From the Regular to the Hidden Gems! The 10 Must-go Autumn Foliage posts in Aomori!

Aomori prefecture is situated in the northernmost end of Honshu and holds rich nature. There are many famous sightseeing spots such as Hakkoda Mountains and Sannai-Maruyama Site. Above all, you can enjoy autumn foliage in autumn among great nature. So many viewing spots will move your heart by its magnificent scenery. Let’s walk through the 10 best spots to appreciate significant nature in autumn in Aomori prefecture. Do not miss any of them!

Enjoy the Panoramic View of Nature. This is the Autumn Foliage spot in Aomori, Hakkoda Mountains

This is the very popular sightseeing spot. “Hakkoda Mountains” is one of the Japan’s Great 100 Mountains, situated in the south of Aomori city. This mountain is located almost at the center of Aomori prefecture. The view from “Hakkoda Ropeway” is 360-degree panoramic, which has attracted tourists. You can see Tsugaru plains, Mutsu Bay, even Hokkaido from here. You can enjoy the scenery down the ropeway of beech, oak timber, and maple colored. This is the great spot for casual hiking and climbing.

The high season for autumn foliage begins from the later of September spreading to the middle of the mountains in the early October and to the foot in the middle of October. It starts snowing in the later October to November. You may be lucky enough to see colored leaves in snow.

Enjoy the Autumn Foliage in the Stream of the Valley from the Bridge. The Outstanding Scenery of Aomori, Jogakura Ohashi Bridge

“Jogakura Ohashi Bridge” is located in the scenic spot in Towada-Hachimantai National Park with untouched natural scenery of rich nature. The beautifully arched bridge has the longest distance between each pillar, 255 meter, in Japan. After the opening, it has worked as the important bridge connecting Tsugaru and the south for the local people. Yet the view from the bridge is breathtaking.

You can enjoy autumn foliage from the 360-degree panoramic view over Mount Iwaki and the cityscape of Aomori. You will be attracted by the beauty of colored leaves of oak timber, beech, Erman’s birch and maple, along the stream of the valley. Currently the promenade of the stream is closed for the security reason. It is a pity that you cannot enjoy the view of the bridge from the below.

Enjoy Autumn Foliage on Climbing on the Great 100 Mountains in Japan, Mount Iwaki

Mount Iwaki is situated from Hirosaki city to Ajigasawa cho in Nishi Tsugaru district. It is the highest mountain in Aomori, 1625 meters high, selected both to the Great 100 Mountains in Japan and the New Great 100 Mountains in Japan. From the appearance of it, it is also called as Tsugaru Fuji. It begins to get colored in the middle of September from the summit spreading its colors down to the foot.

You may be lucky enough to see the contrast of colors, the white of snow at the summit, the pure red of big wild cherry trees and the green of old pine trees. The best season for autumn foliage is in the middle of October. You can reach to the ninth station by Mount Iwaki Skyline or the lift, then take a walk to the summit. This is the perfect spot to enjoy climbing. Highly recommended.

Famous Spot to Enjoy Long-lived Autumn Foliage at Night, Nakano Mimiji Yama

“Nakano Momiji Yama” was built by the lord of Hirosaki domain in 1802, replanting seedlings of more than 100 kinds of maple from Kyoto. It is one of the best autumn foliage spots in Aomori. You can see the remains of Fudodate and Nakano Shrine in the forest. There are big Japanese cedar trees aged more than 200 years. The ones aged 500 years and 700 years were designated as natural monuments.

The best season for autumn foliage is from the late October to the early November to enjoy the perfect match of falls, streams of the valley and colored leaves. It is lit up during the night in the season of autumn foliage, and “Momiji Doko” is available to have a seat. You can enjoy having bento meal among the lit-up colored leaves with your family or someone special. Worth visiting.

Visit the Amazing Scenery of Aomori! Picture-like Autumn Foliage spot, Lake Towada

“Lake Towada” is in Towada-Hachimantai National Park, situated over Towada city in Aomori and Kosaka cho, Kazuno district in Akita. The lake was designated as the Special Scenic Spot of Cultural Property and a natural monument as “Lake Towada and Oirase Gorge”.

In autumn, the yellow of beech and the red of maple color up the whole lake, which stands out more by the green of red pines. You cannot miss the view from the lake. Reflection on the lake water makes its scenery like a picture. This is the amazing autumn foliage spot to experience the dynamic great nature and the panoramic view of colored leaves.

Drop by and Enjoy Autumn Foliage in Aomori, Oirase Gorge

“Oirase Gorge” is located in Towada-Hachimantai National Park. It is the the stream of Oirase River with about 14km-length from Lake Towada Nenokuchi, Towada city in Aomori to Yakeyama. One of the features is accessibility. The car road and promenade are available along the stream, where you can enjoy colored trees such as beech, maple, mountain maple, oak timber, Manchurian walnut, covering up the roads.

The stream has a swift current, a deep and a pool. You can also find the beauty of nature on both sides by viewing falls. This is great nature where you can visit by a car easily, not by climbing up mountains. The best season for autumn foliage is from the late October to the early November. Worth visiting.

Enjoy the Mystical Colors of Great Nature at the Popular Sightseeing Spot, Tsuta Seven Lakes

“Tsuta Seven Lakes” is located in the back of “Tsuta Onsen”, the entrance of Hakkoda Mountains from the direction of Hachinohe. There are seven lakes represented by Hyotan-numa, Akanuma. From the name of the largest lake, it is often called as just “Tsutanuma”.

The area around “Tsuta Seven Lakes” excluding Akanuma is called the Forest of Tsuta Wild birds. It has the about 2.8km of promenade, which takes you 1 hour 30 minutes to go around. The best season is from the middle to the late October. It has attracted so many tourists. The elegant beauty of sunshined scenery in the morning is just exceptional. The moment when sunshine lights up colored leaves brings the burning view! You cannot miss it. On the day without winds, you can enjoy the mystic atmosphere by the reflection on the lake. This is the definitely must-visit spot in Aomori.

More Than Cherry Blossoms! Enjoy Autumn Foliage in Magnificent Nature, Hirosaki Park and Hirosaki Castle

“Hirosaki Park” is the park located in the remains of Hirosaki Castle in Hirosaki city, Aomori prefecture. It has preserved the three-storied turret and the Hirosaki Castle tower, which was designated as the Important Cultural Property. “Hirosaki Park” is famous for 2600 trees of cherry blossoms, but you cannot miss 1000 trees of maple turned into red in autumn.

In autumn, the park turns into vivid colors, which creates wonderful contrast with the castle gate, the castle, and the gree of the old pine tree. You can feel the season of autumn by maple, ginkgo trees and water lilies. “Hirosaki Castle Kiku and Momiji Festival” takes place in the late October and the early November, which is the best season for autumn foliage. Worth visiting.

Enjoy Walking, Onsen and the Local Gourmet. The Regular Autumn Foliage Spot in Aomori, Yagen Gorge

“Yagen Gorge” is the gorge situated in the part of Tohoku Natural Road, where you can enjoy the untouched great nature on walking along the stream. There is the 4-km long promenade from Yagen Bridge to Oku-Yagen Hot Spring, where you can walk for about 1 hour. The beauty of a gorge colored by broad-leaved forests could be better than Oirase Gorge in Towada.

The best season is from the middle of to the late October, when various trees get colored such as Aomori hiba, beech, wild cherry tree blossom, rhododendron kaempferi, maple. Momiji Festival takes place in October, where you can enjoy the local gourmet. It could not be better to enjoy both autumn foliage and hot spring. Experience nature in Aomori.

Surrounded by Autumn Foliage at the World Heritage. Outstanding Scenery at Shirakami Sanchi

“Shirakami Sanchi” is situated from the southwest part of Aomori prefecture to the northwest part of Akita prefecture, in the 1000-meter height, which was designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site in December, 1993 with Yakushima Island. It holds the wild beech forest in the world-class scale.

Autumn foliage around “Shirokami Sanchi” and the upper stream of Iwaki River is just outstanding, called “Meyakei”. During October, you can see various trees like maple and beech get colored vividly. “Beech forests promenade” registered as the World Heritage, is very easy to approach for people at any ages. The track gets soft by fallen leaves. You can fully enjoy the grand nature here viewing bright yellow beech. Do not this exceptional scenery.

Enjoy the Beautiful Autumn Foliage in Aomori!

Here is the 10 best autumn foliage spots in Aomori in the Tohoku region. There are so many places with untouched grand nature, where you can enjoy colored leaves. Why don’t you visit Aomori to explore the beauty of autumn foliage? Not to mention, you will find much more than it!