All About Japan

AOMORI

Men Bare Souls (& Bodies) for Good Fortune

This winter festival in Aomori sees a few dozen men strip down to pray for good health and a good harvest!

Holy Hairy Fish!

Locals in Aomori, northern Japan, find fish with algae growing from their heads that looks like hair.

The Road Less Traveled in Tohoku

Yet the sheer size of Tohoku means that there are still plenty of discoveries to be made. On this trip, I set out to explore some lesser-known wonders in Miyagi, Iwate, and Aomori Prefectures.

Color Your World with Vegetable Crayons

A company in Aomori Prefecture is making sustainable crayons out of vegetable waste.

A New Year, A New Character Harvest

Audrey Hepburn and Osamu Tezuka's characters get the rice paddy treatment in Aomori Prefecture as rice fields spring up in their likeness.

Catch These Hunky Fisherman Trading Cards

Aomori Prefecture wanted to boost the value and attractiveness of their fishery industry. And to them, there's apparently no better way than with wet, toned fishermen on trading cards.

Walk Tohoku's Historic Michinoku Coastal Trail

Michinoku is an old name for the Tohoku region, and means "the end of the road." The Michinoku Coastal Trail in Tohoku is a 1,000+ kilometer walking route along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Japan's rustic north.

Aomori’s Hirosaki Park Reopens

Aomori’s landmark park famous for cherry blossoms reopens after closing for 38 days to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Rice Paddy Art Celebrates Manga Legend

To celebrate the 90th anniversary of Osamu Tezuka, the 'Godfather of Manga,' the small village of Inakadate in Aomori has created stunning natural art depicting some of his most-beloved characters.

Hiking Japan’s Michinoku Coastal Trail: 2-Day Model Itinerary

Here’s an easy-to-follow itinerary for hiking the northernmost part of the Michinoku Coastal Trail, accessible to beginners and long-trailers alike.

Float On, Giant Princess Kaguya

This year’s Tachinebuta Festival in northeastern Japan has a new, and very tall, princess.

Hakkoda's Crystal Clear Foliage Reflection

Autumn colors at Tsutanuma Lake in northern Japan are enchanting visitors from all around.

Traditional Tsugaru-Style Shamisen Rocks

A professional shamisen artist in Aomori Prefecture gives concerts and teaches people to play the Tsugaru-jamisen.

Walking Japan's 1,000km Michinoku Coastal Trail

Ten years after one of Japan’s most deadly disasters, a region is reborn--and it is home to the best hiking trail you’ve never heard of.

Designer Apples Fetch $2,300!

It's common knowledge that fruit is more expensive in Japan. Three of producer Chisato Iwasaki’s designed apples went for $2,300 at auction in Aomori Prefecture.

Feeling Hungry? How about a US$200k Tuna?

A 208.4 kilogram tuna fetches nearly ¥20.8 million at Toyosu Market's first auction of the year.

Retreat to Towada-Hachimantai National Park

Retreat to the deep mountain resort home to meditative lakes, fantastical moors, and healing hot springs!

Aomori's Stunning Winter "Cherry Blossoms"

These "cherry blossoms" at Hirosaki Castle in Aomori Prefecture are bringing some much needed warmth to Japan's wintery north.

Forgetting Time on the Resort Shirakami

The Resort Shirakami is a travel experience that combines the romance of the railways with traditional culture and beautiful scenery.

The Association of the Most Beautiful Villages

The Association of the Most Beautiful Villages in Japan is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the most interesting and beautiful rural towns in Japan. There are truly some hidden gems on this list!

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