Aomori Prefecture, Administrative region in northern Honshu, Japan
Aomori Prefecture sits at the northernmost point of Honshu island and stretches across varied terrain between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan. The landscape includes coastal plains, volcanic mountains, forested hills, and deep valleys that show different vegetation and weather conditions throughout the year.
The administrative area came into existence in September 1871 and evolved from the former Mutsu Province into an important part of northern Japan. This change followed the Meiji Restoration and brought a new political structure to a region that had been under feudal rule for centuries.
The Nebuta Matsuri festival fills the city streets with large illuminated paper floats depicting warriors and mythological figures during summer celebrations. Visitors can join the processions and watch local people dance around the giant floats to flute music and drums.
The Tohoku Shinkansen connects Tokyo to the area through Shin-Aomori Station, while local trains and buses reach smaller towns and natural sites. Winter months bring heavy snowfall, especially in the mountains and western coastal areas, which can make movement more difficult.
This area produces more than half of the Japanese apple harvest, with orchards spreading across valleys and gentle slopes below Mount Iwaki. The trees bloom in late spring and harvest time begins in autumn, when the apples develop a particularly sweet taste.
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