Amazing AOMORI

The Hakkoda Ropeway is located in the Towada-Hachimantai National Park and operates throughout the year. The autumn leaves season and the winter ice season are especially popular.

Minamida Onsen Hotel Apple Land is located in Hirakawa city of Minami Tsugaru. The hot spring water composition is rare for the Tohoku region and is categorized as weak alkali hot spring. With a strong water flow directly from the source, the apple outdoor bath and apple foot bath (April ~ November) are gaining popularity.

At the “Tsugaru Shokudo Ya-ya do” (Tsugaru style restaurant), guests can savor local cuisine. The most popular feature is the noresore-don served at breakfast, which allows guests to add any topping to their bowl of rice. Every guest room has been decorated to preserve the wa Japanese atmosphere and ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement) is arranged by the hostess. As a special service, there are apples grown in Aomori in every room’s refrigerator as a gift. The free shuttle to and from JR Hirosaki Station makes Minamida Onsen Hotel a very convenient lodging choice for travelers in Tsugaru.

Hot Spring Water Composition / Salt Spring (Hypotonic weak alkali high temperature spring)

Hot Spring Benefits / Nerve pain, muscle pain, cuts, burns, chronic skin diseases, weak child, chronic female disorders

Apple Bath All Year Round

At Apple Land, guests can enjoy apple bath all year round instead of only during the harvest season.

Apple bath is said to have good effects on our skin, and the delicate apple scent relaxes bathers’ mind and body.

In addition to the apple bath, there is the large bath “Hyoukanoyu”, the bamboo charcoal bath “Manten no furo”, the cypress bath (for reservations only) “Towada” and “Oirase”, and the apple foot bath “Miashinoyu.”

Goshogawara Tachineputa Festival is one of the four largest summer festivals held between August 4th and 8th. At the Tachineputa no Yakata, three real tachineputa are exhibited. The three neputa begin their parade from the museum.
The exhibition hall is an atrium with an incline around the 23-meter (75 feet) tachineputa so visitors can see it from top to down. Footage from the festival is shown at the exhibition hall. Additionally, visitors can see the making of the tachineputa at the production studio.
The gallery of the museum holds paintings from artists with connection to Aomori. The museum also has a souvenir shop, a restaurant, an observation lounge, and an experiencing room where visitors can make kingyo neputa (goldfish neputa). 

Experiencing the Making of Tachineputa

At the Tachineputa production studio, visitors can experience making the tachineputa, including pasting the paper and coloring. Applications can be made on the day of the visit.
*Available for a limited time (Mid-April to Mid-June)
*Advance reservation required for groups larger than 10 people.

The Tsugaru Railways run through the plains for Tsugaru peninsula from Tsugaru Goshogawara Station to Tsugaru Nakazato Station, a 45 minute ride with a total distance of 20.7 km (12.8 miles). The railway runs seasonal themed trains throughout the year for the entertainment of its passengers: the stove train in the winter, the furin (Japanese wind bell) train in the summer, and the suzumushi (bell cricket) train in the fall.
The tranquil rural landscape that can be seen from the train attracts many visitors. The Ashino Park (near Ashino Park Station) is another popular spot during the cherry blossom season. 

Winter Stove Train, a Special Social Event

Every year, an old-fashioned potbelly stove gains a spot on the train that runs through the snow field of Tsugaru plain. The red burning coals in the stove create a comfortable social atmosphere bringing visitors and local passengers together.
In contrast to the frigid outdoor cold, passengers can enjoy their time in the warm cozy train as surume (dried squid and cuttlefish) are prepared on the stove top and served.
*Limited 3 trains during daytime. Check for specific dates for December.
Train service may change under some circumstances.