AOMORI

Aomori is the capital of Aomori Prefecture, and has a population of 280,000 people. The name originated from the Ainu language of the indigenous people, and it means blue forest, which refers to a small forest that originally existed on a hill near the now developed town. 

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The city is best seen in April during the peak of the cherry blossom season, and cruise ships tend to plan their visits accordingly. The Hirosaki Castle has iconic cherry blossom vistas, and is a can't-miss experience.​ Another notable feature of Aomori is that it is home to the Fuji apple. Be sure to head to the A-Factory for some of the best available regional produce!

If you are planning on staying locally in the downtown area, there is an interesting collection of local museums, plenty of shopping opportunities along the Shinmachi Arcade, and archeological sites dating back to the Jomon Period (14,000-1000 BCE). The most famous of these sites is the Sannai-Maruyama Ruins (5500-4000 BCE), which is located just southwest of the city center.

Check with your cruise line on your docking location, as there are multiple docking berths to accommodate different sized ships. Smaller ships can dock more centrally, whilst larger ships must dock a few miles out of town. If you aren’t central, your cruise line will likely offer shuttle services to the tourist information center downtown.

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Aomori is another hidden gem of Japanese cruising, and will make for a memorable travel day in Japan.