One night in Aomori: two places from one base
Stay one night in Aomori for Nebuta and Jomon history, or in Hirosaki for the park and city museum. Both itineraries keep one base and visit one place each day. Choose the site around return buses and the museum around exhibition dates and closures.
Choose a 2 days / 1 night itinerary
One night: Nebuta on arrival, Jomon history the next day
Stay one night in Aomori, visiting the Nebuta exhibition near the station on day one and the Jomon site on day two. Choose this route to visit both without changing accommodation.
One night: Nebuta on arrival, Jomon history the next day →2 days / 1 nightOne night: Hirosaki Park and City Museum
Stay one night near Hirosaki Station, seeing castle gates and moats on the first day and city museum exhibitions the next. Walk between the station and park on both days.
One night: Hirosaki Park and City Museum →One night: Nebuta on arrival, Jomon history the next day
Stay one night in Aomori, visiting the Nebuta exhibition near the station on day one and the Jomon site on day two. Choose this route to visit both without changing accommodation.
Day 1: WA RASSE Nebuta exhibition and port walk
Nebuta Museum WA RASSE · ねぶたの家 ワ・ラッセ
Visit the indoor exhibition near the station on arrival day, then relax by the water.
- Aomori Station → WA RASSE
Walk east from the station towards the waterfront. WA RASSE is about one minute away on foot; adult exhibition admission is ¥620.
- WA RASSE exhibition → Port walk and overnight stay in Aomori
See the Nebuta exhibition and take a short waterfront walk if the weather is fine. Closing is 19:00 from May to August and 18:00 from September to April, with last admission 30 minutes earlier. If you arrive late, start with the port walk. To visit WA RASSE after returning from the Jomon site tomorrow, allow enough time before last admission and your booked train. If there is not enough time, skip the exhibition and subtract its admission from the cost.
Check official opening information for temporary closures on your date.
Day 2: Jomon site and indoor exhibitions
Sannai-Maruyama Historical Site · 三内丸山遺跡
See pottery, clay figurines and displays recreating daily life before exploring the outdoor site. In rain, start indoors.
- Aomori Station West Exit, stand 2 → Sannai-Maruyama Iseki-mae bus stop
Take the Nebutan-go bus and get off at 三内丸山遺跡前. The adult fare is ¥300 per ride. Regular-day and designated-date timetables differ; check both journeys for your visit date before leaving.
Nebutan-go 2026 regular timetable and stop mapNebutan-go 2026 designated-date calendarNebutan-go fares
- Bus stop roundabout → Jomon Jiyukan and outdoor site
Walk about one minute from the stop and find the ticket counter and entry signs at Jomon Jiyukan. You enter the site through this building. General admission of ¥500 covers the outdoor site and permanent exhibition. Take breaks during your visit; special exhibitions and activities cost extra.
Prefectural transport agency walking directionsNebutan-go operation and timetableJomon site facility information
- Red Nebutan-go sign outside the site → Aomori Station
Check the Aomori Station-bound service and return to the same stop outside the site. Distinguish it from municipal bus stops and Shin-Aomori-bound services. Return buses may be infrequent; plan sightseeing and meals around your return service.
Bus stop and entrance mapNebutan-go 2026 regular timetable and stop map
Hours are 09:00–17:00, extended to 18:00 during Golden Week and from June to September. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. Check closure dates in the official calendar.
Included: WA RASSE ¥620; permanent exhibition including the outdoor site ¥500; Nebutan-go ¥300 × two rides, or ¥600 return.
Additional costs and conditions: One night in Aomori, meals, airport and Shin-Aomori connections, trains before and after the itinerary, luggage storage, special exhibitions and activities.
Official pricesJomon permanent exhibition and admissionNebutan-go fares
One night: Hirosaki Park and City Museum
Stay one night near Hirosaki Station, seeing castle gates and moats on the first day and city museum exhibitions the next. Walk between the station and park on both days.
Day 1: Hirosaki Park gates and moat walk
Hirosaki Park · 弘前公園
Take your time walking past the gates and moats, then spend the night in Hirosaki.
- Hirosaki Station → Otemon Gate at the park
Walk towards Dotemachi and continue to the park’s Otemon Gate. Official directions give about 30 minutes from the station. Your starting point will differ if leaving from your accommodation.
- Otemon Gate → Sannomaru, moat and overnight stay in Hirosaki
Explore gates and moats in the free walking areas. The castle keep’s interior is currently closed; do not enter construction areas. Check the day’s access and fees separately if adding a paid area.
This itinerary’s subtotal uses only free park areas. Adjust walking within the park to your group’s fitness and local access notices.
Day 2: Hirosaki City Museum exhibitions
Hirosaki City Museum · 弘前市立博物館
After yesterday’s park walk, visit the city museum exhibition today before returning to Hirosaki Station.
- Otemon Gate at the park → City museum
Inside Otemon Gate, follow the sign’s left arrow along the tree-lined path between the tennis courts and open square, then turn right to the museum entrance.
- City museum → Visit the exhibition
This itinerary uses the ¥500 general admission for the exhibition on Sugae Masumi’s travels in Tsugaru. Its visiting hours are 09:30–16:30. Check the official exhibition information to confirm dates, admission and closures for your trip. Other exhibitions may have different content and prices.
- Museum and park → Hirosaki Station
After your visit, leave through Otemon Gate and walk towards Hirosaki Station. Allow time for the walk, having a meal on the way if time permits.
The castle keep interior is excluded. If the exhibition dates do not fit, choose a park walk or another facility that is open.
Included: Hirosaki City Museum general admission ¥500. Only free walking areas of Hirosaki Park are included.
Additional costs and conditions: One night in Hirosaki, meals, arrival and departure trains, luggage storage and paid park areas.
¥500 is the general admission for the exhibition running 3 October–29 November 2026. Check prices for other exhibition dates with the museum.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see Hirosaki Park and City Museum in a one-night trip?
The Hirosaki itinerary visits free park areas on day one and the city museum on day two. The exhibition running 3 October–29 November 2026 opens 09:30–16:30 and costs ¥500 for general admission, with planned closures on 19 October and 16 November. For other dates, recheck exhibitions and closures. The keep interior remains closed.
Sources and verification dates
- Official prices ·
- Hours ·
- Directions ·
- Prefectural transport agency walking directions ·
- Nebutan-go fares ·
- Hirosaki City information ·
- City exhibition notice ·
- Otemon-to-entrance directions ·
- Nebutan-go operation and timetable ·
- Jomon site facility information ·
- Bus stop and entrance map ·
- Prefectural walking directions ·
- Jomon permanent exhibition and admission ·
- Nebutan-go 2026 designated-date calendar ·
- Nebutan-go 2026 regular timetable and stop map ·