Suggested GranClass itinerary
The 3.5-hour Hayabusa service on the Tohoku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori offers full-service GranClass and the opportunity to discover a lesser-known part of Japan. Aomori is the northernmost prefecture of Honshu Island and boasts a variety of natural beauty and cultural heritage. It’s also the largest apple-producing region in Japan and hosts the famous summer festival of Nebuta Matsuri in August.
Sannai-Maruyama
The Sannai Maruyama Site is the largest and one of the best-preserved Jomon Period villages in Japan, inhabited for roughly 1,700 years between about 3900 and 2200 BC. The site once held more than 700 structures, including long pit dwellings, roads, tombs, and dwellings. Today, it remains an active excavation where scientists continue to make new discoveries, such as pottery, stone tools and clay figures, visible to visitors through observation windows in the museum.
Azumaya Honten
Azumaya in Morioka City has been serving soba the Iwate way since 1907, specialising in wanko soba, a tradition that embodies Japanese omotenashi hospitality. Guests eat the soba one bite at a time while cheerful servers encourage them with “Hai don don!” Each 15-bowl stack represents a standard serving, and diners who reach 100 bowls receive a
commemorative wooden plaque (Tegata), while all others receive a certificate noting their visit and how many bowls they finished.
Nanshoso
Built in 1885 as the residence of Morioka businessman Yasugoro Segawa, Nanshoso features a main house surrounded by a large traditional Japanese garden in the Chisen Kaiyu-shiki Teien style, visible through expansive windows. Opened to the public in 2000, the garden has welcomed more than 450,000 visitors.
Aomori Gyosai Center
Aomori Gyosai Center is a bustling market near Aomori Station is where visitors can create their own Nokkedon rice bowl by choosing from a wide variety of fresh local seafood and toppings.
Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse
Featuring full-sized illuminated floats and interactive cultural displays, Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse showcases the artistry and history of the Aomori Nebuta Festival.
A-FACTORY
Offering apple-based products, on-site cider production viewing, tastings, and a curated selection of Aomori-made foods and crafts, A-Factory is a stylish waterfront market complex is worth a visit.
Shirasawa Senbei Store
Shirasawa Senbei Store is a long-established shop renowned for handmade Nanbu senbei, traditional rice crackers crafted using time-honoured techniques and local ingredients.
Kamasada
Kamasada is a historic maker of Nanbu-tekki cast-ironware, producing refined, durable kettles and cookware that reflect traditional craftsmanship and minimalist Japanese design.
Where to stay: ReLabo Medical Spa & Stay
ReLabo Medica Spa & Stay offers spacious, bright rooms for those seeking luxury, along with a holistic range of wellness activities, therapies and dining. The facility features both shared and private onsen baths, with private sessions available by reservation, as well as a standard gym and a yoga studio. Guests can also opt for a dinner plan at En – Aomori French Gastronomy, which serves French cuisine made with local Aomori ingredients.
AloJapan.com