Amazing AOMORI

Youtree is a facility, as a place to promote regional industries, directly connected to JR Hachinohe Station, which provides demonstration sales of local products, restaurants and accommodation. On the first floor, visitors can enjoy shopping with 1,800 items of local specialties, and on the second floor, they can see the performance for traditional crafts and also try hands-on experiences such as Nanbu senbei (cookie) making, Nanbu Hishi-zashi (local embroidery), Nanbu Sakiori (local textile).

Between Yutree and Hachinohe Station, there is Ekimae-yokocho, which offers demonstration for local products. One is the place for squid products such as “Ika-sugata-yaki (grilled hole squid)”, where visitors can watch its process and buy the products.

This is a Jomon period archaeological site located on southeastern area in Hachinohe City. The site, approximately 376,000 square meters, was designated as a National Historic Site in 1957.
This site is called as “Korekawa Stone Age Site”, which consists of three sub-sites, “Nakai Site”, “Ichioji Site” and “Hotta Site.
There are about 4,000 unearthed articles known as the excellent artifacts. The Korekawa Archaeological Institution (Korekawa Jomon Kan) displays those such as Gassyo Dogu (clay figures with clasping hands) designated as a National Treasure in 2009.

At the facility, volunteer’s guide in Japanese and in English is available for free.
*For guide in English, reservation is required one week in advance.
Korekawa Archaeological Instituion, Korekawa Jomon Kan, Tel: 0178-38-9511

The Tanesashi coast offers many natural attractions such as the natural grass that grows to the water’s edge, the nakisuna (singing sand) that produce sounds when walking, and a vast grassy plain with many flowers and plants.
In May 2013, the coast was designated as part of Sanriku Fukko National Park, which was established to contribute to the reconstruction of Sanriku region after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
The coast is near the city center, making it easily accessible for local and visitors for trekking, swimming in the ocean, and surfing.
A walking trail is stretches along the coastal line and is a popular walking spot. For cyclists, electric bicycles with GPS and audio navigation are available for rent from spring to summer time.

Kabushima Island/Kabushima Shrine

Kabushima Island is a famous nesting location for black-tailed gulls. As black-tailed gulls are known to be monogamous, the Kabushima Shrine has become a place to pray for relationships and matchmaking.

Tanesashi Coast Information Center

The Tanesashi Coast Information Center provides information about the Tanesashi coast area within the Sanriku Fukko National Park. Along with information about the wildlife and culture of the area, the center offers various hands-on programs as well as information about the Michinoku Shiokaze Trail project and other seasonal information.

Address  14-167 Tanakubo, Samemachi, Hachinohe-shi, Aomori 031-0841

Contact  0178-51-8500

Hours of Operation  9:00~17:00(April – November),9:00~16:00(December – March)

Dates Closed  December 29th – January 3rd

Admission Fee  Free

URL  (Japanese)http://tanesashi.info/

At the Hachinohe Portal Museum “hacchi”, over 200 of “Yawata-uma”, a traditional craft made by the prefectural traditional craftsman, Nojiro Okubo will welcome you at the entrance. The facility has exhibition booths in the form of yatai (stall) for local foods, festival, history and culture, and also morning markets and yokocho (alleyway off the main street, usually there are shops and dining, etc.). Visitors can find Hachinohe’s attraction through the year.
Furthermore, there are café, shops selling original items, exhibition and shop of local arts and crafts. It is the place to feel the heart of northern region, Hachinohe, through the communication with locals.

Huge marketplace packed with Hachinohe food and leisure goods

Miroku Yokocho is located in the city center of Hachinohe. It is a little part of town with around 26 food stalls. Each shop serves a local menu such as fresh seafood from the Hachinohe port and Senbei-jiru (a traditional hot pot in which locally made crackers are cooked along with vegetables and meats) as well as typical Japanese bar (izakaya) food and ramen. The food stalls have an open atmosphere and are a popular spot for tourists. 

How to Enjoy Miroku Yokocho

On both sides of a narrow retro street, small stalls accommodating around eight people each are lined up tightly next to one another. One of the exciting things about Miroku Yokocho is meeting and chatting with strangers at the stalls. While enjoying one stall thoroughly is fun, stall-hopping is a great way to take advantage of the diverse styles of cooking in Miroku Yokocho.

Osorezan has been considered a sacred mountain for over 1,100 years ago since Jikakutaishi of Tendai Buddhism established it as a place of worship in 862.
Osorezan, also known as Usoriyama, is considered one of the three most sacred mountains in Japan, along with Koyasan and Hieizan.
The beauty of Chinoike Jigoku, Juuzai jigoku, Jigokudani, Sai no Kawara, Gokurakuhama and Sanzu no Kawa perfectly matches with Usoriyama Lake as the foliage around it changes color with the coming of the seasons.

Shimofuro Onsen Hot Spring is the northern-most hot spring in Honshu, and there are about dozen each hot spring hotels and Japanese guest homes. This hot spring spot faces Tsugaru Straits. As with all hot springs near the ocean, the inns and guest homes here are popular among gourmets for the fresh seafood they serve. Enjoy a warm bath within view of the severe winter of the Tsugaru Straits.

The black and white Oma Cape Lighthouse stands on Benteto Island of Oma Cape, which is designated as part of Shimokita Hanto Quasi-National Park. The Oma Cape Lighthouse has been chosen as one of the top 50 lighthouses of Japan. During the tuna fishing season (July-January), pole-and-line fishing boats can be seen from the cape.
Cape Oma is located on the northern most part of Honshu. On clear days, the city of Hakodate in Hokkaido can be seen across the ocean. Oma’s city symbol is a tuna pole-and-line fishing statue and a stone monument marking the northern most point of Japan’s main island, Honshu.. A common kitchen, free rest place (April-October), tent sites (free) are available nearby.

A 90-minute Ferry Ride to Hakodate

Oma is 17 km (10 miles) from Hakodate, a 90-minute ride on a ferry. Visitors can easily enjoy both Shimokita Peninsula of Aomori prefecture and the Donan, the southern region of Hokkaido. 

Terminal for Hotokegaura-bound sightseeing ships and Aomori-bound passenger ships

Nearly 20 million years ago, deep sea volcanic activity created a precipice of green volcanic tuff around the current village of Sai in the Shimokita peninsula. Over many years, the rough waves of Tsugaru Channel eroded the precipice turning it into a fantastically shaped rock formation that goes on for 2 km (1.2 miles) along the coast.
The rocks have been named after Buddha, thus the name Hotokegaura (Buddha’s Cove).
In 1934, a stretch along the coast of Hotokegaura was designated as an Aomori Natural Monument, and additionally as a national place of scenic beauty and a National Natural Monument in 1941.
A Jizodo (a hall dedicated to Jizo Bosatsu) is built on the Hotokegaura beach, where the Hotokegaura Festival is held for worship on July 24th every year.

Tsugaru Channel Cultural Center “Arusasu”

Arusasu is a tourist, cultural and industrial spot in Sai village. The regular ships and tourist boats to Hotoge-ga-ura depart from here, from Arusasu.

To get to the hot-spring town of Asamushi Onsen, simply take a local train on the scenic Aoimori Railway and get off at Asamushi-Onsen Station. Visitors are immediately welcomed by a free footbath in front of the station. The town has different ambiences on the east and west sides of the station—a traditional hot-spring town on the east side and an oceanfront beach resort on the west side.

With its narrow alleys lined with old-fashioned hot-spring inns and restaurants, the east side preserves the atmosphere of a traditional old Japanese hot-spring town. Visitors can enjoy delicious poached eggs just by dipping them in hot-spring water at the onsen tamago center. There is also a drinking fountain for the hot-spring water, which is said to be beneficial for chronic digestive ailments. Other attractions on the east side of the station include Asamushi Onsen Forest Park, selected as one of Japan’s 100 best locations for forest bathing, and Asamushi Aquarium, popular for its dolphin shows.

On the west side, visitors can enjoy the beach as well as windsurfing, yachting, fishing, and other maritime activities at Sunset Beach Asamushi, a seaside park. The roadside station Yu-Sa Asamushi has a panoramic bath overlooking Mutsu Bay, and large hotels offering rooms with an ocean view line the hot-spring and beach resort. The scenery of the sunset over Mutsu Bay is spectacular!

The hot spring’s water is colorless, transparent, tasteless, and odorless and feels gentle on the skin. It is said to be good for ailments such as neuralgia, arthritis, back pain, and gynecological and dermatological conditions and may also moisturize and beautify the skin.

Various experiences at Asamushi Onsen can be reserved from the website listed below. Please check it for details.