Two days in Aomori: two sights from one base
Stay one Aomori night for Nebuta and Jomon history, or one Hirosaki night for park walks and City Museum. Both visit one main sight each day without moving accommodation. Choose site visits around return buses and museum visits around exhibition dates/closures.
Choose an itinerary for 2 days / 1 night
Two days: Nebuta on arrival, Jomon history the next day
Stay one night in Aomori, seeing station-front Nebuta displays on day 1 and Jomon history on day 2. Choose this plan to visit both without moving accommodation.
Two days: Nebuta on arrival, Jomon history the next day →2 days / 1 nightTwo days: Hirosaki Park and City Museum
Stay one night near Hirosaki Station. See castle gates and moats on day 1 and city-museum displays on day 2, walking between the station and park on both days.
Two days: Hirosaki Park and City Museum →Two days: Nebuta on arrival, Jomon history the next day
Stay one night in Aomori, seeing station-front Nebuta displays on day 1 and Jomon history on day 2. Choose this plan to visit both without moving accommodation.
Day 1 · WA RASSE Nebuta displays and the waterfront
Nebuta Museum WA RASSE · ねぶたの家 ワ・ラッセ
On arrival, visit the indoor exhibition near the station, then relax by the water.
- Aomori Station → WA RASSE
Walk towards the waterfront east of the station. WA RASSE is about one minute away on foot; adult exhibition admission is JPY 620.
- WA RASSE exhibition → Waterfront walk and Aomori accommodation
See the Nebuta displays, then take a short waterfront walk in good weather. Closing is 19:00 May–August and 18:00 September–April, with last admission 30 minutes earlier. For late arrival, start with the waterfront. Moving WA RASSE to after tomorrow’s historical-site visit requires time for both last admission and your booked departure train. If time is short, skip the exhibition and deduct its admission.
Check official operating notices for temporary closures on your date.
Day 2 · Jomon history indoors and outdoors
Sannai-Maruyama Historical Site · 三内丸山遺跡
See pottery, clay figurines and displays recreating daily life, then explore the outdoor site. Start indoors if it rains.
- Aomori Station west-side stop 2 → Sannai-Maruyama site bus stop
Take Nebutan-go to 三内丸山遺跡前. Each adult ride costs JPY 300. Regular and specified dates have different timetables, so check both journeys for your visit before leaving.
Nebutan-go regular timetable and stop map for 2026Nebutan-go specified-date calendar for 2026Nebutan-go fares
- Bus-stop roundabout → Jomon Jiyukan and the outdoor site
Walk about one minute to Jomon Jiyukan’s ticketing/entrance signs; entry to the site is through this building. General admission costs JPY 500 and covers the outdoor site and permanent exhibition. Take breaks as needed; special exhibitions and experiences cost extra.
Prefectural transport walking guidanceNebutan-go operations and timetablesHistorical-site facility guidance
- Red Nebutan-go sign outside the site → Aomori Station
Return to the same stop outside the site for an Aomori Station-bound bus. Distinguish it from the municipal bus stop and Shin-Aomori-bound services. Return buses may be infrequent; organise viewing and meals around your chosen service.
Bus-stop and entrance mapNebutan-go regular timetable and stop map for 2026
Open 09:00–17:00, until 18:00 during Golden Week and June–September. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. Check closure dates on the official calendar.
Included: WA RASSE JPY 620; permanent exhibition including outdoor site JPY 500; two Nebutan-go rides at JPY 300 each, JPY 600 return.
Extra costs and conditions: One Aomori night, meals, airport/Shin-Aomori connections, trains before/after the itinerary, luggage storage, special exhibitions and experiences.
Official admission pricesSite permanent exhibition and admissionNebutan-go fares
Two days: Hirosaki Park and City Museum
Stay one night near Hirosaki Station. See castle gates and moats on day 1 and city-museum displays on day 2, walking between the station and park on both days.
Day 1 · Hirosaki Park’s castle gates and moats
Hirosaki Park · 弘前公園
Take a leisurely walk past castle gates and moats, then spend the night in Hirosaki.
- Hirosaki Station → Park Otemon gate
Walk towards Dotemachi to the park’s Otemon gate. Official guidance gives about 30 minutes from the station; your starting point depends on accommodation.
- Otemon gate → Sannomaru, moats and Hirosaki accommodation
Explore gates and moats in the free walking areas. The castle keep’s interior is closed; avoid construction areas. To visit paid areas, check same-day opening and prices separately.
This subtotal uses free park areas. Adjust walking to your group’s stamina and on-site access guidance.
Day 2 · Hirosaki City Museum displays
Hirosaki City Museum · 弘前市立博物館
After yesterday’s park walk, visit city-museum displays before returning to Hirosaki Station.
- Park Otemon gate → City Museum
Follow the left arrow on the sign inside Otemon. Walk along the tree-lined path between the tennis courts and square, then turn right towards the museum entrance.
- City Museum → Exhibition viewing
The subtotal uses JPY 500 general admission for the exhibition about Sugae Masumi’s travels in Tsugaru, open 09:30–16:30. Check its dates, prices and closures in official exhibition guidance. Other exhibitions may have different content and prices.
- Museum and park → Hirosaki Station
After viewing, leave through Otemon and return towards Hirosaki Station. Allow the station walk; stop for a meal along the way if time permits.
The keep’s interior is excluded. If exhibition dates do not match your trip, choose park walks or another open facility.
Included: Hirosaki City Museum general admission JPY 500. Only free walking areas of Hirosaki Park are included.
Extra costs and conditions: One Hirosaki night, meals, arrival/departure trains, luggage storage and paid park areas.
JPY 500 is the general price for the exhibition running 3 October–29 November 2026. Ask the museum about prices for other exhibition dates.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see Hirosaki Park and City Museum in two days?
The Hirosaki plan walks free park areas on day 1 and visits City Museum on day 2. Its 3 October–29 November 2026 exhibition opens 09:30–16:30, general JPY 500, with closures scheduled for 19 October and 16 November. Recheck exhibitions and closures for other dates. The keep interior is closed.
Sources and dates checked
- Official admission prices ·
- Hours ·
- Directions ·
- Prefectural transport walking guidance ·
- Nebutan-go fares ·
- Hirosaki City guidance ·
- City exhibition notice ·
- Otemon-to-entrance directions ·
- Nebutan-go operations and timetables ·
- Historical-site facility guidance ·
- Bus-stop and entrance map ·
- Prefectural walking guidance ·
- Site permanent exhibition and admission ·
- Nebutan-go specified-date calendar for 2026 ·
- Nebutan-go regular timetable and stop map for 2026 ·