If you have one day to spend in Aomori City, that is the perfect amount of time to enjoy freshly baked apple pies, marvel at glowing Nebuta festival floats, stroll by the seaside, and learn about maritime history inside the Hakkoda-maru memorial ship. In this post, I’ll tell you how to make the most of 24 hours in Aomori and share why, in my opinion, the Dormy Inn Aomori Natural Hot Spring is the best place to stay in the city.
How to Get to Aomori
From Tokyo:
Take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Shin-Aomori (~3 hours)
Alternatively, you could fly from Tokyo to Aomori, which takes around 70 minutes. After arriving at Aomori airport, it is about a 35 minute limousine bus ride to Aomori Station in the heart of the city.
From Hakodate:
The Hokkaido Shinkansen connects Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station with Shin-Aomori Station in roughly 60 minutes, passing through the undersea Seikan Tunnel.
Morning: Visit Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse
Start your day at the Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse. Just a short walk from the station is a museum dedicated to Aomori’s famous annual event – the Nebuta Festival that occurs every August. Even if you aren’t here in August for the actual Nebuta Matsuri, this museum showcases massive hand-painted floats used in the festival. Seeing the glowing warriors that decorate many of the floats up close is a surreal experience, and you can admire them in the comfort of the air-conditioned museum.
Every August, over twenty massive floats are paraded through the night, illuminated from within like giant, glowing lanterns. Each giant float is illuminated with 800 to 1000 lightbulbs. In the Edo period, they were lit by real candles! A full-sized float is roughly 9 metres wide and 5 metres tall. It takes a year to build and design a single float, yet most are dismantled immediately after the festival. On the final night, the best-rated floats are placed on boats and paraded through Aomori while fireworks go off. This water parade is a nod to the festival’s roots of sending spirits and sleepiness down the river to the sea. Even though Aomori is a smaller city, the festival attracts over 3 million visitors over its six days – more than double the entire population of Aomori Prefecture!
Seikan Train Ferry Memorial Ship Hakkoda-maru
After the Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse, you can learn about local maritime history a few minutes’ walk away. The Seikan Train Ferry Memorial Ship Hakkoda-maru was one of the primary vessels connecting Aomori to Hokkaido before the Seikan Tunnel opened in 1988. It’s hard to miss due to its iconic bright yellow hull, and it offers a surprisingly deep look into how Japan once moved people and freight across the Tsugaru Strait.
Railway on Water: The highlight is the vehicle deck, where you can see actual vintage train cars and diesel locomotives still parked inside the ship’s belly. It’s one of the few places in the world where you can see how entire trains were loaded onto a ferry.
Showa Era Dioramas: The upper decks feature detailed “Seikan World” dioramas and exhibits that recreate the atmosphere of Aomori Station in the 1950s, complete with sounds and figures that make it feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
Panoramic Views: If the weather is clear, head to the observation deck for a 360-degree view of the Aomori waterfront and the bay. Note that the deck may be closed if it is very cold and snowy.
The Bridge (Navigation Deck): This was where the captain and officers controlled the ship during its journeys across the Tsugaru Strait between Aomori and Hakodate. Here you can find a large mint-green console that the crew used to control the pitch of the propellers and the engine speed, as well as a steering wheel and various navigation instruments. You can even see a figure of a captain by the window!
Afternoon: Visit ASPAM Observatory
It is hard to miss the triangle-shaped building near Aomori’s waterfront. This is ASPAM (Aomori Prefecture Tourist Center). Its name is an acronym for Aomori, Sightseeing, Products, and Mansion, and its distinctive shape is modeled after the letter “A” for Aomori.
Head to the 13th-floor observatory (about 400 yen) for a 360-degree panoramic view of the city, the Hakkoda Mountains, and Mutsu Bay. On a clear day, you can even see across the water to Hokkaido.
Inside ASPAM there is also an apple pie bakery and a souvenir shop. Sometimes there are also free Tsugaru Shamisen performances on the first floor.
A-Factory
If you want to buy lots of apple snacks, save this last attraction as your last stop. A-Factory is a market that sells apple flavoured omiyage. It is an apple lover’s paradise offering apple cider, apple pies, apple chips, and even apple-flavoured curry. I loved the apple cider I tried there – it was the perfect treat on a chilly April day.
For Art Lovers: The Aomori Museum of Art
While I chose to stick to exploring the attractions near Aomori’s waterfront, art enthusiasts should consider a detour to the Aomori Museum of Art. It’s located about 20 minutes by bus from the centre and is home to to the famous “Aomori-ken” giant dog statue by artist Yoshitomo Nara. Here you can also see a few huge Marc Chagall canvases. If you’re an art lover, swap out the ferry museum for this!
Dinner
For your Aomori dinner, try a local specialty: Miso Curry Milk Ramen. The milk rounds out the spice of the curry and the saltiness of the miso, creating a rich, creamy broth. I did not eat dinner in Aomori as I was too full from eating the apple pies I bought at A-Factory! The Miso Curry Milk Ramen is definitely at the top of my list of food to try the next time I visit Aomori.
Dormy Inn Aomori Natural Hot Spring Review
After a day of exploring Aomori, relax at the Dormy Inn Aomori Natural Hot Spring. If you’ve never stayed at a Dormy Inn, you’re about to discover why the chain has so many devoted fans!
Why I Recommend this Hotel:
The Natural Onsen: The Dormy Inn features a top-floor natural hot spring. There’s an indoor bath, an open air bath where you can feel the crisp Aomori air, and a sauna.
The Post-Bath Perks: There is complimentary ice cream (afternoon/evening) and probiotic drinks (morning) available in the lounge outside the onsen. There is a manga library in the lounge as well!
Yonaki Soba: This is the highlight. Every night from 9:30 PM to 11:00 PM, the hotel serves free bowls of soy-sauce ramen to all guests. It’s the perfect late night snack.
Delicious Breakfast: The hotel buffet breakfast was excellent. They serve local specialities like Kaiyaki Miso (scallops cooked in a shell with miso and egg) and plenty of fresh Aomori apple juice. I loved the mini omelettes!
FAQ
When is the Best Time to Visit Aomori?
Early August for the Nebula Festival, or late October for the stunning autumn colours and peak apple season. During sakura season in April, also consider using Aomori as a base to visit the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival.
Is One Day in Aomori City Enough?
Yes! One day is perfect for exploring the walkable waterfront district. Focusing on the Nebuta Museum, Hakkoda-maru and A-FACTORY allows you to experience the city’s cultural heart without feeling rushed. If you’re a slow traveler or a major art fan who wants to see the Art Museum, you might want a second day, but for most, one day in Aomori is enough.
