Meet the locals. Feel the energy of this land, where they were born and raised. Breathe fresh air and be in the Idyllic scenery, listen to the sound of their chatting.
The culture born here, the tradition born here. You will find the story behind it.
AOMORI is in the northernmost part of Japan, and is known as snow country.
The place abounds in the sort of beauty typical of rural Japan such as pastoral landscapes and rolling mountains.
On the other hand, the winter season is a harsh natural environment.
A man said, “ I want to make something crazy.” It is the Tsugaru way.
Their passion is produced by this tranquil and dramatic environment.
Aomori is in the northernmost part of Japan, and is known as snow country.
The place abounds in the sort of beauty typical of rural Japan such as pastoral landscapes and rolling mountains.
On the other hand,the winter season is a harsh natural environment.
A man said, “ I want to make something crazy.” It is the Tsugaru way.
Their passion is produced by this tranquil and dramatic environment.
Travel AOMORI is designed for those who delight in the lovely discovery while indulging mind and body in beautiful nature and unique cultures through the four seasons. Let’s visit AOMORI all the time!
Explore cherry blossom viewing spots, unparalleled in volume and beauty. And also apple blossoms, the sparkle of paddy fields filled with water. After a long and cold winter, the splendid blossoms announce the arrival of spring.
Feel the cool breeze in the mountains. Enjoy hiking in the deep green of virgin beech forests. And the passionate festivities, especially the Nebuta Festival, rejuvenate the human spirit. It is Japan’s foremost splendid and majestic moment.
It is time for the harvest season. The scenery of paddy fields rippled like a golden carpet. And apple fields cover the land as far as the eye can see. The trees change to yellow, orange and red. Lakes and Japanese garden ponds peculiar to AOMORI with fiery autumn leaves reflecting on the surface.
The world wrapped in white as snow covers the towns and mountains. AOMORI is magical in winter. Enjoy skiing and snowboarding on pristine powder snow, relax your body and soul in hot springs. Have a special experience that can only be experienced in snow country.
The people are proud artisans who make no compromise in pursuit of the best quality of work. Set out on a journey to explore the heart and soul of AOMORI.
Ms Sato said “Stack on time. This is best thing for Kogin embroidery.”
The cottage is located in the primeval beech forest of Towada area. The building has huge
wooden pillars and glass on one side. In a premium space surrounded by nature, you can
have party or enjoy bbq etc… Go outside, take a deep breath, and enjoy scenic walks into
the unspoiled beech forest around the cottage.
Yabusame is a ceremony in which they shoot at targets as they race by horseback.
In Japan until the Middle Ages, shooting arrows while riding a horse running at full speed was an important skill for warriors, and Yabusame began as a form of military training combining horsemanship and archery. It is still passed down as a traditional event today.
Over time in Towada, making for an enjoyable new style of Yabusame as sport.
Try Yabusame!
100-year ago, the house owner tapped Sanchi Ogawa (1867-1928), then a budding
craftsman, to create stained glass pieces. Panel stained glass composed with the "shakkei"
(borrowed scenery) technique, created a harmony with the garden outside. Enjoy his
excellent color sense and fusion with Japanese painting in stained glass.
An old private house built in 1871 has a thatched roof (traditional Japanese house style).
Taste the traditional Kanagi “kaccha” (mamas) food. Enjoy country-style food prepared by
local mothers.
Kogin Embroidery is beauty brought to life by the living wisdom of the women of Japan’s snow country. Compared to Sashiko, a famous quilting technique in Japan, Kogin-zashi is rather embroidery work in which cotton yarn is stitched into the meshes on the fabric, which makes a geometrical pattern. See their beauty art and try to stitch.
The mystical Lake Towada offers beautiful panoramic views reflecting the surrounding
scenery of blue skies, verdant greens and a riot of autumnal colors on its serene surface.
There are several ways to explore, such as hiking on one of various trails, bike along the
lake shore or canoeing and kayaking.
Hirayama family was a farmer, which worked agricultural administration for feudal lords in
the area in the 19th century. So It is notable for its practically unaltered use of the scale and
style of the upper class farm houses of the Tsugaru region, the fact that the rear bedrooms
are separated, and the use of double joist beams and unique walls since it was
reconstructed following an earthquake in 1766.
It is characterized by three-dimensional and complex geometric patterns depicted by
wooden pieces together to create a finished panel without the use of glue, nails. See delicate
combination art and try to make it.
Tsugaru Ujoyaki pottery is evoked in the natural glazing of Ujoyaki, which is fired with red pine to weave a story of fire and clay.See the kilns and pottery workshops. There is a gallery,where there are a number of antique ceramics, which originally influenced the Tsugaru Ujoyaki pottery style. Of course, you can try to create pottery in the studio.
It is a big farmer's family residence in the area. Kusumi family was in the lumber business.
The house was constructed in 1892. In this house many exhibits are displayed, and these
remind us of the farmer's lifestyle of the 19th century.
The place performs exhibitions:Tsugaru-Shamisen(Aomori’s original instrument) and you can
have a light meal and coffee there.
Enjoy playing with nature and immersing yourself in the culture of the people who live there. Experience the best part of nature with all five senses, the excitement of interacting with colorful cultures.
Kogin embroidery is traditional needlework originally from Aomori. Its stylish designs feature beautiful diamond patterns. Kogin embroidery dates back to the Edo period (1603-1867). In the region the farmers were not allowed to wear cotton, so they lived in clothes of coarse linen. However the region has a harsh, frigid winter. Coarse linen provides little warmth, and it also frays when shouldering heavy baskets during farm work. The women began to sew with thread into coarse hemp clothes to reinforce them and hold in warmth. Eventually Kogin embroidery was born. After the period, the wearing of cotton was permitted and embroidering dyed indigo cloth with white cotton thread became mainstream. They began competing to draw the most beautiful patterns. It is said that there were over 300 kinds of patterns. Over the years, various geometric patterns passed down the generations. Kogin embroidery is beauty brought to life by the living wisdom of the women of Japan’s snow country.
Ms. Sato carries her favorite needle and thread even when she is out of the house, and even for a short time, she embroiders Kogin embroidery. Kogin embroidery takes on a beautiful shape little by little as time passes. She said “Predecessors took care about the end of the thread, and the reversed pattern is also beautiful! Great work even from behind.”
The delicate combination of linear parts to create 3D forms with a dream-like beauty. Beginning as an artform in the 8th century and remaining an active form of carpentry in Japan to this day, Kumiko is a uniquely Japanese style of woodwork.The process involves interconnecting carved wooden pieces together, in intricate patterns, to create a finished panel without the use of glue, nails, or any other external tools. Tsugaru traditional Kumiko is characterized by three-dimensional and complex geometric patterns depicted by carving grooves, holes, and tenons on finely sawed wood and combining numerous linear parts.
Mr Saito, who is a Tsugaru traditional Kumiko’s craftsman in Aomori, continues to explore potential new modes of expression. He believes it is necessary to evolve with the times. So he creates a wide range of products, such as interior decorations, paper lamps, partitioning screens, folding screens, spherical lampshades, and bags. He said “I want to craft unique pieces.” So he doesn’t want to make the same things repeatedly. That is why, he always steps to the next unique work.
On objects created by the potter using only materials existing in nature, melted ash of the Japanese red pine leaves mystic designs.That’s Tsugaru Ujoyaki pottery.
He was impressed by the Tokoname ware vase that was burned during the Heian period, and began pottery at the age of 26. Here in this land, Mr Imai pursues the ultimate expression of glaze without glaze,produced by the interaction of nature and humans. After nurturing a high-temperature flame in the kiln, the wood turns to ash and falls onto the works like snow. As the temperature in the kiln goes even higher, the ash melts into a vitreous entity. He has been into the process. He feels that I am depicting Earth’s creation. He said, “I want to make something crazy.” He aims to produce something intense. He said quietly, “Even imperfect pieces are treated as works of art.” “Even if only a fragment remains, I want it to be a work of art.” He is producing works with unwavering creativity.
