Aomori, Aomori
Encyclopedia
is the capital city
of Aomori Prefecture
, in the northern Tōhoku region
of Japan
. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population
of 302,068 and a density
of 366 persons per km². Its total area was 824.52 km².
.
The area has been settled extensively since prehistoric times, and numerous Jōmon period
sites have been found by archaeologists, the most famous being the Sannai-Maruyama Ruins located just southwest of the city center dating to 5500-4000 BC, and the Komakino site slightly further south dating to around 4000 BC. The large scale of these settlements revolutionized theories on Jōmon period civilization. During the Heian period
, the area was part of the holdings of the Northern Fujiwara
clan, but remained inhabited by the Emishi
people well into the historic period. After the fall of the Northern Fujiwara in the Kamakura period
, the territory was part of the domain assigned to the Nambu clan, and into the Sengoku period
, it came under the control of the rival Tsugaru clan
, whose main castle was located in Namioka
. After the start of the Edo period
, Aomori was a minor port settlement for Hirosaki Domain
called . The town was rebuilt in 1626 by Moriyama Yashichirō, under orders of the daimyō
, Tsugaru Nobuhira
and renamed Aomori, but the name did not come into common use until after 1783.
After the Meiji Restoration
the various domains were abolished
and replaced with prefectures
, a total of six in the territory of modern Aomori prefecture. These were merged into the short-lived Hirosaki Prefecture in July 1871. However, due to the historic enmity between the former Tsugaru territories in the west and the former Nambu territories in the east, the prefectural capital relocated from Hirosaki to the more centrally-located Aomori immediately after the merger and the prefecture was renamed Aomori prefecture on September 23, 1871. However, Aomori was not given town status within Higashitsugaru District until April 1, 1889, and was not designated a city until April 1, 1898.
The Hokkaidō Colonization Office
began operations of a ferry service from Aomori to Hakodate
in Hokkaidō from 1872. In September 1891, Aomori was connected with Tokyo
by rail with the opening of the Tōhoku Main Line. The Ōu Main Line
running along the Sea of Japan
coast opened in December 1894. The development of modern Aomori was primarily due to its prefectural capital status and the singular importance as the terminus of these rail lines and the Seikan Ferry, which officially opened in 1908. The 8th Division
of the Imperial Japanese Army
were stationed in Aomori from 1896. In the winter of 1902, 199 of 210 soldiers on a military cold-weather readiness exercise perished while attempting to cross the Hakkōda Mountains from Aomori to Hirosaki in what was later called the Hakkōda Mountains incident
.
Much of the town burned down in a large fire on May 3, 1910. The port facilities were expanded in 1924, and the city received its first bus services in 1926. Japan Air Transport
began scheduled air services from 1937.
Towards the final stages of World War II
, on July 28, 1945 Aomori was subject to an air raid
as part of the strategic bombing
campaign waged by the United States of America against military and civilian targets and population centers during the Japan home islands campaign
. The July 28 bombing
claimed 1,767 lives and destroyed 88% of the city.
In the post war period, Aomori rebuilt as the local political and commercial center. The Tsugaru Line railway opened in 1951, and Aomori Airport
in 1964. The city was connected to Tokyo by highway in 1979 with the opening of the Tōhoku Expressway
. Aomori’s landmark pyramidical Aomori Prefectural Tourist Center opened in 1986. On October 1, 2002, Aomori was proclaimed a core city
with increased autonomy from the central government.
On April 1, 2005, Aomori annexed the neighboring town of Namioka
.
, which it faces to the north and the Hakkōda Mountains to the south.
(Köppen
Dfa/Cfa), with monthly averages ranging from −1.4 C in January to 23 °C (73.4 °F) in August.
Aomori and its surrounding area are renowned for heavy snowfall, in fact the heaviest among all Japanese cities. In February 1945 the city recorded a maximum snow cover of 209 centimetres (82 in), but the extreme low of −24.7 C was recorded 14 years earlier. In contrast, Sapporo's heaviest snowfall occurred in 1939, and that was only 164 centimetres (65 in), and more northerly Wakkanai
has recorded similar maxima. The particularly heavy snow is caused by several winds that collide around the city that makes the air rise and cool, resulting in rapid, thick cloud formation followed by intense precipitation
.
In summer, a cool wind called Yamase frequently blows from the east, which sometimes results in abnormally cool weather and poor harvests. Additionally, thick fogs from the Oyashio Current
are often observed in mountainous areas in the summer. Due to this fog, flights to Aomori Airport
are often cancelled.
form only 4% of the city economy, with manufacturing forming 16.2% and the service sector forming 78.2%.
has been the main station of the city since 1891. The two trunk lines of the Tōhoku region, the Tōhoku Main Line (now Aoimori Railway) and the Ōu Main Line
, terminated at Aomori Station and were continued to Hakodate by the Seikan Ferry. In 1988, Seikan Tunnel
replaced the ferry, but the station was still the connecting point between main line trains and trains for Aomori-Hakodate section.
The Tōhoku Shinkansen
opened in 2010 with a new terminal at Shin-Aomori Station
. The Shinkansen provides High-speed service between , , , and .
. From 1908 to 1988 the ferry served as the primary transport between the island of Honshū
and the northern island of Hokkaidō. In March 1988, the Seikan Tunnel
opened up, travelling under the Tsugaru Strait
, this quickly replaced the slow-moving ferry as the primary transportation between the two islands.
. Besides this, major attractions of Aomori include ruins, museums, and mountains. The Hakkōda Mountains have good locations for trekking with hot spas (onsen
), such as Sukayu Onsen.
events, two in 2003 (including the Asian Winter Games
), and the local women's "Team Aomori
" was selected to represent Japan at the 2006 Winter Olympics
in Turin
, Italy
http://wcc2007-aomori.jp/english/aomori/curling.html and at the 2010 Winter Olympics
in Vancouver
, Canada
. From March 17–25, 2007, Aomori hosted the World Women's Curling Championshipshttp://wcc2007-aomori.jp/english/index.html.
, Hokkaidō
– since 1989 - Kecskemét
, Bács-Kiskun County, Hungary
– since 1994 - Pyeongtaek
, Gyeonggi-do
, South Korea
– since 1995 – Dairen, Liaoning
, China
– since 2004
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
of Aomori Prefecture
Aomori Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region. The capital is the city of Aomori.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Aomori prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....
, in the northern Tōhoku region
Tohoku region
The is a geographical area of Japan. The region occupies the northeastern portion of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region consists of six prefectures : Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata....
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 302,068 and a density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 366 persons per km². Its total area was 824.52 km².
History
Aomori literally means green forest. The name is generally considered to refer to a small forest on a hill which existed near the town. This forest was often used by fishermen as a landmark. A different theory suggests the name might have been derived from the Ainu languageAinu language
Ainu is one of the Ainu languages, spoken by members of the Ainu ethnic group on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidō....
.
The area has been settled extensively since prehistoric times, and numerous Jōmon period
Jomon period
The is the time in Japanese prehistory from about 14,000 BC to 300 BC.The term jōmon means "cord-patterned" in Japanese. This refers to the pottery style characteristic of the Jōmon culture, and which has markings made using sticks with cords wrapped around them...
sites have been found by archaeologists, the most famous being the Sannai-Maruyama Ruins located just southwest of the city center dating to 5500-4000 BC, and the Komakino site slightly further south dating to around 4000 BC. The large scale of these settlements revolutionized theories on Jōmon period civilization. During the Heian period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
, the area was part of the holdings of the Northern Fujiwara
Northern Fujiwara
The Northern Fujiwara were a Japanese noble family that ruled the Tōhoku region of Japan from the 12th to the 13th centuries as if it were their own realm. They succeeded the semi-independent Emishi families of the 11th century who were gradually brought down by the Minamoto clan loyal to the...
clan, but remained inhabited by the Emishi
Emishi
The constituted a group of people who lived in northeastern Honshū in the Tōhoku region. They are referred to as in contemporary sources. Some Emishi tribes resisted the rule of the Japanese Emperors during the late Nara and early Heian periods...
people well into the historic period. After the fall of the Northern Fujiwara in the Kamakura period
Kamakura period
The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura Shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo....
, the territory was part of the domain assigned to the Nambu clan, and into the Sengoku period
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
, it came under the control of the rival Tsugaru clan
Tsugaru clan
The was a Japanese samurai clan originating in northern Japan, specifically Mutsu Province . A branch of the local Nanbu clan, the Tsugaru rose to power during the Azuchi-Momoyama period. It was on the winning side of the Battle of Sekigahara, and entered the Edo period as a family of lords ...
, whose main castle was located in Namioka
Namioka, Aomori
was a town located in Minamitsugaru District in central Aomori Prefecture, Japan.Namioka Town was located in the plains of central Aomori prefecture, bordered by the Ōu Mountains to the east. The area was part of Hirosaki Domain during the Edo period. In 1889, after the Meiji Restoration, Namioka...
. After the start of the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
, Aomori was a minor port settlement for Hirosaki Domain
Hirosaki Domain
The ' was a Japanese domain of the Edo period, located in northern Mutsu Province . It was ruled by the Tsugaru clan...
called . The town was rebuilt in 1626 by Moriyama Yashichirō, under orders of the daimyō
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
, Tsugaru Nobuhira
Tsugaru Nobuhira
was the 2nd daimyō of Hirosaki Domain in northern Mutsu Province, Honshū, Japan . His courtesy title was Etchū-no-kami.-Biography:Tsugaru Noruhira was born as the 3rd son of Tsugaru Tamenobu, head of the Tsugaru clan...
and renamed Aomori, but the name did not come into common use until after 1783.
After the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
the various domains were abolished
Abolition of the han system
The was an act, in 1871, of the new Meiji government of the Empire of Japan to replace the traditional feudal domain system and to introduce centralized government authority . This process marked the culmination of the Meiji Restoration in that all daimyo were required to return their authority...
and replaced with prefectures
Prefectures of Japan
The prefectures of Japan are the country's 47 subnational jurisdictions: one "metropolis" , Tokyo; one "circuit" , Hokkaidō; two urban prefectures , Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 other prefectures . In Japanese, they are commonly referred to as...
, a total of six in the territory of modern Aomori prefecture. These were merged into the short-lived Hirosaki Prefecture in July 1871. However, due to the historic enmity between the former Tsugaru territories in the west and the former Nambu territories in the east, the prefectural capital relocated from Hirosaki to the more centrally-located Aomori immediately after the merger and the prefecture was renamed Aomori prefecture on September 23, 1871. However, Aomori was not given town status within Higashitsugaru District until April 1, 1889, and was not designated a city until April 1, 1898.
The Hokkaidō Colonization Office
Ministry of Colonial Affairs
The was a cabinet-level ministry in the government of the Empire of Japan from 1923-1942.-History:The original Ministry of Colonial Affairs was the short-lived Hokkaidō Colonization Office, established in the early Meiji period by Prime Minister Kuroda Kiyotaka to protect Japan's sparely populated...
began operations of a ferry service from Aomori to Hakodate
Hakodate, Hokkaido
is a city and port located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture.Hakodate was Japan's first city whose port was opened to foreign trade in 1854 as a result of Convention of Kanagawa, and used to be the most important port in northern Japan...
in Hokkaidō from 1872. In September 1891, Aomori was connected with Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
by rail with the opening of the Tōhoku Main Line. The Ōu Main Line
Ou Main Line
The is a railway line in Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company . It runs from Fukushima Station in Fukushima, Fukushima through Akita Station in Akita, Akita to Aomori Station in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture...
running along the Sea of Japan
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
coast opened in December 1894. The development of modern Aomori was primarily due to its prefectural capital status and the singular importance as the terminus of these rail lines and the Seikan Ferry, which officially opened in 1908. The 8th Division
8th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call-sign was the .-History:The 8th Infantry Division was formed on 1 October 1898, as one of the six new reserve divisions created after the First Sino-Japanese War. It consisted of troops from the Tōhoku region of Japan, primarily Aomori...
of the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
were stationed in Aomori from 1896. In the winter of 1902, 199 of 210 soldiers on a military cold-weather readiness exercise perished while attempting to cross the Hakkōda Mountains from Aomori to Hirosaki in what was later called the Hakkōda Mountains incident
Hakkoda Mountains incident
The Hakkōda Mountains incident occurred on January 23, 1902, when a large group of Japanese soldiers on a training exercise became trapped on a mountain range, causing many of them to die....
.
Much of the town burned down in a large fire on May 3, 1910. The port facilities were expanded in 1924, and the city received its first bus services in 1926. Japan Air Transport
Japan Air Transport
was the national airline of the Empire of Japan from 1928 to 1938.-History:Commercial aviation began in Japan with the privately-held Japan Air Transport Institute, which pioneered passenger service between Sakai, Osaka and Tokushima on Shikoku island on 3 November 1922.On 30 October 1928, the...
began scheduled air services from 1937.
Towards the final stages of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, on July 28, 1945 Aomori was subject to an air raid
Strategic bombing
Strategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability and public will to wage war rather than destroying its land or naval forces...
as part of the strategic bombing
Strategic bombing
Strategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability and public will to wage war rather than destroying its land or naval forces...
campaign waged by the United States of America against military and civilian targets and population centers during the Japan home islands campaign
Japan campaign
The Japan Campaign was a series of battles and engagements in and around the Japanese Home Islands, between Allied forces and the forces of Imperial Japan during the last stages of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. The Japan Campaign lasted from around June 1944 to August 1945.-Air war:Periodic...
. The July 28 bombing
Bombing of Aomori in World War II
The on July 28, 1945 was part of the strategic bombing campaign waged by the United States of America against military and civilian targets and population centers during the Japan home islands campaign in the closing stages of World War II.-Background:...
claimed 1,767 lives and destroyed 88% of the city.
In the post war period, Aomori rebuilt as the local political and commercial center. The Tsugaru Line railway opened in 1951, and Aomori Airport
Aomori Airport
is a regional airport located south southwest of Aomori Station in Aomori, a city in the Aomori Prefecture of Japan.-History:The first Aomori Airport was opened in 1964, in the town of Namioka, with a single 1200 x 30 meter runway designed for use with the NAMC YS-11 aircraft...
in 1964. The city was connected to Tokyo by highway in 1979 with the opening of the Tōhoku Expressway
Tohoku Expressway
The is a national expressway in Japan. It is owned by Japan Expressway Holding and Debt Repayment Agency and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Naming:Tōhoku refers to the Tōhoku region, the northernmost region on the island of Honshū....
. Aomori’s landmark pyramidical Aomori Prefectural Tourist Center opened in 1986. On October 1, 2002, Aomori was proclaimed a core city
Core city
A is a class of Japanese city created by the first clause of Article 252, Section 22 of the Local Autonomy Law of Japan. Core cities are delegated many functions normally carried out by prefectural governments, but not as many as designated cities...
with increased autonomy from the central government.
On April 1, 2005, Aomori annexed the neighboring town of Namioka
Namioka, Aomori
was a town located in Minamitsugaru District in central Aomori Prefecture, Japan.Namioka Town was located in the plains of central Aomori prefecture, bordered by the Ōu Mountains to the east. The area was part of Hirosaki Domain during the Edo period. In 1889, after the Meiji Restoration, Namioka...
.
Geography
Aomori is located in central Aomori Prefecture, between the southern end of Mutsu BayMutsu Bay
is a bay inside Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It includes three bays; Aomori Bay, Noheji Bay and Ōminato Bay. Mutsu Bay covers about 1660 km². The culture of scallops is prosperous in the bay....
, which it faces to the north and the Hakkōda Mountains to the south.
Neighbouring municipalities
- KuroishiKuroishi, Aomoriis a city located in northeastern Aomori in Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 36,675 and a density of 169 persons per km². Its total area was 216.96 km².-Geography:Kuroishi is located in west-central Aomori Prefecture...
, GoshogawaraGoshogawara, Aomoriis a city located in northeastern Aomori in Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 59,395 and a density of 147persons per km². Its total area was 404.56 km².-Geography:...
, TowadaTowada, Aomoriis a city located in central Aomori in Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 65,818 and a density of 90.7 persons per km². Its total area was 725.67 km², making it the largest municipality in Aomori Prefecture in terms of area.-Geography:Towada is located in...
, HirakawaHirakawa, Aomoriis a city located in south-central Aomori Prefecture, Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 34,040 and a density of 98.4 persons per km². Its total area was 345.81 km².-Geography:... - Kitatsugaru DistrictKitatsugaru District, Aomoriis a district located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 59,751 and a density of 110.21 persons per km²...
– ItayanagiItayanagi, Aomoriis a town located in the Kitatsugaru District of northeastern Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the town had an estimated population of 15,404 and a density of 368 persons per km². Its total area was 41.81 km².-Geography:... - Minamitsugaru DistrictMinamitsugaru District, Aomoriis a district located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 93,748 and a density of 133.76 persons per km²...
– FujisakiFujisaki, Aomoriis a town located in the Minamitsugaru District of east-central Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the town had an estimated population of 16,055 and a density of 431 persons per km². Its total area was 37.26 km².-Geography:... - Higashitsugaru DistrictHigashitsugaru District, Aomoriis a district located in Aomori, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 29,235 and a density of 44.79 persons per km². The total area is 652.72 km².-Towns and villages:*Hiranai*Imabetsu*Sotogahama*Yomogita-Merger:...
– HiranaiHiranai, Aomoriis a town located in the Higashitsugaru District of northeastern Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the town had an estimated population of 12,470and a density of 57.5 persons per km². Its total area was 217.00 km².-Geography:...
, YomogitaYomogita, Aomoriis a village located in the Higashitsugaru District of northeastern Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the village had an estimated population of 3,251 and a density of 40.3 persons per km². Its total area was 80.60 km².-Geography:... - Kamikita DistrictKamikita District, Aomoriis a district located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It occupies the east-central portion of the prefecture, south of Shimokita Peninsula.As of 2010, the district has an estimated population of 100,526 and a density of 78.5 persons per km². The total area was 1281.05 km².- Towns and villages...
– ShichinoheShichinohe, Aomoriis a town located in the Kamikita District of northeastern Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the town had an estimated population of 17,445 and a density of 51.7 persons per km². Its total area was 337.23 km².-Geography:...
Climate
Like most of Tōhoku, Aomori has a humid temperate climate with warm summers, and cold, though not extreme, winters. The city lies near the midpoint of the transition between a humid continental and humid subtropical climateHumid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
(Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Dfa/Cfa), with monthly averages ranging from −1.4 C in January to 23 °C (73.4 °F) in August.
Aomori and its surrounding area are renowned for heavy snowfall, in fact the heaviest among all Japanese cities. In February 1945 the city recorded a maximum snow cover of 209 centimetres (82 in), but the extreme low of −24.7 C was recorded 14 years earlier. In contrast, Sapporo's heaviest snowfall occurred in 1939, and that was only 164 centimetres (65 in), and more northerly Wakkanai
Wakkanai, Hokkaido
is a city located in Sōya, Hokkaidō. It is the capital of Sōya Subprefecture and the northernmost city in Japan. It contains Japan's northernmost point, Cape Soya, from which the Russian island of Sakhalin can be seen....
has recorded similar maxima. The particularly heavy snow is caused by several winds that collide around the city that makes the air rise and cool, resulting in rapid, thick cloud formation followed by intense precipitation
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
.
In summer, a cool wind called Yamase frequently blows from the east, which sometimes results in abnormally cool weather and poor harvests. Additionally, thick fogs from the Oyashio Current
Oyashio Current
, also known as Oya Siwo, Okhotsk or the Kurile current, is a cold subarctic ocean current that flows south and circulates counterclockwise in the western North Pacific Ocean. It collides with the Kuroshio Current off the eastern shore of Japan to form the North Pacific Current...
are often observed in mountainous areas in the summer. Due to this fog, flights to Aomori Airport
Aomori Airport
is a regional airport located south southwest of Aomori Station in Aomori, a city in the Aomori Prefecture of Japan.-History:The first Aomori Airport was opened in 1964, in the town of Namioka, with a single 1200 x 30 meter runway designed for use with the NAMC YS-11 aircraft...
are often cancelled.
Economy
Aomori serves as the regional commercial center for central Aomori prefecture. Agriculture and commercial fishingCommercial fishing
Commercial fishing is the activity of catching fish and other seafood for commercial profit, mostly from wild fisheries. It provides a large quantity of food to many countries around the world, but those who practice it as an industry must often pursue fish far into the ocean under adverse conditions...
form only 4% of the city economy, with manufacturing forming 16.2% and the service sector forming 78.2%.
Airports
- Aomori AirportAomori Airportis a regional airport located south southwest of Aomori Station in Aomori, a city in the Aomori Prefecture of Japan.-History:The first Aomori Airport was opened in 1964, in the town of Namioka, with a single 1200 x 30 meter runway designed for use with the NAMC YS-11 aircraft...
- (established in 1964 with international flights from 1995) is about a 30 minute drive from the city, with bus service available. There are flights to Tokyo, Osaka, NagoyaChubu Centrair International Airportis an airport on an artificial island in Ise Bay, Tokoname City in Aichi Prefecture, south of Nagoya in central Japan.Centrair is classified as a first class airport and is the main international gateway for the Chūbu region of Japan...
, Sapporo, and Seoul, South KoreaSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.
Railways
Aomori StationAomori Station
is a railway station located in Aomori, Aomori, Japan. The station opened on 1 September 1891.-Lines:Aomori Station is served by the following lines.*Ōu Main Line *Tsugaru-Kaikyō Line *Aoimori Railway Line...
has been the main station of the city since 1891. The two trunk lines of the Tōhoku region, the Tōhoku Main Line (now Aoimori Railway) and the Ōu Main Line
Ou Main Line
The is a railway line in Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company . It runs from Fukushima Station in Fukushima, Fukushima through Akita Station in Akita, Akita to Aomori Station in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture...
, terminated at Aomori Station and were continued to Hakodate by the Seikan Ferry. In 1988, Seikan Tunnel
Seikan Tunnel
The Seikan Tunnel is a railway tunnel in Japan, with a long portion under the seabed. Track level is about below seabed and below sea level. It travels beneath the Tsugaru Strait—connecting Aomori Prefecture on the Japanese island of Honshu and the island of Hokkaido—as part of the Kaikyo Line...
replaced the ferry, but the station was still the connecting point between main line trains and trains for Aomori-Hakodate section.
The Tōhoku Shinkansen
Tohoku Shinkansen
The is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen rail line, connecting Tokyo with Aomori in Aomori Prefecture for a total length of 674 km, Japan's longest Shinkansen line. It runs through the more sparsely populated Tōhoku region of Japan's main island Honshu. It has two spur lines, Yamagata...
opened in 2010 with a new terminal at Shin-Aomori Station
Shin-Aomori Station
is a railway station on the East Japan Railway Company northern Ōu Main Line located in the city of Aomori, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It is 480.6 rail kilometers from the southern terminus of the Ōu Main Line at Fukushima Station...
. The Shinkansen provides High-speed service between , , , and .
- East Japan Railway CompanyEast Japan Railway Companyis the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
(JR East) - Tōhoku ShinkansenTohoku ShinkansenThe is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen rail line, connecting Tokyo with Aomori in Aomori Prefecture for a total length of 674 km, Japan's longest Shinkansen line. It runs through the more sparsely populated Tōhoku region of Japan's main island Honshu. It has two spur lines, Yamagata...
(opened December 4, 2010)- Station in the city:
- JR East - Ōu Main LineOu Main LineThe is a railway line in Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company . It runs from Fukushima Station in Fukushima, Fukushima through Akita Station in Akita, Akita to Aomori Station in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture...
- Stations in the city: , Shin-Aomori, , , ,
- JR East - Tsugaru Line
- Stations in the city: Aomori, , , , , ,
- Aoimori Railway Line
- Stations in the city: Aomori, , , , ,
Highways
- Tōhoku ExpresswayTohoku ExpresswayThe is a national expressway in Japan. It is owned by Japan Expressway Holding and Debt Repayment Agency and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Naming:Tōhoku refers to the Tōhoku region, the northernmost region on the island of Honshū....
- Aomori ExpresswayAomori ExpresswayThe is a 2-laned national expressway in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Overview:The expressway is officially referred to as the Tōhoku Jūkan Expressway Hachinohe Route....
- Japan National Route 4
- Japan National Route 7
- Japan National Route 101
- Japan National Route 103
- Japan National Route 280
- Japan National Route 394
Seaports
The Seikan Ferry operates ferries to Hakodate. It takes about four hours to go by ferry from Aomori to Hakodate. The ferry was initially run by the Ministry of Railroads but was later taken over by Japanese National RailwaysJapanese National Railways
, abbreviated or "JNR", was the national railway network of Japan from 1949 to 1987.-History:The term Kokuyū Tetsudō "state-owned railway" originally referred to a network of railway lines operated by nationalized companies under the control of the Railway Institute following the nationalization...
. From 1908 to 1988 the ferry served as the primary transport between the island of Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
and the northern island of Hokkaidō. In March 1988, the Seikan Tunnel
Seikan Tunnel
The Seikan Tunnel is a railway tunnel in Japan, with a long portion under the seabed. Track level is about below seabed and below sea level. It travels beneath the Tsugaru Strait—connecting Aomori Prefecture on the Japanese island of Honshu and the island of Hokkaido—as part of the Kaikyo Line...
opened up, travelling under the Tsugaru Strait
Tsugaru Strait
is a channel between Honshu and Hokkaido in northern Japan connecting the Sea of Japan with the Pacific Ocean. It was named after the western part of Aomori Prefecture...
, this quickly replaced the slow-moving ferry as the primary transportation between the two islands.
Sightseeing
Aomori Nebuta is a famous festival performed from August 2 to August 7 every year and is one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan100 Soundscapes of Japan
In 1996, as part of its efforts to combat noise pollution and to protect and promote the environment, the Ministry of the Environment designated the . 738 submissions were received from all over the country and the 100 'best' were selected after examination by the Japan Soundscape Study Group...
. Besides this, major attractions of Aomori include ruins, museums, and mountains. The Hakkōda Mountains have good locations for trekking with hot spas (onsen
Onsen
An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...
), such as Sukayu Onsen.
- Asamushi Aquarium
- Asamushi OnsenAsamushi Onsenis an onsen resort in the city of Aomori, Aomori Prefecture.-Transportation:The resort is served by Asamushi-Onsen Station on the Tōhoku Main Line. Guests arriving by automobile can take Route 4; the trip from the center of Aomori takes about 30 minutes.-Resort:Two attractions include the Asamushi...
- Aomori City Forestry Museum
- Aomori Prefectural Folk Museum
- Aomori City History and Folk Arts Museum
- Munakata Shiko Memorial Museum of Art
- Nebuta-no-sato Museum
- Sannai-Maruyama Ruins
- Seiryū-jiSeiryu-jiis a Kōyasan Betsuin located in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture. The temple was founded by a Great Acharya , who later built in 1984. Roughly 21.35 meters in height, it is the tallest seated bronze figure of Buddha in Japan.-External links:...
Sport
Aomori has hosted several international curlingCurling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
events, two in 2003 (including the Asian Winter Games
Asian Winter Games
The Asian Winter Games is a multi-sport event held every four years for members of the Olympic Council of Asia which features winter events. The Japanese Olympic Committee first suggested the idea of holding a winter version of the Asian Games in 1982...
), and the local women's "Team Aomori
Team Aomori
Team Aomori , also called the Curling Musume is the women's curling team of Aomori, Japan. The Team is Japanese Champions 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. It was selected to represent Japan at the 2006 Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics.-References:* *...
" was selected to represent Japan at the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
http://wcc2007-aomori.jp/english/aomori/curling.html and at the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. From March 17–25, 2007, Aomori hosted the World Women's Curling Championshipshttp://wcc2007-aomori.jp/english/index.html.
Education
Aomori is the only prefectural capital in Japan which has no national university, instead, nearby Hirosaki became the site for the prefecture's highest educational facility.Universities and colleges
- Aomori Public CollegeAomori Public Collegeis a public university in the city of Aomori, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. The school was established in 1993.-Faculty of Management and Economics:This Faculty includes the following departments:*Department of Management*Department of Economics...
- Aomori University of Health and WelfareAomori University of Health and Welfareis a public university in the city of Aomori, Aomori Prefecture Japan. The school was established in 1999. The school is a Facility of Heath Sciences, with departments of nursing, physical therapy and social welfare.Welcome - Greetings from the President's Office...
- Aomori UniversityAomori Universityis a private university located in the city of Aomori, Japan, founded in 1968.-External links:...
- Aomori Chuo Gakuin UniversityAomori Chuo Gakuin Universityis a private university in the city of Aomori, Aomori Prefecture Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1946 as a junior college, and it became a four-year college in 1998.-External links:*...
- Aomori Junior CollegeAomori Junior Collegeis one of the privatejunior Colleges located in the city of Aomori in Japan. It is established in 1962, now attached to Aomori University.-Available certifications :* You can obtain Professional certification of Child care person in Course of child....
- Aomori Akenohoshi Junior CollegeAomori Akenohoshi Junior Collegeis a 2-year private women's junior college in Aomori, Japan. The university was established in 1963, and is descended from an art school established in 1937...
- Aomori Chuo Junior CollegeAomori Chuo Junior Collegeis a private junior college located in the city of Aomori, Japan. Originally a women's college, it became coeducation in April, 1974.-Departments:* Department of Food Nutrition* Department of Early Education* Department Nursing* Department of Caregiving...
High schools
- Aomori Prefectural Aomori High SchoolAomori Prefectural Aomori High SchoolThe is a high school in the city of Aomori, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.Originally a Junior High School named the , the school was established on September 11, 1900....
- Aomori Prefectural Aomori Chūō High School
- Aomori Prefectural Aomori Higashi High School
- Aomori Prefectural Aomori Kita High School
- Aomori Prefectural Aomori Hokuto High School
- Aomori Prefectural Aomori Kōgyō High School
- Aomori Prefectural Aomori Minami High School
- Aomori Prefectural Aomori Nishi High School
- Aomori Prefectural Aomori Shōgyō High School
- Aomori Prefectural Aomori Toyama High School
- Aomori Akenohoshi High School
- Aomori Yamada High School
- Tōō Gakuen High School
Junior high schools
- Aburakawa Junior High School
- Arakawa Junior High School
- Asamushi Junior High School
- Furukawa Junior High School
- Higashi Junior High School
- Kita Junior High School
- Koda Junior High School
- Minami junior High School
- Namioka Junior High School
- Namiuchi Junior High School
- Nishi Junior High School
- Okidate Junior High School
- Sannai Junior High School
- Shinjo Junior High School
- Takada Junior High School
- Toyama Junior High School
- Tsukuda Junior High School
- Tsukurimichi Junior High School
- Tsutsui Junior High School
- Uramachi Junior High School
- Yokouchi Junior High School
Notables from Aomori
- Noriko AwayaNoriko Awayawas a Japanese female Soprano chanson and popular music singer. She has been dubbed the "Queen of Blues" in Japan.- Life and career :...
– singer - Takaharu FurukawaTakaharu Furukawais an athlete from Japan. He competes in archery.Furukawa competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in men's individual archery. He won his first match, advancing to the round of 32. In the second round of elimination, he was defeated. His final rank was 22nd overall. Furukawa was also a member of...
– archer - Takanori HatakeyamaTakanori Hatakeyamais a former professional boxer.Hatakeyama turned pro in 1993 and captured the WBA Super Featherweight Title in 1998 with a majority decision win over Yong Soo Choi. He lost the belt in 1999 to Lakva Sim via TKO, and moved up in weight to capture the WBA Lightweight Title with a TKO win over...
– professional boxer - Yuji Hayami – science-fiction writer
- Shigeru IzumiyaShigeru IzumiyaShigeru Izumiya is a Japanese poet, folk singer, actor, tarento. He established record company "For Life Records" with Takuro Yoshida, Yosui Inoue, Hitoshi Komuro in 1975...
– entertainer - Yaho KitabatakeYaho Kitabatakewas a poet and children's fiction writer in Showa period Japan.-Early life:Kitabatake Yaho was born in Aomori city, Aomori Prefecture as the sixth of ten children. After her graduation from high school, she moved to Tokyo and attended the Jissen Women's University, but was forced to drop out due...
– children's fiction writer - Ichirō KojimaIchiro Kojimawas a renowned Japanese photographer.-References:...
– photographer - Keizo MiuraKeizo Miurawas a Japanese skiing legend. He was a skiing teacher and photographer of mountain landscapes. He was notable for his fitness and outdoor-sport undertakings at advanced age; he was the oldest person to climb the Kilimanjaro, at age 77 and descended a Gletscher of the Mont Blanc at age 99 together...
– skier - Yuichiro MiuraYuichiro Miurais a Japanese alpinist who in 2003, at age 70, became the oldest person to reach the summit of Mount Everest. This record was later broken. However, on May 26 2008, Miura once again successfully summited Mt Everest at the age of 75....
– skier - Shiko MunakataShiko Munakata, was a woodblock printmaker active in Shōwa period Japan. He is associated with the sosaku hanga movement and the mingei movement. Munakata was awarded the "Prize of Excellence" at the Second International Print Exhibition in Lugano, Switzerland in 1952...
– woodblock artist - Hitoshi SaitoHitoshi Saitois a retired judoka who won two consecutive gold medals at the Olympic games.-Biography:Saito began judo in junior-high school, and in 1974, he was scouted to transfer to the Kokushikan junior-high school, located in Setagaya, Tokyo. He continued to practice judo at the Kokushikan high school, and...
– judoka - Kyoichi SawadaKyoichi Sawadawas a Japanese photographer with United Press International who received the 1966 Pulitzer Prize for Photography for his combat photography of the Vietnam War during 1965. Two of these photographs were selected as "World Press Photos of the Year" in 1965 and 1966. The 1965 photograph shows a...
– photographer - Akimitsu TakagiAkimitsu Takagi, was the pen-name of a popular Japanese crime fiction writer active during the Showa period of Japan. His real name was Takagi Seiichi.-Biography:...
– crime fiction writer - Bushuyama TakashiBushuyama Takashiis a Japanese sumo wrestler from Aomori, Aomori Prefecture. He made his professional debut in January 1999. At the age of 32, he was promoted to the top makuuchi division in the November 2008 tournament...
– sumo wrestler - Kiyoshi TanabeKiyoshi TanabeKiyoshi Tanabe is a former professional boxer, and olympic boxing bronze medalist.-Biography:...
– professional boxer - Shūji TerayamaShuji Terayamawas an avant-garde Japanese poet, dramatist, writer, film director, and photographer. According to many critics and supporters, he was one of the most productive and provocative creative artists to come out of Japan. He was born December 10, 1935, the only son of Hachiro and Hatsu Terayama in...
– modern artist - Takanosato ToshihideTakanosato ToshihideTakanosato Toshihide was a sumo wrestler from Namioka, Aomori, Japan. He was the sport's 59th Yokozuna from 1983 to 1986 and won four top division tournament championships...
– sumo wrestler - Akiko YanoAkiko Yanois a Japanese pop and jazz musician and singer. She was born as Akiko Suzuki in Tokyo and raised in Aomori, Aomori, and later began her singing career in the mid-1970s...
– singer-songwriter - Daisuke MatsuzakaDaisuke Matsuzakais a Japanese professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball in the United States. He previously played for the Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League. He was selected the MVP of the inaugural and the second World Baseball Classic, and is an Olympic bronze...
– Baseball player
Sister city relations
- HakodateHakodate, Hokkaido
is a city and port located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture.Hakodate was Japan's first city whose port was opened to foreign trade in 1854 as a result of Convention of Kanagawa, and used to be the most important port in northern Japan...
, Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
– since 1989 - Kecskemét
Kecskemét
Kecskemét is a city in the central part of Hungary. It is the 8th largest city of the country, and the county seat of Bács-Kiskun.Kecskemét lies halfway between the capital Budapest and the country's third-largest city, Szeged, 86 kilometres from both of them and almost equal distance from the two...
, Bács-Kiskun County, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
– since 1994 - Pyeongtaek
Pyeongtaek
Pyeongtaek is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Located in the southwestern part of the province, Pyeongtaek was founded as a union of two districts in 940 AD, during the Goryeo dynasty. It was elevated to city status in 1986, and is home to a South Korean naval base and a large...
, Gyeonggi-do
Gyeonggi-do
Gyeonggi-do is the most populous province in South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Suwon. Seoul—South Korea's largest city and national capital—is located in the heart of the province, but has been separately administered as a provincial-level special city since 1946...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
– since 1995 – Dairen, Liaoning
Liaoning
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the northeast of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "辽" , a name taken from the Liao River that flows through the province. "Níng" means "peace"...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
– since 2004
External links
- Official website in English
- Official website in Japanese
- The 5th Winter Asian Games AOMORI 2003
- Sannai-Maruyama Site official website
- Pictures of Aomori, Japan ( Aomori city, Aomori Bay Bridge )
- Photos, report and advice about Nebuta Matsuri, Aomori's famous festival (one of the most famous festivals in Japan)