Hotel by Hoshino Resorts

An inn where you can enjoy the beauty of nature all year round: fresh greenery, autumn leaves, and ice falls

A resort hotel located along Oirase Keiryu Hotel by Hoshino Resorts, which runs through Towada-Hachimantai National Park. With a Restaurant overlooking the mountain stream, hot springs, and Guest rooms, guests can fully enjoy a stay in a place where they can experience the beauty of nature. The hotel also offers seasonal activities such as "Moss Walk" and "Ice Fall Light-up Tour," so you can enjoy the nature of the national park throughout the year. Nature guides who are well versed in the surrounding nature will guide you to the most beautiful scenery of the season, such as fresh greenery, autumn leaves, and snowy landscapes.

Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu Hotel by Hoshino Resorts

• 231 Tochikubo, Okuse-aza, Towada-shi, Aomori MAP
• Approximately 90 minutes from JR Shin-Aomori Station by free shuttle bus
• 050-3134-8094（Reservation center/9:30-18:00)
• Available
• Click here for reservation
  Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu Hotel by Hoshino Resorts Reservation Site
  Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu Hotel by Hoshino Resorts Reservation Site for Accommodation Plan with Air Tickets

9
Hoshino Resorts KAI Tsugaru

Relax in a bathtub of Aomori hiba (cypress) and be overwhelmed by the sound of Tsugaru shamisen.

KAI Tsugaru is a hot spring ryokan located in Owani Hot spring ryokan, an area with a history of about 800 years, about 10 minutes by train from Hirosaki. Guests can soak themselves in the soft, soothing water of the Aomori hiba (cypress) hot spring baths and enjoy the view of the seasonal gardens from the large windows. The meals are KAI Local Flavors, featuring Aomori's abundant seafood from the mountains and the sea. In spring, enjoy hanami crab, in summer abalones, and in fall and winter, tuna from Oma, and other sumptuous dishes. All Guest rooms are "Tsugaru Kogin-no-Ma" with traditional crafts. Guests can spend a relaxing time in a modern Japanese-style space.
In front of the mural "Shunju Habor" by the master of Japanese painting, Matazo Kayama, a national champion Tsugaru shamisen player and his trained Staff/staff members perform live every night. Please enjoy the powerful sound that shakes the air.

Hoshino Resorts KAI Tsugaru

• 36-1 Kambotanmori, Owani, Owani, Tsugaru-gun, Aomori MAP
• 5 min. drive from JR Owani Onsen Station.
• 0570-073-011（Kai Reservation Center)
• Available
• For reservations, please click here.
  Hoshino Resorts KAI Tsugaru Reservation Site
  Hoshino Resorts KAI Tsugaru Accommodation plan with air ticket reservation site