City guide · 青森 Aomori
Aomori
Honshu's northernmost prefectural capital: a port of Nebuta lanterns, Mutsu Bay seafood and Jomon ruins
Aomori is the northernmost prefectural capital on Honshu and the terminus of the Tohoku Shinkansen. The lanterns of the Nebuta Matsuri, the seafood of Mutsu Bay, and Jomon-period ruins give this port city something to see all year round. Also worth a visit in the city: Nebuta House Wa Rasse displays the giant Nebuta lanterns all year, so you can feel the festival atmosphere even if you miss the festival; the Aomori Museum of Art holds works by Munakata Shiko, Nara Yoshitomo and others, and its building is itself worth seeing; the Sannai-Maruyama Site is one of the largest Jomon sites in Japan, where you can step inside reconstructed pit dwellings; Aomori Bay Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge spanning the harbor, is a waterfront landmark; and at Furukawa Fish Market you can pick your own seafood to make a rice bowl, a market locals also frequent.
History
How the city came to be
Aomori grew from a port settlement: the Hirosaki Domain established a port settlement here in 1624, the city was established in 1898, the Seikan ferry service began in 1908 and made Aomori the gateway connecting Honshu and Hokkaido, the city was rebuilt after air raids in 1945, the Seikan Tunnel opened in 1988, and the Tohoku Shinkansen reached Shin-Aomori Station in 2010.
- 1624The Hirosaki Domain establishes a port settlement here
- 1889Town status is granted
- 1898The city is established
- 1908The Seikan ferry service begins, and Aomori becomes the gateway connecting Honshu and Hokkaido
- 1945Air raids in July destroy most of the city, which is rebuilt after the war
- 1988The Seikan Tunnel opens
- 2010The Tohoku Shinkansen reaches Shin-Aomori Station
Local life
Food and local daily life
Aomori Nebuta Matsuri
Must-try
- Apples
- Scallop and seafood skewers
- Aomori ginger-miso oden
Yatai snacks, apples (curry / juice / pies — Aomori's famous apples), scallop / seafood skewers, Aomori ginger-miso oden, niboshi ramen (dried-sardine ramen, an Aomori speciality), local sake
| Where to eat | Yatai and restaurants along the Nebuta parade route (around Shinmachi), markets by Aomori Station (around A-Factory / the fish and vegetable market) |
|---|---|
| Dining etiquette | To join the haneto dancers you need the proper costume with bells and to chant 'Rassera'; when watching, don't rush into the procession or eat and block the way in front of it |
| Typical price per person | Yatai + main meal JPY 2,000–3,500 ≈ CNY 90–158 |
| Tips | Hotels and restaurants are full during the festival, so have a market seafood bowl at lunch first; apple curry is a limited-time treat to try. |
Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.
Zheng Zhou · CC BY-SA 4.0
Before you go
Rules to know in Aomori
There is no tipping in Japan
Do
- Say thank you with 'arigatō gozaimashita'
Don’t
- Pressing loose change on staff
Japan is a no-tipping country and bills usually include service; if you press a tip on staff, some will politely refuse.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: Japanese table manners
Take off your shoes when you see a genkan (entrance step)
Do
- Take off your shoes at the entrance of homes, some restaurants, temples and hot-spring facilities
- If unsure, look for a shoe rack or slippers at the entrance
Don’t
- Stepping onto tatami or indoor wooden floors in shoes
It is seen as very rude.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: Japanese etiquette
No phone calls on trains and the shinkansen; queue to board
Do
- Put your phone on silent; on the shinkansen, take calls in the area between carriages
- Queue at the marked spots on either side of the train door, and let people off before you get on
- Give priority seats to older people, pregnant women and passengers with limited mobility
Don’t
- Talking on the phone or playing sound aloud in the train
Not illegal, but you will get looks and a reminder from the conductor.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: Japanese etiquette
Trips beyond the city
These places can be explored from this city but lie outside it. See each place for transport and visiting guidance.
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