Aomori Prefecture

Map of Aomori Prefecture
     City      Town      Village

These are the towns and villages in each district:

The climate of Aomori Prefecture is relatively cool for the most part. It has four distinct seasons with an average temperature of 10 °C. Variations in climate exist between the eastern (Pacific Ocean side) and the western (Japan Sea side) parts of the prefecture. This is in part due to the Ōu Mountains that run north to south and divide the two regions. The western side is subject to heavy monsoons and little sunshine which results in heavy snowfall during the winter. The eastern side receives little sunlight during the summer months, June through August, with temperatures staying relatively low. The lowest recorded temperature during the winter is -9.3 °C, and the highest recorded temperature during the summer is 33.1 °C.[3]

The Jōmon period Shakōki-dogū found at the Kamegaoka site

The oldest evidence of pottery in Japan was found at the Odai Yamamoto I site in the town of Sotogahama in the northwestern part of the prefecture. The relics found there suggest that the Jōmon period began about 15,000 years ago.[7] By 7,000 BCE fishing cultures had developed along the shores of the prefecture which were three meters higher than the present day shoreline.[8] Around 3,900 BCE settlement at the Sannai-Maruyama site in the present-day city of Aomori began.[9] The settlement shows evidence the wide interaction between the site's inhabitants and people from across Jōmon period Japan, including Hokkaido and Kyushu.[7] The settlement of Sannai-Maruyama ended around 2300 BCE due to unknown reasons. Its abandonment was likely due to the population's subsistence economy being unable to result in sustained growth, with its end being spurred on by the reduced amount of natural resources during the neoglaciation.[10] The Jōmon period continued up to 300 BCE in present-day Aomori Prefecture at the Kamegaoka site in the city of Tsugaru where the Shakōki-dogū was found.[7]

During the Yayoi period the area that would become Aomori Prefecture was impacted by the migration of settlers from continental Asia to a lesser extent than the rest of Japan to the south and west of the region. The region, known then as Michinoku, was inhabited by the Emishi. It is not clear if the Emishi were the descendants of the Jōmon people, a group of the Ainu people, or if both the Ainu and Emishi were descended from the Jōmon people. The northernmost tribe of the Emishi that inhabited what would become Aomori Prefecture was known as the Tsugaru.[11] The Emishi were slowly subdued by the Imperial Court in Kyoto before being incorporated into Mutsu Province by the Northern Fujiwara around 1094.[12] The Northern Fujiwara set up the port settlement Tosaminato in present-day Goshogawara to develop trade between their lands, Kyoto, and continental Asia.[13] The Northern Fujiwara were deposed in 1189 by Minamoto no Yoritomo who would go on to establish the Kamakura shogunate.[14]

Minamoto no Yoritomo incorporated Mutsu Province into the holdings of the Kamakura shogunate. Nanbu Mitsuyuki was awarded vast estates in Nukanobu District after he had joined Minamoto no Yoritomo at the Battle of Ishibashiyama and the conquest of the Northern Fujiwara. Nanbu Mitsuyuki built Shōjujidate Castle in what is now Nanbu, Aomori. The area was dominated by horse ranches, and the Nanbu grew powerful and wealthy on the supply of warhorses. These horse ranches were fortified stockades, numbered one through nine (Ichinohe through Kunohe), and were awarded to the six sons of Nanbu Mitsuyuki, forming the six main branches of the Nanbu clan.

The province would be ruled by the successive Ashikaga and Tokugawa shogunates.

In 1868 Mutsu Province was broken up into five provinces in the aftermath of the Boshin War, with its namesake province, Rikuō occupying what would later become Aomori Prefecture and the northwestern corner of Iwate Prefecture. In 1871 Rikuō Province was abolished and divided, establishing today's Aomori Prefecture.[16] The town of Aomori was established in 1889. The town was incorporated as a city in 1898 with a population of 28,000. On 3 May 1910, a fire broke out in the Yasukata district. Fanned by strong winds, the fire quickly devastated the whole city. The conflagration claimed 26 lives and injured a further 160 residents. It destroyed 5,246 houses and burnt 19 storage sheds and 157 warehouses. At 10:30 p.m. on 28 July 1945, a squadron of American B29 bombers bombed over 90% of the city.

Radio Aomori made its first broadcast in 1951. Four years later, the first fish auctions were held. 1958 saw the completion of the Municipal Fish Market as well as the opening of the Citizen's Hospital. In the same year, the Tsugaru Line established a rail connection with Minmaya Village at the tip of the peninsula.

Various outlying towns and villages were incorporated into the growing city and with the absorption of Nonai Village in 1962, Aomori became the largest city in the prefecture.

In March 1985, after 23 years of labor and a financial investment of 700 billion yen, the Seikan Tunnel finally linked the islands of Honshū and Hokkaidō, thereby becoming the longest tunnel of its kind in the world. Almost exactly three years later, on March 13, railroad service was inaugurated on the Tsugaru Kaikyo Line.

That same day saw the end of the Seikan ferry rail service. During their 80 years of service, the familiar ferries of the Seikan line sailed between Aomori and Hakodate some 720,000 times, carrying 160 million passengers.

In April 1993, Aomori Public College opened. In August 1994, Aomori City made an "Education, Culture and Friendship Exchange Pact" with Kecskemét in Hungary. One year later, a similar treaty was signed with Pyongtaek in South Korea, and cultural exchange activities began with exchanges of woodblock prints and paintings.

In April 1995, Aomori Airport began offering regular international air service to Seoul, South Korea, and Khabarovsk, Russia; however, the flights to Khabarovsk were discontinued in 2004.[17]

In June 2007, four North Korean defectors reached Aomori Prefecture, after having been at sea for six days, marking the second known case ever where defectors have successfully reached Japan by boat.[18]

In March 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck the east coast of Japan. The southeastern coast of Aomori Prefecture was affected by the resulting tsunami. Buildings along harbors were damaged along with boats thrown about in the streets.[19]

Aomori Shōwa Daibutsu (昭和大仏), also known as the Big Buddha in Aomori, is the tallest seated Buddha in Japan. Located at Seiryū-ji (Blue-Green Dragon Temple) in Aomori City, this statue was built as a symbol of gratitude for WWII soldiers as well as a symbol for Buddha's teachings. The Seiryuu-ji temple itself is relatively new and was founded in 1982 by a priest named Ryuko Oda. The temple grounds have traditional style Japanese architecture. In 1984, the Big Buddha statue was built, weighing in at 220 tons and is 21.35 metres (70.0 ft) tall. Underneath the Buddha there is a circular hallway with many paintings, pictures and small statues. A Buddha shrine with an offering table can also be found inside.[22]

Hirosaki Castle, a castle in Hirosaki known for its gardens' cherry blossoms.

There is a localized Japanese legend that Jesus Christ did not die on the cross but made his way to Shingō, Aomori where he became a rice farmer, married, and had a family.[23] The legend owes its existence to a supposed 1930s discovery of what were claimed to be "ancient Hebrew documents detailing Jesus's life and death in Japan". The legend also claims that his grave is located in Aomori.[24]

This legend, and the documents it originated from have largely been dismissed as a hoax,[23] but the tourist attraction still persists, along with a traditional song and dance to placate the spirit of Jesus. The meaning of the song though has been lost over time.[25]

Mount Osore, the Mountain of Dread, is near Mutsu on the Shimokita Peninsula. This is one of three mountains in Japan that is dedicated to Buddha. The Japanese believe the souls of the dead reside here, and during the summer and autumn festivals many Japanese and tourists travel to this mountain.

Wild horses can be seen at Cape Shiriya and Shipwreck Beach. The peninsula that forms the bay is known as Shimokita Peninsula or "The Hatchet".

The Hakkōda Mountains in Aomori provide excellent hiking in the warmer seasons. However, the winter of 1902 proved disastrous to 199 of 210 soldiers who died during a military exercise in the area in deep snow.

Lake Towada

Lake Towada, a caldera, lies on the boundary between Akita and Aomori Prefectures. During the summer, firework displays light up the sky and reflect off the water offering a spectacular show. Oirase Gorge lies near Lake Towada and is a popular location for hiking.

Oirase waterfall

The upper reaches of the river form a scenic gorge with numerous rapids and waterfalls, it is one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan.[26]

Located in the town of Fukaura, the name means “twelve lakes” despite the fact that there are 33. One unique characteristic is the lakes' brilliant colors; one in particular, Aoike Lake, is a rich blue color.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this mountainous area includes the last virgin forest of Siebold's beech which once covered most of northern Japan. The area straddles both Akita and Aomori prefectures. The tract that covers 169.7 square kilometers (65.5 sq mi) was included in the list of World Heritage Sites in 1993. Fauna found in the area includes Japanese black bear, the Japanese serow, Japanese macaque, and 87 species of birds.

• Aomori Museum of Art
• Aomori Prefecture Tourist Center
• Aomori Bay Bridge
• Aomori City Forestry Museum
• Aomori Prefectural Museum
• Aomori City History and Folk Arts Museum
• Hakkoda Ship
• Munakata Shiko Memorial Museum of Art
• Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse
• Sannai-Maruyama site
• Towada Art Center

Aomori Prefecture is host to the Misawa Air Base, the only combined, joint U.S. service installation in the western Pacific servicing Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

On 20 February 2018 a U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet caught fire in flight. The pilot dumped two fuel tanks into Lake Ogawara in eastern Aomori Prefecture.[27]

Aomori Prefecture boasts a variety of festivals year round offering a unique look into northern Japan. Spring is the cherry blossom festival and is celebrated throughout Japan by gathering together to view the blooming cherry blossoms. Summer and autumn hold many distinct festivals with bright lights, floats, dancing and music. Winter is centered on snow festivals where one can view ice sculptures and enjoy Japanese cuisine inside an ice hut.

The terminal building of Aomori Airport

There are two airports located within the Aomori Prefecture. Both airports are relatively small, though Aomori Airport offers regular international flights to South Korea and Taiwan, seasonal flights to China, and chartered flights to Thailand, in addition to domestic flights.[33]

• Aomori Airport
• Misawa Airport

The following major stations are located in Aomori Prefecture.

• Aomori Station, Shin-Aomori Station, Hachinohe Station, and Hirosaki Station

The following lines, operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East), run through Aomori Prefecture.

• Tōhoku Shinkansen
• Tōhoku Main Line
• Ōu Main Line
• Ōminato Line
• Gonō Line
• Hachinohe Line
• Tsugaru Line

• Tōhoku Expressway
• Aomori Expressway
• Hachinohe Expressway
• Kamikita Expressway
• Michinoku Toll Road
• Daini-Michinoku Toll Road
• Momoishi Toll Road
• Hachinohe-Kuji Expressway
• Tsugaru Expressway
• Shimokita Expressway

The Aomori Bay Bridge which crosses over Aomori Bay.

• National Route 4
• National Route 7
• National Route 45
• National Route 101
• National Route 102
• National Route 103
• National Route 104
• National Route 279
• National Route 280
• National Route 282
• National Route 338
• National Route 339
• National Route 340
• National Route 394
• National Route 454

• Aomori Chuo Gakuin University
• Aomori Public University
• Aomori University
• Aomori University of Health and Welfare
• Hachinohe Gakuin University
• Hachinohe Institute of Technology
• Hirosaki Gakuin University
• Hirosaki University
• Hirosaki University of Health and Welfare
• Tohoku Women's College
• Kitasato University (Towada Campus)

• Aomori Broadcasting Corporation
• Aomori Television
• Asahi Broadcasting Aomori