Excited at experiences unique to Aomori in winter! 3 recommended spots

Aomori city in Aomori prefecture is a city surrounded by beautiful nature such as the Hakkoda Mountain Range and Mutsu Bay. There are also events and spots, including Nebuta Festival and Sannai Maruyama Site, to learn Aomori’s traditional culture and history. When the season when bone-chilling temperatures continue comes, various winter experiences will attract you, such as attending big snow festival and riding a train that doesn’t run in other seasons. Therefore, we’re going to introduce 3 recommended spots to enjoy Aomori’s landscape, local dishes, and traditions to your heart’s content.

Have a experience like being in a snow theme park at “Lake Towada Winter Festival 2019”!

If you visit Aomori in February, you can’t miss “Lake Towada Winter Festival 2019.” Stepping into the venue surrounded by snow lanterns, you will feel like being in a theme park made of snow. There are lots of exciting things such as well-crafted snow statues and bars do business in Kamakura (igloo-like snow houses), many food stalls serving dishes loved by locals and a snow stage where traditional Tohoku performances are shown. When the venue is lit up, a fantastic scenery created by snow and lights will be laid out before your eyes. In addition, fireworks that are set off every day during the period of the event will give it a romantic atmosphere.

Period	1st February, 2019 – 24th February,2019 ※Illuminations: 5:00PM – 9:00PM
Venue	Towadakohan Yasumiya Specially Prepared Venue (486 Yasumiya, Towadakohan, Okuse, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture)
Access	Shuttle buses are available from JR Hachinohe station to the venue.
URL	http://towadako.or.jp/en/annual-event/

“Stove Train” running only during the winter months

If you travel around Aomori by train, “stove train” is recommended. Chairs and window frames made of woods, a daruma stove (a cast iron stove) and so on create a nostalgic atmosphere. When you get on the train, let’s buy surume (dried squid) and cook it on a stove-top grill! Also, a train contactor introduces spots that you can see from a window in Tsugaru dialect. If you have any questions about Aomori and what you want to know more, please feel free to talk to them!

Period	1st December – 31st March
Departure Time	The Train leaves Goshogawara station at 9:32AM, 11:45AM, 2:10PM.
Access	Take the Ou Main line at JR Aomori station, and transfer to the the Gono line at Kawabe station. It takes about an hour.
URL	http://tsutetsu.com/stove.html　※Japanese ver only

“Tsugaru Joppari Isariya Sakaba” where you can enjoy the taste and traditions unique to Aomori at once

Decorated with Nebuta wallpapers and having irori, this Japanese tavern has an atmosphere unique to Aomori. Here you can enjoy not only fresh fish caught in the sea of Aomori but also various local dishes such as Kaiyakimiso (a homestyle cooking with a big scallop shell used as a pan to grill a beaten egg with miso and stock) and Jappa-jiru stew (a soup cooked with vegetables and cod or salmon) and local sake. When it’s turned 7:00PM, Tsugaru Shamisen live performance starts and a storyteller who talks about folk songs in Aomori dialect appears. Why not taste exquisite dishes while watching heart-stirring performances?

Opening Hours	5:00PM – 12:00AM　Open all year round
Address	2-5-14 Honcho, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture
Access	A 15-min walk from JR Aomori station
URL	http://marutomisuisan.jpn.com/isariya-tugaru/#top