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Kuroishi - The Black and White Stoned City
Kuroishi is surrounded by rich nature. As you walk around the city, you can experience the Edo Samurai era and feel like you have traveled 400 years in the past. Much of the architecture has remained the same since decades ago. The city offers some of the best sake in all of Japan.
Let’s enjoy exploring, eating around, tasting sake and everything that Kuroishi has to offer!
Meeting Point
Aomori Station or Your Hotel Lobby
Aomori Station or Your hotel lobby
We will initially meet at 9AM at either Aomori Station or Your Hotel Lobby then we will take the taxi (or other agreed upon method of transportation) to Kuroishi City
Kokeshi-Doll Museum OR Hot Springs
You can choose between EITHER: Kokeshi Doll Museum OR Hot Springs
1. Kokeshi Doll Museum
This museum collects and displays a variety of kokeshi styles, from all over Japan. One of the kokeshi's displayed is the biggest and tallest in nation! Its head alone is over 4 meters. There are over 4000 dolls on display. We can watch how the kokeshi dolls are made and learn about the creation process.
*The first floor of the museum is free however, the second floor (where you can view the 4000+ dolls) requires a fee of 320yen.
OR
2. Kuroishi City Hot Springs
There are 3 major hot spring resorts and ryokans within Kuroishi city. Some of the hot springs have been in existence for over 400 years containing beneficial minerals such as alkaline and NCO. One of the hot springs is famous of women's beauty enhancing properties and promotion of skin health. While another boasts benefits for rheumatism, relief from neurological pain and muscle soreness. There is also another hot spring that helps specifically women in their later stages of life.
*All hot springs require a fee of 500-1000yen; extra amenities such as a rental towel, shampoo, etc. will cost extra and vary per hot spring
**Smaller tattoos can enter the hot springs, however large full back or fully covered arms or legs are NOT acceptable
Tsugaru Densho Kogei-Kan Hall
The Tsugaru Densho Kogei-Kan is a cultural art museum dedicated to crafts that come directly from Aomori Prefecture. You can view floats from the Aomori Nebuta festival along with drawings that specialize in that style. The art features classic Japanese elements such as the samurai, ninja, gods and goddess, folklore and so on. In addition, there are many gigantic kokeshi dolls on display around and inside the Hall itself. Entrance to the Hall is free.
Within the hall, there are many varieties of restaurants and eateries that feature foods from only the Aomori Prefecture. Please feel free to try a bit of food from every location!
*All restaurants and eateries require a separate fee and must be paid on your own.
Lunch
Will be in the "Traditional Crafts Hall“ Tsugaru Densho Kogei-Kan.
Please pay for your own meal and feel free to choose whatever you would like! I am more than happy to answer and ask any questions in regards to dietary restrictions or limitations to the restaurants as needed.
Nakano Mountain OR Seasonal Activity
You can choose between EITHER: Nakano Mountain OR Seasonal Activity
1. Nakano Mountain
This area is famous for its maple trees with over 400 years of history. Due to it's stunning beauty, it is nicknamed the Kyoto of Northern Tohoku Japan. Within the area, there is the Nakano Shrine, large waterfall and connecting river, and short hiking trail that climbs up the mountain. Come here to feel the revitalizing energy from nature! If timed appropriately, you can see the nighttime illumination if you visit from October 20th - November 5th.
OR DEPENDING ON THE SEASON
A. Cherry Blossom Viewing - (Available April - May) / Japanese Gardens (All year)
Kuroishi city has many parks that feature cherry blossoms! There are a few hundred types of cherry blossoms and here you can see the famous Someiyoshino cherry tree. In addition, there are Japanese gardens that are famous within Aomori. The gardens are available to the public throughout the year!
You will surely feel refreshed after enjoying the spring breeze amongst the pink blossoms!
*There are no additional fees
B. Apple Picking - (Apple picking will be available from August to November!)
Did you know that the Fuji apple actually originates from this area? You can now experience apple picking and eating the freshest apples from the largest apple producing prefecture in the Japan and some areas of the world! Feel free to pick to your hearts content and carry it with you as a snack for the remainder of your trip.
*Fee will vary depending on how much is picked (by weight) and the orchard that is available per season and time. Generally, fees can range from 550yen to 2000yen. The admission fee will sometimes include a few apples for you to take. If you want more apples, there is an extra fee as well.
C. Summer Neputa and Yosare Festival - (Available August)
On the main street of city, many floats will be carried by locals who handmade their own paper designs. Enjoy the Japanese summer festivals and marvel at the intricately made designs while experiencing the Japanese 'matsuri' atmosphere!
Later in the month - depending on the your visiting timeframe, you can watch the Yosare dance festival where the dancers wear traditional outfits and dance in synchronized motion!
Kuroishi City - Famous for Old Samurai Era Buildings and Merchant Street
*Temples and Shrine
*Japanese Sake Breweries
*Miso and Soy Sauce Shop
*Rice Cake Shop
*Soba Noodle ( Buck wheat noodle) Restaurant “ Kin-no-Icho ( Golden Ginko)”
Return back Aomori Station or Your Hotel Lobby
We will take the taxi (or agreed upon method of transportation) back to either your hotel lobby or Aomori Station
Ending Point
Aomori Station or Your Hotel Lobby
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Inclusions & Exclusions
Tour Guiding Fee
All events mentioned in the itinerary (museum fee, apple picking fee, restaurants, hot springs, etc.)
Food costs
Taxi/Transportation fee
Tour Important Information
I recommend wearing seasonally appropriate clothes and comfortable walking shoes as we will be walking a lot.
Additionally, many store and restaurants only accept cash (Japanese yen) so please prepare enough in advance.
Extra fees for places that we visit are noted in the itinerary above - please feel free to ask questions as needed.
The total fee does not include taxi/transportation, and other outside expenses as mentioned above or during the trip. The fee is ONLY the tour guiding fee.
Experience the stoned city while eating foods that are only available here!
Learn and feel the culture together as we visit the city to nature in Nakano Mountain.
In Kuroishi city, you can drink pure spring water from the natural geysers and taste the freshest sake. The city has areas where you can drink from the well as the water is so pure and clean! The rice in the area is some of the tastiest in the nation due to its fresh spring water.
Let's go on an adventure together and learn about what Kuroishi City has to offer!
If you give at least a 3 weeks - 1 month in advance notice - other days will be available, to the best of my ability
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Aomori Tour Reviews
“Special day, top guide!”
On the occasion of my milestone birthday, Mr. Tomohiko provided us with a perfectly varied excursion to Hirosaki. He took our special wishes into consideration. A special day with a special guide that we will not forget.
Tomohiko K.
(7 reviews)Dear Rolf-dieter F. I would like to say thanks so much for joining my tour and be very honored to have your wonderful comment on my tour again. I will never forget the memory with you in my mind forever. I am sure that you could enjoy your Japan tour. I am looking forward to visiting your city in Germany someday and also guiding you in August for appreciating the Nobuta Festival in Aomori. Sincerely yours, Tomohiko Kudo
“A fun day with Motohiko in Amoria ”
From the moment we met Tomohiko, he was energetic, fun and friendly. He had many ideas to share with us and was organized and keen to show us his prefecture. He assisted us with any requirements and did everything to make our day enjoyable
Tomohiko K.
(7 reviews)Dear Barbara Abel and your friends. Welcome to Aomori ! I am so honored to guide you and your friends who visit Japan first time. 【Hirosaki Tour】 27th May 2024 ～ Itinerary ～ 【A full day for Hirosaki city - 6 hours tour 】 9:00 Start from Aomori, capital city of Aomori prefecture by chartered taxi from the Aomori cruise terminal (Diamond Princess) ( * 6 hours driving) 10:00 Hirosaki castle park. 12:00 Lunch :Japanese Soba Noodle ＠Sanchu Soba Restaurant. 13:00 Neputa - mura Village (Museum, Shamisen (three-stringed musical instrument show) activities: Nebut big drum hitting experience 15:00 Aomori arrive. I am looking forward to seeing and guiding you at the Nebuta Festival in the beginning of August someday. Thanks so much again!
“Great Tour of Aomori”
We had A great tour with Tomohiko.he was very informative and had the very interesting itinerary which supplemented things we had already seen so far quite well. It was a breath of fresh air and he was very knowledgeable.
Tomohiko K.
(7 reviews)I guided a mother and one daughter who live in Istanbul, to Seiryuuji temple, Warasee and Sannai Marurama Archeological Site. In particular, they are very interested in the Sannai-Maruyama ruins. A new "World Heritage Introduction" was added to the Sannai Jomon Theater at the end of April, and the content was enriched. When I talked about obsidian (which does not exist in Aomori and is found at the Sannai-Maruyama site due to the trade between Aomori and Hokkaido ), You told to me that there are many obsidians in Turkey. The population of Istanbul is the same as Tokyo, with a European-style cityscape in the west and an Asian-style cityscape in the east. As a souvenir, I have Turkish sweets and a banknote of 10 Turkish lira (portrait of Kemal Ataturk, the first president of the Republic of Turkey). As you know, in 1890 (Meiji 22), the Turkish Imperial cruiser "Ertugrul" ran aground off the coast of Kushimoto Town, Wakayama Prefecture in a big storm, and 650 crew members were in distress. The people of Kushimoto devoted themselves to the rescue, and miraculously, 69 lives were saved. At the behest of the Emperor Meiji, two warships sent 69 people to Turkey. In the Showa era, the hero of Turkey, President Kemal Ataturk gave the monument to Kushimoto town. After that, memorial service has been in the milestone year, sponsored by both countries. The bond between the two countries has continued. During the Iran-Iraq War in 1985, an attack that loomed 48 hours later, leaving 215 Japan people behind. At that time, two rescue planes rushed from Turkey and all of them escaped from Iran. You say, "Kemal Ataturk is Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam." At the request of the president of a Turkish travel agency, whom I guided in November last year, I will guide a Turkish group again next month. I would like to say thanks for your joining my tour, and I am looking forward to seeing and guiding you in the Nebuta Festival in August again!
