Plan your Aomori road trip!
Recommended driving routes for sightseeing in the Tsugaru area
The Tsugaru region in western Aomori Prefecture offers diverse charms with the stunning beauty of the Sea of Japan coast and the Hakkoda mountains, invigorating hot springs, delicious food, and diverse local crafts. It’s also home to Shirakami-Sanchi, a specially protected natural World Heritage site. Driving is one of the best ways to experience this amazing region, allowing you to set your own itinerary and visit attractions that may be less accessible via public transportation. Check out the spectacular Cape Tappi and the mysteriously blue Aoike Pond. Discover fascinating architecture in the castle town of Hirosaki or explore Aomori’s history through archaeological sites. The following recommended driving routes will help you make the most of your time to enjoy everything that the Tsugaru region has to offer.
1. Winter travel route
Hakkoda Ropeway ~ (View soft rime…Trees that endured heavy snow and strong wind on Hakkoda mountains transform into beautiful soft rime) Minamida Onsen (Apple bath…A lodging facility in the Apple Kingdom of Tsugaru overlooking the Hakkoda mountains to the East and Iwaki mountains to the West. The sweet and sour aroma envelopes your body) Goshogawara Tachi-Neputa-no-Yakata (Tachi-neputa standing 22 meters high, equivalent to 4-storey building, is on display. This is a compelling site!) Stove Train (coal stoves burn brightly warming the train against the chilly temperature outside. Dried squid and mochi are grilled on top of the stove) Snow drift experience (Feel the strong wind and drifting snow so strong that it would prevent you from opening your eyes.)
2. Tsugaru peninsula round trip
Savor the natural foods from the Sea of Japan!
The tour route covers the west coast of Tsugaru, after starting from Goshogawara city, which is famous for its unique [TACHINEPUTA] festival.
Extending to the Tappi Promontory in the northern end, the trip offers both gorgeous scenery and scrumptious foods.
3. Spring 2night 3day route
Aomori Prefecture Tourist Center ASPAM (A tourist center in Aomori featuring an observation floor with a view of Aomori, and panorama movie on 360 degree screen), Komaki Onsen (One of the largest Onsen hotels in Tohoku. At Michinoku-Matsuriya restaurant, visitors can immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the three major summer festival while enjoying a great meal), Towada Kanchogai-dori (Selected as one of the 100 best streets, and when the cherry trees lining the street come into full bloom in spring they turn everything pink), Oirase Keiryu (The upper reaches of the Oirase River that flows into Lake Towada. The beautiful sight during May to June, the season of new green leaves, is well-known, being the subject of many posters and paintings), Lake Towada (A caldera lake in Japan. Diverse scenery, new green, red foliage and white snow can be enjoyed as the seasons change from a pleasure boat), Hakkoda Ropeway (Gondola takes passenger up 1,200 meters for a panoramic view of Hakkoda from the peak), Aomori City Museum / Sannai-Maruyama ruins (These 2 facilities are approximately 5-min. drive apart. Works by Chagall, Shiko Munakata and Yoshitomo Nara are on display in the museum. The Sannai-Maruyama site is approximately 5,000 years old and these are the largest ruins in Japan), Hirosaki Park (A park that attracts the largest number of visitors with its beautiful cherry blossoms during Golden Week. The castle moat colored pink from the cherry blossoms is a stunning sight), Fujita Commemorative Garden (With a total area covering 21,800m2, it is the second largest Japanese garden in the Tohoku region. Relax with a cup of tea in the classical mansion).
4. Spring 1night 2days route
Hirosaki Park (A park that attracts the largest number of visitors with its beautiful cherry blossoms during Golden Week. There is a spectacular sight of cherry blossom petals falling on the old castle and castle moat coloring the area pink), Tsugaru Domain Neputa Village (Located next to Hirosaki Park. Visitors can feel a touch of Hirosaki Nebuta throughout the year and try their hand at making local crafts including Kingyo Neputa), Tachi-Neputa-no-yakata (Tachi-neputa used during the Goshogawara Summer Festival is on display throughout the year. The neputa standing 21 meters tall is a spectacular site), Ajigasawa Onsen (Facing the Japan Sea, it boasts fresh seafood and the sight of the sun setting into the sea from an open-air bath), Senjojiki (A geological structure formed by a huge earthquake that hit about 200 years ago. There are many uniquely shaped rocks), Roadside Station Fukaura (The west coast of Tsugaru is an area of squid production and on a sunny day, visitors can see a “curtain of squid” drying in the sun. Try the delicious just-grilled squid), Wespa Tsubakiyama (A popular facility with an observatory overlooking Shirakami Sanchi and the Japan Sea, ride up on a special car), Juniko (A group of lakes and ponds formed by a huge earthquake that hit about 200 years ago. Enjoy a leisurely stroll to Aoike that looks like someone poured indigo blue ink into the water), Moriyama Beach (Boasts many uniquely shaped rocks eroded by rough waves, and a beautiful view of the sun as it sets in the Japan Sea)
5. Aomori Jomon Tour-Aomori Area-
Introducing a course that goes around the Jomon archaeological site centering on Aomori City.
The "Hokkaido / Northeastern Jomon Archaeological Sites", which was registered as a World Cultural Heritage site in July 2021, consists of 17 archaeological sites, 8 of which are located in Aomori Prefecture.
It is a valuable cultural heritage that conveys the lifestyle and spiritual culture of pre-farming people who have been engaged in collecting, fishing and hunting for over 10,000 years.
6. Oku Tsugaru Shirakami tour
Tappizaki (Hokkaido can be seen on a clear day), Seikan Tunnel Museum (Visitors can go into the tunnel on a cable car), Shayokan (Birthplace of the author, Osamu Dazai), Tate-Neputa-no-yakata (Tachi-neputa standing 22 meters high, equivalent to 4-storey building, is on display. It’s a compelling site), Hotel Grand Mer Sankaiso (Facing the Japan Sea and the fabulous view at dusk from the open-air bath is popular), the curtain of squid (Squid being dried along the street is a famous sight in the area), Senjojiki (A flat beach line large enough to place 1,000 tatami mats on), Roadside Station Fukaura (Try the grilled squid), WeSPa Tsubakiyama (A full range of souvenirs from west coast), Shirakami Sanchi and Juniko (Aoike with its indigo blue water is the most popular sight) *Seikan Tunnel Museum is open from late April to early November. During winter (January to March) the tour takes you straight to Shayokan, with an option for the Snow Drift experience or Stove Train.
