Make a Little Side Trip
世界遺産 白神山地 (World Heritage Shirakami Sanchi)
Shirakami Sanchi is a mountainous area which straddles the prefectures of Aomori and Akita that over an area of 130,000 ha. The central area 16,971 ha (Aomori side 12,627ha) in these mountains was registered as a natural heritage site in December 1993. It was the first time to register to World Natural Heritage in Japan. This is the world’s largest natural beech forests which hardly influence by human. It’s also home to some of the most unique plants in the world, as well as natural monument of the black woodpecker and golden eagle etc.
50minutes by car from Hirosaki
弘南バス(Konan Bus)(Japanese pages)
青森 (Aomori)
Aomori is the prefectural capital city. There is a Sannai Maruyama site which is a Jomon period site about 5500~4000 years ago and also one of the largest site in Japan.
Aomori Museum of Art stand next to Sannai Mauyama site that you can appreciate works of art which related to Aomori. Also, Mt. Hakkoda which is 100 Famous Japanese Mountains rises. You can enjoy mountain-walking, like hiking and you can ski or snowboard in winter.
"Aomori Nebura Festival” takes place every August 2nd to 7th which is well-known festival in Japan.
It takes 50 minutes by train from Hirosaki.
五所川原 (Goshogawara)
Goshogawara City is located as a door of Tsugaru peninsular. In recent years, Goshogawara become famous "Tachinebuta” as "Hirosaki Nuputa” or "Aomori Nebuta".
In Japan, vicinal railway’s (such as JR Gonosen) train trip is very popular among adult people. Tsugaru Railway’s “Pot-Belly Stove Train” runs in winter. “Wind-Bell Train” and “Bell Cricket Train” runs in summer. Those are season themes in Tsugaru Area. You can ride the train listening to wind bell or bell cricket’s timbre in summer; can thaw out by the stove in winter.
It takes 50 minutes by train from Hirosaki.
十二湖 (Juni Lake)
“Juniko” means twelve lakes and the name of it was given because 12 lakes can be seen from the Mt. Okuzure. Juniko composing of 33 large or small ponds and lakes. Aoike is the one of famous pond for its color that the water in Aoike is transparent to a depth of 9 meters. You will be able to see dead beech trees inside of the mystic deep blue water. Also there are some hiking courses. Those hiking courses are closed during late November to late March.
弘南バス(Konan Bus)(Japanese pages)
十和田 (Towada)
奥入瀬渓流(Oirase Stream)
Oirase stream is the only river flows from Lake Towada. Oirase Stream starts from Nenokuchi close to the Towada lake to Yakiyama and runs through alongside the route 102 having 14kms in length. Oirase means that rapids increase we go backward. A sightseeing bus runs into a broadleaf tree forest as beech trees with showing stream. There is walking courses go side by side with Oirase Stream. Yakiyama to Nenokuchi course is 14km, takes about 5 hours, Ishikedo to Nenokoguchi course is 8.9km, takes about 3 hours, Kumoinnotaki to Nenokuchi course is 6.3km, takes about 2hours, Choshi Otaki to Nenokuchi is 1.6km, takes about 30 minutes by foot. Generally, people say it’s more beautiful view you can see if you walk from Ishikedo.
十和田湖 (Lake Towada)
After you enjoyed a grand view of the Oirase stream, you will find Lake Towada which is in the trees near Nenokuchi. It is a caldera lake 327m above sea level and 44km around.
Lake Towada the third deepest lake in Japan (Lake Tazawa in Akita prefecture is the deepest and Lake Shikotsu is the second deepest). Lake Towada was born about 200,000 years ago.
It takes 2 hours by car from Hirosaki.
弘前・十和田湖間シャトルバス(Sightseeing Bus)(Japanese pages)
