Easy Travel in JapanAomori
Tohoku's northern gateway — the lantern floats of Nebuta Matsuri and some of the freshest fish markets in Japan.
Aomori is the northernmost prefectural capital on Honshu, best known for its Nebuta Matsuri summer festival, when illuminated lantern floats fill the streets.
Where to go
The Nebuta Warasse museum gives a year-round look at the festival’s floats outside of its short summer run. The Furukawa and Auga fish markets are popular stops for fresh seafood, and the Sannai-Maruyama archaeological site preserves remains from the Jomon period. Nearby side trips include the former castle town of Hirosaki and Towada, known for its autumn colors.
Good to know
JR Aomori Station and Aomori Airport connect the city to the rest of Tohoku and beyond. The Nebuta Matsuri itself runs for about a week each August.
Useful services for this trip
Train Tickets
Book shinkansen and local rail tickets in advance and skip the station ticket-counter queue.
Airport Transfers
Book a fixed-price transfer from Haneda or Narita so arrival day is one less thing to figure out.
eSIM & Wi-Fi
Stay connected in Japan with an eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi, without hunting for a local SIM shop.