Not very far from the city center of Aomori, Japan’s largest bronze sitting Buddha statue is quietly sitting in the precinct of Seiryū-ji Temple (青龍寺). The statue is called Showa Daibutsu (昭和大仏). It is the statue of Vairocana (大日如来), completed in 1984. The gigantic statue weighs 220 tons and is 21.35 meters (27 meters if the pedestal is […]
Showa Daibutsu: The Best Temple to Visit in Aomori City Read More »
A-FACTORY (エーファクトリー) is a shopping complex opposite Nebuta Museum. The facility is filled with apple-themed products and has almost all of Aomori’s specialties. Located really close to Aomori Station, it is the perfect place for some last-minute souvenir shopping.
A-FACTORY: The Best Spot to Shop for Souvenir in Aomori Read More »
If you like to spend time in art galleries and museums, take a bus to the Aomori Museum of Art (青森県立美術館). The museum that is on the ground of the Sannai Maruyama Special Historical Site (三内丸山遺跡) is one of the top art museums in the northern Tohoku region (another facility that goes hand in hand
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If you are looking for a city in Japan with both breathtaking scenery and an artistic atmosphere, look no further than Towada City in Aomori Prefecture! In the center of the city, numerous statues complement the landmark of Towada, Towada Art Center. Not only are the artworks in the city all masterpieces from artists who
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When people talk about going to an art gallery, an image of a wide space with viewers appreciating various paintings and artworks will most likely pop into your head. However, at Towada Art Center (十和田市現代美術館) in Aomori‘s Towada City, this is not the case. Inside each exhibition room, only one piece of artwork is displayed.
Towada Art center: A Must-Visit Contemporary Art Museum in Aomori Read More »
Yokochō in Japanese means small alley with copious small eateries and bars great for gatherings and/or a drink after work. At Hachinohe, there are a total of eight Yokochō. Seven out of eight Yokochō have existed long ago since the Showa period. The Hachinohe Yataimura Miroku Yokochō (八戸屋台村みろく横丁), on the other hand, was only created
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Kakunodate, or Kakunodatemachi (角館町), is a town in Akita Prefecture that is known as “Michinoku no ko Kyoto (みちのくの小京都)”, or “Northeastern’s Little Kyoto”. The town used to be the home of the samurai stationed at Kakunodate Castle back in the Edo period (1603 – 1868). Even now, traces of the presence of the samurai remain
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While Kakunodate isn’t the most well-known cherry blossom destination in the Tōhoku Region, it is highly recommended. In addition to the cherry blossom in the town center, the cherry trees also lined the Kinokinai River (桧木内川) for two kilometers! Moreover, the cherry trees’ foliage also paints the town in vivid color when the temperature starts
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If you visit Sendai between late February and late March, head to Tsutsujigaoka Tenmangū Shrine (榴岡天満宮) to adore the lovely plum blossoms. Just like all the Tenmangū shrines in Japan, Tsutsujigaoka Tenmangū enshrines Sugawara no Michizane (菅原道真). Because plum blossom is Michizane’s favorite flower, plum trees are planted here and there in the shrine’s precinct.
Tsutsujigaoka Tenmangū and the Plum and Cherry Blossoms Read More »
One of the best attractions in Sendai that is scenic all year round is Zuihōden (瑞鳳殿), the mausoleum complex of Sendai Domain’s first lord, Date Masamune and his heirs. The temple’s precinct is filled with stunning nature, and the buildings are intricately decorated with vivid colors and various auspicious images. In fact, when Hanyu Yuzuru was asked for recommended places to visit in Sendai in
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