Humans have inhabited the prefecture for at least 15,000 years, and the oldest evidence of pottery in Japan was discovered at theJōmon periodŌdai Yamamoto I Site. After centuries of rule by theNanbu andTsugaru clans, the prefecture was formed out of the northern part ofMutsu Province during theMeiji Restoration in the 19th century. The entire Tōhoku region, including Aomori Prefecture, experienced significant growth in population and economy until the late 20th century, when a significant population decline began. Though the prefecture remains dominated byprimary sector industries, especiallyapple orchards, it also serves as a transportation and logistics hub due to its location. Additionally, it is the largest producer ofblack garlic in Japan. Tourism is also a significant part of the prefecture's economy, especially due to theJōmon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan andShirakami-SanchiWorld Heritage Sites.
Aomori Prefecture has a distinctive subculture influenced by its distant location relative to the central government of Japan and the region's long, snowy winters. It is the birthplace of the traditionalTsugaru-jamisen, a local version of the three-stringed musical instrument known asshamisen. Embroidery, pottery, lacquerware, cabinetry, and iron working are also significant crafts in the prefecture. Various porridges and soups are distinctive to Aomori Prefecture. Several festivals are held in Aomori Prefecture; the most noted of which isAomori Nebuta Matsuri. Aomori Prefecture is home to several association football, baseball, basketball, and ice hockey teams. The prefecture's religious beliefs are heavily rooted inShinto andBuddhism; it is noted for itsblind mediums and purportedtomb of Jesus.
The nameAomori (青森) can be literally translated as "green forest".[6][7][a] The name was first given to a port settlement established by theHirosaki Domain in 1624 (modernAomori City),[8] and most likely originates from a small forest on a hill that existed nearby, which is said to have been used by fishermen as a landmark.[9][10][11]
TheJōmon period is the time betweenc. 14,000 and 300 BCE, during which Japan was inhabited by theJōmon people, a diversehunter-gatherer and early agriculturalist population.[12][13][14] The oldest evidence of pottery in Japan was found at theŌdai Yamamoto I Site in the town ofSotogahama in the northwestern part of the prefecture. The relics found there suggest that theJōmon period began about 15,000 years ago.[15] By 7,000 BCE, fishing cultures had developed along the shores of the prefecture.[16] Around 3,900 BCE, settlement at theSannai-Maruyama Site in the present-day city ofAomori began.[17] The settlement shows evidence of wide interaction between the site's inhabitants and people from across Jōmon period Japan, including Hokkaido andKyushu.[15] The settlement of Sannai-Maruyama ended around 2,300 BCE for unknown reasons. Its abandonment was likely due to the population'ssubsistence economy being unable to result in sustained growth, with its end being spurred on by the reduced amount of natural resources during aneoglaciation.[18] The Jōmon period continued up to 300 BCE in present-day Aomori Prefecture at theKamegaoka site in the city ofTsugaru where small statuettes calledShakōkidogū have been found.[15]
The Northern Fujiwara set up the port settlement ofTosaminato in present-dayGoshogawara to develop trade between their lands, Kyoto, and continental Asia.[30] The Northern Fujiwara were deposed in 1189 byMinamoto no Yoritomo, who would go on to establish theKamakura shogunate, which is known for the emergence of thesamurai, the warrior caste, and for the establishment offeudalism in Japan.[31][32]
Nanbu Mitsuyuki builtShōjujidate Castle in what is nowNanbu, Aomori.[38] The eastern area of the current prefecture was dominated by horse ranches, and the Nanbu grew powerful and wealthy on the supply ofwarhorses. 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.[34][35][36][37] The northwestern part of the prefecture was awarded to theAndō clan for their role in driving the Northern Fujiwara out of Tosaminato. The port was expanded under the rule of the Andō clan and they traded heavily with the Ainu inEzo. Conflict would break out between the Ainu and the Andō clan in 1268 and again in the 1320s. The conflict ended after the Nanbu intervened at the behest of the shogunate. The conflict weakened the Kamakura shogunate in its later years. The Andō became split into northern (Andō) and southern (Akita) divisions.[39] During this time, the Emishi were gradually assimilated into the warrior class.[40]
Buddhism expanded greatly in Japan during this period, with six new schools of Buddhism being founded:Pure Land,Rinzai,Jōdo Shinshū,Sōtō,Nichiren school, and theJi-shū branch of Pure Land.[41] While these new schools of Buddhism spread to Aomori Prefecture, the process was slow due to the distance from Kamakura. Buddism is Aomori remained strongly blended with older schools of Buddism in Aomori Prefecture, especiallyShugendō andTendai.[42]
TheMuromachi period,c. 1336 – c. 1573, saw the rise of theMuromachi or Ashikaga shogunate andOnmyōji, practitioners of astronomy and divination, into high governmental positions.[43] At the onset of theAshikaga shogunate, the Nanbu and Andō continued to rule the area, with the Nanbu controlling the current prefecture's southeastern section and the Andō controlling theShimokita andTsugaru peninsulas. The Andō also were involved with controlling the fringes of Ezo, splitting their attention. In 1336, the Andō completed construction ofHorikoshi Castle during theNorthern and Southern Courts period.[44] During the Muromachi, the Nanbu slowly began edging the Andō out of present-day Aomori Prefecture. The Andō were pushed out of Tosaminato in 1432, retreating to Ezo, giving the Nanbu control over all their lands. The port settlement would fall into disrepair under the Nanbu.[30]
During the Muromachi period, Aomori Prefecture became a key part of the Japan-Ezo-Northern Asia trade network.Tosaminato on theTsugaru Peninsula was the primary port for this trade network.[45][46][47] By this timeframe the Emishi no longer existed as a distinctpolity, but their culture was still influential. Relations with the Ainu in Hokkaido were still strong.[48][49]
TheSengoku period of the 15th and 16th centuries is an era in which civil wars and social upheavals took place almost continuously, similar to theEarly Middle Ages in Europe.[50] During the Sengoku period, the Nanbu clan collapsed into several rival factions. One faction underŌura Tamenobu asserted their control over theHirosaki Domain. His clan, originally the Ōura clan (大浦氏,Ōura-shi), was of uncertain origins. According to later Tsugaru clan records, the clan was descended from the nobleFujiwara clan and had anaccent claim to ownership of the Tsugaru region on the Tsugaru Peninsula and the area surrounding Mount Iwaki in the northwestern corner of Mutsu Province; however, according to the records of their rivals, the Nanbu clan, clan progenitor Ōura Tamenobu was born as either Nanbu Tamenobu or Kuji Tamenobu, from a minor branch house of the Nanbu and was driven from the clan due to discord with his elder brother.[51]
In any event, the Ōura were hereditary vice-district magistrates (郡代補佐,gundai hosa) under the Nanbu clan's local magistrate Ishikawa Takanobu; however, in 1571, Tamenobu attacked and killed Ishikawa and began taking the Nanbu clan's castles in the Tsugaru region.[52] He captured castles at Ishikawa, Daikoji and Aburakawa, and soon gathered support of many former Nanbu retainers in the region. After pledging fealty toToyotomi Hideyoshi, he was confirmed as an independent warlord in 1590 and changed his name to "Tsugaru", formally establishing theTsugaru clan. Tsugaru Tamenobu assisted Hideyoshi at theBattle of Odawara, and accompanied his retinue toHizen during the Korean Expedition. Afterwards, he sided withTokugawa Ieyasu during theBattle of Sekigahara in 1600.[53]
Control of this region during the Sengoku period was splintered than the more central parts of Japan.[54] Villagers were often forced to labor for the local rulers and feed soldiers. It was also more culturally diverse because of the Emishi-descendants and presence of theWajin and Ainu.[48][55][56] By this time the transition from a hunter-gatherer society to subsistence farming was fairly complete. The people of this region grew rice, barley, wheat, and millet and fished.[57]
During theEdo period,c. 1600 – c. 1868, Japan was under the rule of theTokugawa shogunate and some 300 regionaldaimyo, or feudal lords. The Edo period was a prolonged era of peace, stability, economic expansion, and urbanizaion.[58] After the establishment of theTokugawa Shogunate, the Nanbu ruled the Shimokita Peninsula and the districts immediately to the south of it. The area to the west of the Nanbu's holdings and to the north of the lands held by the Akita clan were all controlled by the Tsugaru clan, from their capital atHirosaki. Work onHirosaki Castle was completed in 1611, replacing Horikoshi Castle as the Tsugaru clan's fortress.[44] By 1631, the Tsugaru clan had solidified their control over their gains made during the Sengoku period.[59] Mutsu Province was struck by theTenmei famine between 1781 and 1789, due to lower than usual temperatures that were exacerbated by volcanic eruptions atMount Iwaki, near the Tsugaru clan's capital, Hirosaki, between November 1782 and June 1783.[60]
At the beginning of the Edo period, the last pockets of Ainu people in Honshu still lived in the mountainous areas on the peninsulas of the prefecture. They interacted with the ruling clans to some extent, but they primarily lived off of fishing the waters ofMutsu Bay and theTsugaru Strait. The Tsugaru clan made two big pushes to assimilate the Ainu; the first came in 1756 and the second came in 1809. Records show that the clan was successful in wiping out the Ainu culture in their holdings, though some geographic names in Aomori Prefecture still retain their original Ainu names.[61] While there was still Ainu contact through trade and fishing, long-term Ainu settlement in Aomori Prefecture had essentially ended by the late Edo period (18th-19th centuries).[48][62] The Ainu left behind many artifacts and some place and nature-related words are of Ainu origin, such asHiranai.[48][63][64][65]
Most people during this time lived in villages or on farms. These communities were small and tight-knit with people relying on mutual support.[66] During this time, education become much more common all over Japan, including for commoners. This included Aomori Prefecture, though at a slower rate due to the remoteness, rural nature, and harsh winters.[67][68][69][70]
TheMeiji Restoration in 1868 restored imperial rule to Japan, withEmperor Meiji assuming the throne.[71] Despite the 1867 resignation of the last shogun,Tokugawa Yoshinobu, theBoshin War had reached northern Japan by late 1868. On September 20, 1868 the pro-ShōgunateŌuetsu Reppan Dōmei was proclaimed atMorioka, the capital of the Nanbu clan who ruledMorioka Domain. The Tsugaru clan first sided with the pro-imperial forces ofSatchō Alliance, and attacked nearbyShōnai Domain.[72][73] The Tsugaru soon switched course, and briefly became a member of the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei.[74] For reasons unclear, the Tsugaru backed out of the alliance and re-joined the imperial cause after a few months. The Nanbu and Tsugaru clans resumed their old rivalry and fought at theBattle of Noheji.[72]
As a result of the minor skirmish, the Tsugaru clan was able to prove its defection from the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei and loyalty to the imperial cause. Tsugaru forces later joined the imperial army in attacking theRepublic of Ezo at theBattle of Hakodate, where the pro-Shōgunate forces were finally defeated.[75] As a result, the entire clan was able to evade the punitive measures taken by theMeiji government on other northern domains.[76]
In 1868, Mutsu Province was broken up into five provinces in the aftermath of the Boshin War, with a new province,Rikuō, occupying what would later become Aomori Prefecture and the northwestern corner of Iwate Prefecture.[28] On September 4, 1871, Rikuō Province was abolished and divided, establishing today's Aomori Prefecture. Its capital was briefly located in Hirosaki, but it was moved on September to 23, 1871 to the centrally located port village,Aomori City.[27]
The prefecture's new capital, Aomori City, saw rapid expansion due to its importance as a logistic hub in northern Japan.[77] It became a town in 1889 and then a city in 1898. TheNippon Railway, a private company, completed theTōhoku Main Line in 1891, linking Aomori toUeno Station inTokyo.[78] Despite problems with harsh winters and little previous urban development, this accomplishment was crucial to the rapid population and economic development of the prefecture after the Meiji Restoration.[79][80][81][82]
Cheseborough Memorial in Shariki Village
On October 30, 1889, an American merchant ship,Cheseborough, was wrecked off the prefecture's west coast near the villageShariki; many of the ship's crew were saved by the villagers.[83] During a military exercise on January 23, 1902, 199 soldiers died after getting lost during a blizzard in theHakkōda Mountains disaster.[84][85] On May 3, 1910, a fire broke out in theYasukata district [ja]. 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.[86]Sabishiro Beach,Misawa was the departure point forClyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon when they began the first successful nonstop trans-Pacific flight on October 4, 1931. They landed inEast Wenatchee, Washington a little over 41 hours later.[87][88]
Throughout much ofWorld War II, the conflict remained distant for the people of Aomori Prefecture. Its ports and railways served to connect Hokkaido to the rest of Japan, chiefly bringing coal from the north to production sites in Japan's more populous areas. This connectivity became a strategic target for the American forces as the war neared its conclusion.[89] Americancarrier-based aircraft attacked Aomori Prefecture on July 14, 1945, destroying infrastructure across the prefecture, including theSeikan Ferry, naval facilities in Mutsu and Misawa,Hachinohe Airfield, and the ports and railways of Aomori and Hachinohe.[90][91][92][93] At 10:30 p.m. on July 28, 1945, a group of 61 AmericanB-29 bombersbombed the city of Aomori. Despite prior warnings, the estimated civilian impact of the air raid on the city was significant,[94] partly because of threats by the prefecture's governor to cutfood rations for those who fled the city.[95] About 90 percent of city structures was destroyed, including 18,000 homes, along with 1,767 people killed and 282 people injured.[93][96]
During theoccupation of Japan, Aomori Prefecture's military bases were controlled by the US military. Hachinohe Airfield was occupied until 1950, and was called Camp Haugen.[97]Misawa Air Base was occupied and rebuilt by theUnited States Army Air Forces; since then the base has been shared by the Japanese military and the US military.[98][99]
The occupation government began an extensive Land Reclamation Policy (LRP) in 1946 aimed at reintegrating the seven million repatriates from Japan's former Asian colonies. This resulted in 269 new villages and 29,612 households on approximately 24,400 hectares (60,000 acres) of land in Aomori Prefecture.[100]
Entrance to Seikan Tunnel from Honshu side; note thedual gauge tracks
In March 1985, after 23 years of labor and a financial investment of 690 billion yen, theSeikan Tunnel finally linked the islands ofHonshū andHokkaido, thereby becoming the longest tunnel of its kind in the world.[101] Almost exactly three years later, on March 13, railroad service was inaugurated on theTsugaru Kaikyo Line. The tunnel's opening to rail traffic saw the end of the Seikan Ferry rail service. During their 80 years of service, the Seikan rail ferries sailed between Aomori City andHakodate some 720,000 times, carrying 160 million passengers. Ferry service continues to operate between the cities, ferrying automobile traffic and passengers rather than trains.[102][103][104]
On June 2, 2007, fourNorth Korean defectors reached Aomori Prefecture, after having been at sea for six days, marking the second known case ever where North Korean defectors have successfully reached Japan by boat.[105] This was a family of four who were picked up by theJapan Coast Guard and taken to the port ofFukaura. They were eventually flown toIncheon International Airport inSouth Korea at their own request.[106][107]
On March 11, 2011, amagnitude 9.0 earthquake struck the east coast of Japan. The southeastern coast of Aomori Prefecture was affected by the resultingtsunami: three people died and one was missing.[108] Buildings along harbors were damaged, with boats thrown about in the streets.[109][110] Disruptions as result of the earthquake to road and rail networks were widespread throughout the prefecture in the days following the earthquake.[111] TheTōhoku Shinkansen rail line was significantly damaged, cutting connectivity from the prefecture to points south along the line until full service was restored in late September.[112]
During the first week of January 2025, a record setting disaster-level snowfall hit Aomori Prefecture, with snow depths as much as 3.74 meters (12.3 ft).Sōichirō Miyashita, the provincial governor, called this snowfall a "disaster" and invoked theDisaster Relief Act, the first time the prefecture had done so in 13 years. At least 4 people died as a result of the snowfall.[113][114] This snowfall did massive damage to the prefecture's important apple harvest, causing an estimated ¥10 billion (US$64.8 million) in damage to the crop.[115]
Lake Ogawara lies at the base of the Shimokita Peninsula. It is the prefecture's largest lake and the eleventh largest in Japan. It is also the largestbrackish lake in the Tōhoku area.[122]Lake Towada sits in a volcaniccaldera, straddles Aomori Prefecture's boundary with Akita. It is a primary feature ofTowada-Hachimantai National Park and is Honshu's largest caldera lake.[123] Also within the park, the Oirase River flows east towards the Pacific Ocean from Lake Towada. Another feature of the park, theHakkōda Mountains, an expansivevolcanic group, rises in the lands to the south of the city of Aomori and north of Lake Towada.[119]
Shirakami-Sanchi, aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site, is located in the Shirakami Mountains in the western part of the prefecture. The site contains the largest surviving virgin beech forest in East Asia, which is home to over 87 species of birds.[124][125] Mount Iwaki, a stratovolcano and the prefecture's highest point lies to northeast of the Shirakami Mountains. The lands to the east and northeast of Mount Iwaki are an expansivefloodplain that is drained by theIwaki River.Hirosaki, the former capital of theTsugaru clan, sits on the banks of the river.[119]
Aomori Prefecture has four distinct seasons, with an average annual temperature of 10 °C (50 °F). Variations in climate exist between the eastern (Pacific Ocean) and the western (Sea of Japan) parts of the prefecture. This is in part due to theŌu Mountains that run north to south in the middle of the prefecture, dividing the two regions. The western side is subject to heavy monsoons and receives little sunshine; it experiences heavy snowfall during the winter. The eastern side is subject to low clouds brought in by northeasterly winds during the summer months, known locally as Yamase winds, from June through August, with temperatures staying relatively low. There are instances of Yamase winds making summers so cold that food production is hindered. The lowest recorded temperature during the winter is −9.3 °C (15.3 °F), and the highest recorded temperature during the summer is 33.1 °C (91.6 °F).[119][141] The city of Aomori and the surrounding areas are known for having theheaviest snowfall in the world.[142] In 2016,AccuWeather ranked Aomori as the snowiest city in the world.[143]
Aomori Prefecture's typically heavy snowfalls are caused by cold dry air from Siberian masses moving south, reaching theSea of Japan, where they pick up significant amounts of moisture, thereby causing heavy snowfalls when they reach Japan's mountains. TheKuroshio Current is a major cause of the warm ocean waters in the area.[144][145][146]Climate change in Aomori Prefecture is impacting its snowy winters and affecting water resources and marine life. Steady average temperature increases have been occurring in Aomori Prefecture since the early 1980s.[147] Trends show decreasing seasonal snowfall and a shift in river runoff timing, potentially leading to water supply issues for agriculture during the spring. Warming ocean temperatures are impacting local fisheries, specifically with the potential to harm the cold-water seaweedkombu.[148][149] The prefecture's historically heavy winters are known for creating "snow monsters" (樹氷,juhyo), also known asrime ice. Climate change change has steadily made it more difficult to find instances of "snow monsters".[150]
A person living in or from Aomori Prefecture is referred to as an Aomorian in English.[167][168][169] As of 2020, the prefecture had a total population of 1.23 million residents, accounting for just over 1 percent of Japan's total population.[140][166] Approximately 45 percent of Aomori Prefecture's residents live in its twocore cities, Aomori andHachinohe, on its coastal plains.[140] The majority of the prefecture is covered in forested mountain ranges, with population centers occupying valleys and plains.[170] Aomori is the third-most populous prefecture in the Tōhoku region, afterMiyagi Prefecture andFukushima Prefecture.[140]
Aomori Prefecture's population grew until the late 20th century;[140][166] it peaked at 1.52 million in 1985,[171] dropped to 1.23 million by 2020 and by 2023 was 1.19 million.[1][166] Japan's population growth rate started declining in 1970 and the total population peaked in 2010 at 128 million;[172] dropping to 123.3 million by 2025.[173] Aomori Prefecture has the 5th highest percentage of population of seniors among all prefectures at 34.8 percent. This percentage is expected to be 46.8 percent by 2045, resulting in the prefecture having the second highest rate above age 65 by then. The total population is expected to fall by 35 percent by 2050.[172] The prefecture's declining total fertility rate (TFR) was 6.32 in 1925, but by 2008 it had fallen to 2.04.[174] In 2022, the prefecture's birth rate was 1.24, the lowest in its recorded history.[175]
In 2018, Aomori Prefecture saw the second largest decrease in the number of Japanese citizens out of any prefecture in the country. Only neighboring Akita Prefecture lost more citizens than Aomori Prefecture.[176] In July 2025 the "Aomori Declaration" was issued by a meeting held in Aomori City of theNational Governors' Association to address Japan's declining population, describing it as "the biggest challenge" facing the country.[177] In 2017, 23,529 people moved out of Aomori Prefecture, while 17,454 people moved to the prefecture.[178]
In 2020, 583,402 of the prefecture's residents were men and 654,582 were women,[140][166] 10.8 percent of the population was below the age of 15, 56.6 percent of residents were between the ages of 15 and 64, and 32.6 percent was above the age of 64.[175] In the same year the prefecture had a density of 130.9 people per square kilometer. Japan is noted for long lifespans, however Aomori Prefecture has the lowest male and female life expectancy of the whole country, for which high salt consumption and low physical activity are factors.[179]
In 2020, Aomori Prefecture the fifth lowest ratio of foreign immigrants of all Japan's prefectures.[180] Scholars suggest that immigration is not expected to reverse the prefecture's population decline.[172] In 2007, Aomori Prefecture had the 7th lowest number of international marriages among all of Japan's prefectures, with only 664 marriages where one of the spouses was a foreigner.[181] Efforts have been made to attract more foreign workers to address the labor shortage but so far these efforts have been insufficient to meet needs.[172]
Like much of theTōhoku Region, Aomori Prefecture remains dominated byprimary sector industries, such as farming, forestry and fishing. The prefecture's forestry industry is centered around the cultivation and harvesting ofhiba, acypress tree utilized in construction of wooden structures across the country.[182] In 2021, its economy had a GDP of 4,464 billion yen, which represented about 0.8 percent of Japan's economy.[3][178] Aomori Prefecture generates the largest amount of wind energy out of the prefectures of Japan, with large wind farms located on the Shimokita Peninsula and Tsugaru.[183][184] The peninsula is also home to the inactiveRokkasho Reprocessing Plant that is owned byJapan Nuclear Fuel Limited, a company headquartered in the village of Rokkasho that is involved in the production ofnuclear fuel, as well as thereprocessing, storage, and disposal ofnuclear waste.[185] In July 2024, the governor of Aomori Prefecture announced the approval of a nuclear waste storage facility in town ofMutsu.[186] The city of Hachinohe is home to thePacific Metals Company, a manufacturer offerronickel products.[119]
Aomori Prefecture is a leading agricultural region in Japan. It has Japan's largest producer of apples for more than 100 years, growing about 60 percent of Japan's total apple production, producing 50 million tons yearly.[187][188][189] The cultivation of apples in the prefecture began in 1875 when the prefecture was given three varieties of Western origin to grow. Most imported apple trees came from the France and United States.[190] The apples are consumed within Japan and exported to the United States, China, Taiwan, and Thailand.[119] Aomori Prefecture is also ranked highly in the nation's production ofredcurrant,burdock, andgarlic,[191] accounting for 81, 37, and 66 percent, respectively, of the country's production.[187]Climate change is having a negative impact on agriculture in Aomori Prefecture, especially on apples and other fruits.[192]
Aomori Prefecture is also the center of Hakkōda cattle rearing, a rare, region-specific breed ofJapanese Shorthorn.[193] The town ofGonohe has a long history as a breeding center for horses, popular among thesamurai. With the decline of the samurai, Gonohe's horses continued to be bred for their meat. The lean horse meat is coveted as a delicacy, especially when served in its raw form, known asbasashi (馬刺し). The Aomori Prefecture coastline along Mutsu Bay is a large source of scallops; they are particularly a specialty of the town Hiranai, where the calm water around Natsudomari Peninsula makes a good home for them.[194]
With a growth rate of 43.5%, Aomori Prefecture was among the top five prefectures of Japan in terms of growth rate in foreign tourists between 2012 and 2017.[196][197] Heavy marketing of the prefecture's strong connection to theJōmon culture significantly increasedheritage tourism and kept this trend going through at least 2023.[198] The total number of overnight visitors to the prefecture in 2019 was 5,060,000, with around 296,000 being foreigners.[199] In terms of guest-nights, foreign visitors accounted for 356,550 nights in 2018, dipped to a low of 17,090 nights in 2021 due to COVID-19, and reached an all-time high of 435,010 in 2024.[200][201]
This influx of foreign tourists has led to the construction of more hotels in Aomori Prefecture.[196] Major draws to the prefecture are its apple industry,historic sites,[198] museums, and national parks. Several of the prefecture'sJōmon period historic sites were nominated in January 2009 to become UNESCO World Heritage Sites and were placed on theWorld Heritage Tentative List.[202] On July 27, 2021 the other Jōmon sites, totaling 17 sites, in neighboring prefectures were placed on the World Heritage Site list.[202][203] These sites were the second sites in Aomori Prefecture placed on the list. The first wasShirakami-Sanchi, an area of virgin forests. Tourist access to Shirakami-Sanchi is heavily restricted due to its delicate ecosystem, though several water features, trails, and roads can be accessed by its visitors.[204][205] About 35.2 million domestic travelers visited Aomori Prefecture in 2016, while about 95,000 foreign tourists visited in 2017.[178]
Aomori Prefecture and the Tsugaru Strait are of strategic value to both Japan and the United States, as the strait serves as an access point for theUnited States Navy into the Sea of Japan where they can put pressure on Russia, China, and North Korea.[206] The prefecture also hostsMisawa Air Base, the only combined, joint U.S. service installation in the western Pacific servicingArmy,Navy,Marine Corps,Space Force, andAir Force, as well as theJapan Self-Defense Forces.[207]
The Tsugaru region of Aomori Prefecture is the birthplace of the traditionalTsugaru-jamisen, a local style of music played on theshamisen (a three–stringed musical instrument). A notable player of the style wasTakahashi Chikuzan, a blind musician fromHiranai, who wandered around the country and eventually gained nationwide appeal.[208][209] Aomori Prefecture is also where the decorativeembroidery styles,kogin-zashi andNanbu hishizashi originated, as more utilitarian textile techniques during the Edo period. The peasant women of the area, who created the styles, used them to make linen clothing more robust and warm during the harsh winters since cotton was unavailable to the lower class.[210][211][212] Wooden horse figures calledYawata-uma (alsoHachinohe horse) Have Been Made in the Former Holdings of the Nanbu for 700 Years.[213][214] Hachinohe horses are often given at celebrations as they are believed to bring good luck.[214][215] Other crafts native to Aomori Prefecture include pottery, lacquerware, cabinetry, and iron working.[216][217] The type of lacquerware specific to Aomori Prefecture is known asTsugaru-Nuri.[218]
Aomori Prefecture has given rise to several soups:ke porridge or Keno-jiru, which consists ofmiso soup with diced root vegetables and wild plants such asbutterbur andbracken withtofu from the Tsugaru area;ichigoni, a sea urchin roe and abalone soup in which the sea urchin roe looks like strawberries, known asichigo in Japanese, from the town ofHashikami;hittsumi aroux with chicken and vegetables from the Nanbu area;Hachinohe senbei soup a hearty soup withNanbu senbei loaded with vegetables and chicken;jappa-jiru a vegetable soup with cod roe from Aomori City; andkeiran a red bean dumpling soy sauce soup served during special occasions on the Shimokita Peninsula. Another dish that was created in the area surroundingMutsu Bay iskaiya in the Tsugaru area orkayaki on the Shimokita Peninsula, it is a boiled miso and egg dish mixed with fish or scallop meat on a large scallop shell that serves as both the cookware and dishes.[219] In 2006, the production of agedblack garlic began in Aomori Prefecture. The prefecture has since become the largest producer of black garlic in Japan.[220]
Aomori Prefecture hosts theAomori Nebuta Matsuri, one of theThree Great Festivals of Tōhoku [ja] annually in early August. The other two Great Festivals areAkita Kanto and theSendai Tanabata, which are held elsewhere in Tōhoku.[221] During late April,hanami festivals are held across the prefecture, with the most prominent being located on the grounds of Hirosaki Castle.[222][223] Many unique festivals are held during summer with bright lights, floats, dancing and music; including Aomori Nebuta Matsuri as well as several other iterations of the festival throughout the towns and cities of the prefecture.[224][225] Winter is centered on snow festivals where attendees can view ice sculptures and eat local cuisine inside ice huts.[226][227] Tsugaru's festivals tie in to its past and are more rural and community in nature than religious; even though they mix Shinto and Buddhist practices as well as music and dance.[228]
Japanese religious beliefs are verysyncretic,[236] known asShinbutsu-shūgō. About 95 percent of the population is eitherBuddhist orShinto.[237][238] The formal separation of those two religions did not occur until the late 19th century and is known asShinbutsu bunri.[239] This began occurring during the Meiji Restoration when a series of laws began to be passed. There is no agreement among modern theologians as to the degree of melding of the two religions.[240]Christianity comprises about 1-2 percent of the population of Japan.[241] The Christian population is concentrated mostly in Tokyo and western Japan.[242] In Aomori Prefecture in 2018, there were only 5,582 Christians out of a populations of about 1.2 million.[243]
TheTakayama Inari Shrine is aShinto shrine located inTsugaru. People come here to offer prayers on behalf of business prosperity, plentiful harvests, and maritime safety. There is a memorial with a Christian cross dedicated to American sailors who died when theCheseborough ran aground in a typhoon atShariki, Aomori in 1889.[244][245]
Mount Osore, located on the Shimokita Peninsula of the prefecture, is covered with a barren landscape, jagged rock formations, and smells of sulfuric gases. It is considered a gateway to the underworld in some belief systems. TheBodai-ji Temple is located here and it specializes in taking care of the dead and is the traditional home to theitako blind mediums who connect with the dead.[246][247]
Anitako at the autumn Inako Taisai festival atMount Osore, Aomori Prefecture
Itako, also known asichiko orogamisama, are blind women who train to becomespiritual mediums inJapan.[248] They are strongly associated with Aomori Prefecture and today they are most commonly associated with theMt. Osore area of the prefecture.Itako have traditionally gathered there for an annual festival to channel the dead.[249]Itako perform ceremonies to communicate with spirits of the recently deceased,[250] including those of aborted and stillborn children.[251]
The tradition ofitako arose because in earlier times the prefecture had very poor nutrition and sanitation, causing many children to go blind. In order for these children to be able to make a living, the females were trained asitako and the males for professions such asacupuncture,massage,moxibustion, and playingshamisen.[251][252] Blindness has long been associated with spiritual powers in Japan.[252][253]
Itako training traditionally began at a very young age, and included ritualized exposure to cold water. Hundreds of buckets of ice water could be poured on their bodies over the course of a few days.[250] This education foritako takes about three years, and also includes memorization of songs andsutras.[254] This training involves severeascetic practices, after which the woman is said to be able to communicate with JapaneseShinto spirits,kami, and the spirits of the dead.[250] At the end of this training, a ceremony is held, announcing the marriage of theitako and her patron spirit.[255]Itako perform rituals tied to communication with the dead anddivination.[250][256] In the 1950s to 1970s there were still dozens ofitako in the prefecture.[252] The practice has been on the decline since then. As of 2009, there were only 20 livingitako in Japan, all more than 40 years old.[248]
Purportedly ancient documents were published in 1935, claimingJesus preached and died at age 106 inShingō village in Aomori Prefecture. This is one of many claims is made in a group of documents known as the "Takeuchi documents" or "Takeuchi manuscript",[257] which claim Jesus did not die on the cross, but rather his brother did and Jesus made his way to Aomori Prefecture viaSiberia. According to the documents, Jesus then married a young woman named Miyuko and fathered three daughters.[258] During this time he trained for 12 years and then began to spreadChristianity. Historian and literature professorKokichi Kano [ja] examined the Takeuchi documents in 1935 and proved them modern forgeries.[259][260] His purported grave is in Shingō has become a tourist attraction and 20,000-30,000 thousand visitors see it every year. In June 1964 an annual festival began being held at the gravesite.[257][261][262] Jesus' eldest purported daughter married into the Sawaguchi family and there are still members of that family who claim non-Asian physical characteristics and lineage from Jesus.[258]
Hirosaki Castle was the seat of theTsugaru clan; it was constructed in 1611. It is the only castle in the Tōhoku region from theEdo period that is still standing and is located in the western part of the prefecture. Festivals held on the grounds of Hirosaki Castle include the Cherry Blossom Festival and Snow Lantern Festival.[223][263]
TheAomori Museum of Art is located near the Sannai-Maruyama Site,[271] which inspired the museum's partially buried structure.[272] It opened in 2006 focusing on highlighting the arts of northern Tōhoku. An 8.5-meter (28 ft) tall concrete sculpture of a dog has become the museum's symbol.[273][274] The museum has helped increase tourism in the area and is most noted for its collection ofMarc Chagall's backdrops for the playAleko.[271] TheTowada Art Center is a set of geometric structures designed bySANAA and opened in 2008 in an effort to revitalize downtownTowada. It focuses on art that blends city structures and nature. Some of the works it holds are byRon Mueck andYoko Ono.[275]
TheAomori Prefecture Tourist Center, also known as Aomori Prefecture Tourism Information Center (ASPAM: "Aomori", "Sightseeing", "Products", "Mansion"), is large triangle shaped building built in 1986 in Aomori City used to promote tourism in the prefecture. It has a 360-degree panoramic movie theater, a Kogin-zashi embroidery demonstration, apple sales, and an observatory.[276]
The prefecture is known as the "kingdom of sumo" (相撲王国,sumou ōkoku) due to the success of its wrestlers in theprofessional divisions. Aomori is the home prefecture ofyokozuna (the highest rank in sumo)Kagamisato,Wakanohana I,Tochinoumi,Wakanohana II,Takanosato, andAsahifuji. Although the prefecture is second in terms of producing the mostyokozuna (behindHokkaido),[295] Aomori earned its title by always having at least one wrestler from the prefecture in the topmakuuchi division sinceIchinoya in 1883.[296] InSeptember 2025, this continuity was threatened whenTakerufuji withdrew due to injury, forcing him to drop down to the second divisionjūryō for the November tournament. At the same time, however,Nishikifuji achieved a high enough score to return him to the top division, thus continuing the streak for a 142nd year.[297][298] The prefecture is facing a decline in the number of professional recruits, falling from 50 natives in the 1950s, to just 10 in the 2020s.[299]
Numbered map of Aomori Prefecture single-member districts
Aomori Prefecture's head of government is a governor, with the seat of the prefectural government in the city of Aomori.[300] There are 48 members in the Aomori Prefectural Assembly, which isunicameral. Members are elected to four-year terms.[301] In terms of national politics, the prefecture has three single-member districts:Aomori 1st district,Aomori 2nd district,Aomori 3rd district, each a constituency of theHouse of Representatives in the nationalDiet of Japan.[3][302] In addition, the prefecture has two members elected from theAomori at-large district to theHouse of Councillors in the Diet. The at-large members are elected to six-year terms in staggered elections every three years.[303][304]
The Aomori Prefecture Board of Education oversees various aspects of the prefecture's educational system including the management of libraries, theAomori Prefectural Museum, and various educational support offices and centers. The declining population has resulted in significant decreases in the number of schools and enrollment, but with a slight increase in the budget due to rising costs. The prefecture allocated 130.3 billion yen towards education in 2018 and 131.8 billion yen in 2025.[313][314] In 2017 the prefecture's public school system was teaching 133,507 students, a sharp decrease from a total of 173,537 students ten years earlier. By 2024 the enrollment dropped to 126,406 students.[315] Overall in 2018, the prefecture had 94 kindergartens (1 of which is a national school and 3 that are public), 289 elementary schools (1 of which is a national school and 288 that are run by municipal governments), 161 middle schools (1 of which is a national school, another which is run by the prefecture, 4 that are private, and 155 that are run by municipal governments), and 95 high schools.[313] By 2025 the number of schools had dropped to 242 elementary schools (1 national, 241 municipal), 151 middle schools (national: 1, prefectural: 1, municipal: 143, private: 6), and 1 cumpulsory school;[316] with the number of high schools dropping to 46 public and 17 private schools.[317]
Aomori Prefecture has 20,818.1 km (12,935.8 mi) of roads, highways, and streets, along with 229 km (142 mi) ofexpressways.[319] Four major expressways pass through the prefecture: theTōhoku Expressway, which runs south–north through center of the prefecture; the incompleteTsugaru Expressway, running east–west in the southwestern portion of the prefecture; the partially-completeHachinohe-Kuji Expressway that travels south–north along the prefecture's eastern coast to Hachinohe; and the partially-completeShimokita Expressway that travels south–north along Shimokita Peninsula from the town of Noheji to the city of Mutsu.[320]
Several auxiliary routes of the Tōhoku Expressway also serve the prefecture. TheAomori Expressway andHachinohe Expressway,spur routes into the eastern part of the city of Aomori and central Hachinohe. A spur of the Hachinohe Expressway continues northwest across the eastern side of the prefecture towards the prefecture's capital. It is made up of several named routes: theMomoishi Toll Road, theDaini-Michinoku Toll Road, theKamikita Expressway, and theMichinoku Toll Road.[321] Severalnational highways pass through the prefecture. National routes4,7, and45 are primary routes that link the prefectural capital to the capitals of other prefectures across Japan. Additional national routes in Aomori Prefecture include routes101,102,103,104,279,280,282,338,339,340,394, and454. Two of the prefecture's national highways also continue north across the Tsugaru Strait to Hokkaido: National Route 279, which is carried toHakodate by theTsugaru Kaikyō Ferry; and National Route 280, which was previously carried by ferry to the town ofFukushima, Hokkaido, though the route is still signed from Fukushima to Hakodate.[322]
Maritime transport in Aomori Prefecture operates primarily from the ports of Aomori City, Mutsuogawara, and Hachinohe, though smaller ports are found throughout the prefecture.[325] The ports at Aomori City and Hachinohe both serve cruise ships and ferry lines.[326] Additionally, a ferry line operates betweenŌma and Hakodate.[327] Prior to the opening of the Seikan Tunnel, rail ferries operated by theJapanese National Railways linked Aomori Station andHakodate Station as the primary connection between Hokkaido and the rest of Japan. A museum dedicated to the historic rail ferries operates near Aomori Station in a former rail ferryboat, theHakkoda Maru.[328] In April 1995,Aomori Airport began offering a regular international air service.[329]
There are two commercial airports located within Aomori Prefecture,Aomori Airport andMisawa Airport.[330] Both airports are relatively small, though Aomori Airport offers regular international flights toSouth Korea andTaiwan, in addition to domestic flights to several cities. Combined the prefecture's two commercial airports moved 1.56 million passengers in 2024, with Aomori Airport handling 1.23 million of them.[331][332]
Since 1961, the prefectural symbol of Aomori is a green stylized map of the prefecture on a white background, showing the crown ofHonshū: theTsugaru,Natsudomari andShimokita Peninsulas. The green is representative of development while the white symbolizes the vastness of the world.[335]
The prefectural bird has beenBewick's swan since 1964, the species migrates to the area during the winter. In 1966, the prefecture designated thehiba (Thujopsis dolabrata) as its prefectural tree. The apple blossom was designated as the prefectural flower in 1971 to pay homage to the prefecture's apple production. In 1987, theJapanese halibut was designated as the prefectural fish.[335]
ApproximateNanbu dialect divisions in Aomori Prefecture, with the Shimokita dialect (1-dark blue), Kamikita dialect (2-medium blue), Sanpachi dialect (3-light blue), and other dialects (4-white)
Tōhoku dialect, one of the three main dialects of Japan, is spoken in Aomori Prefecture. The most widespread variants are theTsugaru dialect,Nanbu dialect, and Shimokita dialect. The boundary determining which of these dialects are spoken is mainly along the former border of the Tsugaru and Nanbu clans between Hiranai and Noheji, with some overlap.[336] Speakers of the Tsugaru dialect are typically centered around Hirosaki, while those who use the Nanbu dialect are centered around Hachinohe.[337] The Shimokita dialect is used on the Shimokita Peninsula around Mutsu and has been recognized as having enough differences to distinguish it from the Nanbu dialect.[338] It was also used in combination with the Nanbu dialect in an early Japanese–Russian dictionary written by a man whose father came from the Shimokita Peninsula.[339] The Ainu people, culture, and language still influence Aomori Prefecture, including several Ainu words that are still in use, place names in particular.[340][341]
The oldest discovered compilation of words and phrases of the Nanbu dialect was written in 1790 followed by a dictionary of the Tsugaru dialect in 1809.[342] Special features of the Aomori Prefecture dialects include an atypicalintonation,[343]voicing consonants that are typically unvoiced (e.g. [k] sounds become [g]),[344] and the addition ofvoiced velar nasal sounds and correspondingkana (か゚ [ŋa], き゚ [ŋi], く゚ [ŋu], け゚ [ŋe], and こ゚ [ŋo]).[345]
There is a negative connotation associated with the Tōhoku dialect, associated with rurality and laziness. In shogunate times, government officials visiting the prefecture considered the Nanbu dialect very hard to understand. People from the entire Tōhoku region were often considered unsophisticated, simple, and rural and their accent was often the object of jokes.[346] The name for the defunct Mutsu Province uses the same kanji symbol, 陸奥, as the Japanese phrase for 'land far from the capital' or 'end of the road' (陸奥,michinoku). The inhabitants were calledlit. shrimp barbarians (蝦夷,ezo) andlit. citizens of the outer world (化外の民,kagainotami).[347][348] Due to these negative perceptions, speakers of Tōhoku dialects will often hide their accents.[349] A study performed in 2016 indicated that people from Aomori Prefecture who are 70 years and older frequently use these dialects, while use becomes less frequent the younger a person is, regardless of fluency.[350] Additionally, the study revealed that when traveling to Tokyo, older generations will continue to use their dialect, while younger generations switch to standard Japanese. Over half of each generation surveyed preferred to use their local dialect when talking to Tokyoites in Aomori Prefecture.[351] Dialectal forms are more common in the Tsugaru region of Aomori Prefecture and forms a significant part of the cultural identity of the local population.[228][352] Southern Tōhoku reveals a transition from standard language to dialects of Aomori Prefecture.[353]
First issue ofThe Tō-Ō Nippō Press, December 6, 1888
The largest newspaper by readership in Aomori Prefecture isThe Tō-Ō Nippō Press with a daily readership of 205,000, 55 percent of the total share of the newspaper market in the region.[354] The newspaper also runs a radio news station which is broadcast by theAomori Broadcasting Corporation (RAB).[355] Other local newspapers are Hachinohe'sThe Daily Tōhoku Shimbun,[356] Hirosaki'sMutsu Shimpō,[357] and Kuroishi'sTsugaru Shinpō.[358]
Four television stations are broadcast in Aomori Prefecture. RAB is a television and radio broadcaster based in the capital that is affiliated with theJapan Radio Network,National Radio Network, andNippon News Network. RAB uses the call signs JOGR-DTV for digital television broadcasts and JOGE, JOGO, and JOGR for radio broadcasts in Hirosaki, Hachinohe, and Aomori City, respectively.Japan News Network's affiliate,Aomori Television began broadcasting with the call sign JOAI on 1 December 1969.Asahi Broadcasting Aomori.NHK broadcasts radio, television, and digital television from NHK Aomori with the call signs JOTC and JOTG. NHK radio services began on April 17, 1941, while television broadcasts commenced on March 22, 1959.[359]
Hani Motoko, a native of Hachinohe, is considered to be Japan's first female journalist. She became known for her column about famous Japanese women that began publication in 1897 in theHōchi Shimbun. Motoko later started a journal, that focused on the values of middle-class women.[360]
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