[Aomori Prefecture] 2024 Edition “Tohoku Autumn Leaves Driving Map” - 3 recommended driving courses and surrounding gourmet selections in Aomori Prefecture!

Among the six prefectures of Tohoku surrounded by nature, Aomori Prefecture has the most untouched nature, and the prefecture is dotted with famous spots for viewing autumn leaves. As it is the northernmost part of Tohoku, the autumn leaves arrive earlier than in other prefectures, and although the colors have already begun to change in some places, you can enjoy viewing the autumn leaves until early to mid-November.

In this article, we will introduce three recommended autumn foliage drive courses from among these famous autumn foliage spots in Aomori Prefecture.

Lake Towada, Oirase Stream, Mt. Hakkoda

from Lake Towada along the Oirase Stream Mt. Hakkoda .

This driving course, located in Towada-Hachimantai National Park, allows you to enjoy the rich variety of untouched natural scenery with mountains, lakes, and valleys.

The best time to see the autumn leaves in this area is usually from late September to late October, but since the snow falls early, we recommend changing to winter tires from mid-October onwards.

Enjoy the autumn leaves of Lake Towada while walking around the lakeside

There are many observation decks on the outer rim of Towada Caldera that offer a panoramic view of the lake, and you can enjoy the various expressions of Lake Towada along with the view from the shore.

The most common way to access the lake is via National Route 103 from the Towada IC on the Tohoku Expressway. Route 103 passes through the mountains on the south shore of the lake, but there is another route that allows you to see the lake from an observation deck.

Odate Towadako Line: Jukai Line ), which connects to Route 103 from Kosaka Town offers a comfortable drive as it includes Roadside Station Kosaka Nanataki

In addition, there is National Route 454 from the eastern Hachinohe area, and National Route 102, which runs along the north shore of the lake, provides access to the lake from Hirosaki and Oirase Gorge. Route 102 has an Oirase bypass on the north side of Oirase Stream, which is recommended if Oirase Stream is congested during the tourist season.

The approximately 50km lakeshore course, which is made up of three national highways 102, 103, and 454, allows you to enjoy the vivid colors of the autumn leaves that shine against the deep blue lake water and sky blue sky.

Lake Towada＜Information＞

• Name: Lake Towada
• Location: Towada City, Aomori Prefecture and Kosaka Town, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture

GOOGLE MAP

Oirase Stream passing through autumn leaves

The Oirase Stream, which flows from the eastern shore of Lake Towada, is said to have been created when Lake Towada burst its banks a long time ago, and the downstream area was severely eroded by the massive flood at that time.

There are many waterfalls and steep rock walls formed by this, forming the landscape of a mountain stream.

On the national highway along the mountain stream (Routes 102 and 103 overlap), tall deciduous broad-leaved trees with many leaves grow thickly, creating tunnels that are green in the summer and red and yellow in the fall.

If you go north along the mountain stream, Yakeyama National Routes 102 and 103 will split, so turn left and head north on Route 103, passing through Tsutanuma, a famous spot for autumn leaves, and heading towards Yachi Onsen.

Oirase Gorge＜Information＞

• Name: Oirase Stream
• Location: Okuse, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture

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Drive at the foot of Mt. Hakkoda

The area surrounding Mt. Hakkoda, which is made up of 18 composite volcanoes with Mt. Odake at an altitude of 1,585 meters as the main peak at the northern end of the Ou Mountains, is known as one of the heaviest snowfall areas in the world, including Sukayu.

At the foot of Mt. Hakkoda, there are hot springs of various types, including Sukayu, and you can enjoy a drive to see the autumn leaves while taking a bath.

Yachi Onsen - Sukayu , where National Routes 103 and 394 overlap is a driving course that runs between the Kita-Hakkoda and Minami-Hakkoda volcanic groups

From Sukayu, head north on National Route 103 (Hakkoda Gold Line) and turn right onto Prefectural Route 40 (Aomori Tashiro Towada Line) past Hakkoda Ropeway Sanroku Station to reach the northern foot of the mountain.

By the way, beyond Sukayu, if you turn left onto National Route 394 from near Hotel Jogakura, you will find the Jogakura Stream Jogakura Ohashi Bridge crosses, which is famous as a spot for taking pictures of autumn leaves. .

Pass through Tashiro Plateau, cross the Komagome River, turn right at the intersection with National Route 394, and drive south on Route 394 for about 10km to arrive at Yachi Onsen, where you started.

Hakkoda Mountain <Information>

• Name: Mt. Hakkoda
• Location: Komagome Fukasawa, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture

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Red trout dishes you should try at Lake Towada

Himemasu is a freshwater fish that Sadayuki Waiuchi successfully cultivated in Lake Towada, which was a lake without fish during the Meiji period, and became a specialty of the lake. It is a beautiful salmon-pink fish meat with a sweet taste, and is served as sashimi, salt-grilled, meuniere, etc. at lakeside inns and restaurants.

October is also the fishing season, so you can enjoy fishing as well.

Tsugaru Plain (Mt. Iwaki/Hirosaki Park)

The best time to see the autumn leaves of Mt. Iwaki, an independent peak in Tsugaru, is from mid-October, when the mountain cherry blossoms at the foot of the mountain turn bright red, creating a stunning contrast with the green pine trees.

The drive course takes you around the foot of Mt. Iwaki, passing through bright red apples while seeing autumn leaves in the distance.

From Hirosaki City, Prefectural Route 3 ( Hirosakidake Ajigasawa Line ), go clockwise around the foot of the mountain from the south side, and Prefectural Route 30 ( Mt. Iwaki Loop Line ), turn right and head towards Hirosaki on Route 30.

goes around the northern foot of Mt. Iwaki on Prefectural Route 30 and joins Prefectural Route 3 near Takaoka no Mori Hirosaki Clan History Museum

Mt. Iwaki＜Information＞

• Name: Mt. Iwaki
• Location: Momozawa Higashi Iwakiyama, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture

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Hirosaki Park (Hirosaki Castle) has beautiful autumn leaves as well as cherry blossoms

If you return to Hirosaki City on Prefectural Route 3 from the foot of Mt. Iwaki, you will find Hirosaki Castle.

In Hirosaki Park, where cherry blossoms bloom profusely in spring, in autumn, in addition to the cherry blossoms, maples and other trees turn a beautiful red color, and you can see spectacular autumn leaves with yellow ginkgo trees and other trees. The best time to see them is usually from early to mid-November, but this year, with the high temperatures, you may be able to enjoy them until a little later.

You can continue driving around Hirosaki Park and admire the autumn leaves from the car window, or you can park your car in the parking lot and enjoy viewing the autumn leaves while walking around the park.

Hirosaki Castle＜Information＞

• Facility name: Hirosaki Park
• Location: 1 Shimoshiroganecho, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture
• Phone number: 0172-33-8739
• Admission hours: Hirosaki Castle Honmaru/Kita no Kaku April 1st - November 23rd 9:00 - 17:00, April 23rd - May 5th 7:00 - 21:00
• Admission hours: Hirosaki Castle Botanical Garden Mid-April to November 23rd 9:00-17:00, April 23rd to May 5th 9:00-18:00
• Closed: Hirosaki Castle Honmaru/Kita no Kaku November 24th to March 31st, Hirosaki Castle Botanical Garden November 24th to mid-April
• URL: Hirosaki Park official website

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Tsugaru's B-class gourmet "Ikamenchi"

When you eat squid as sashimi, there is always some ``geso'' left behind, but this is a local dish in which the ``geso'' is pounded and minced, mixed with chopped onions and carrots and flour, and fried in oil.

Locally it is called `` Igamenchi '', and there are various styles depending on the region and family, and it is sold at restaurants and supermarkets in the Tsugaru region, so please try and compare.

Shimokita Peninsula (Osorezan/Yaken Stream)

Prefectural Route 4 ( Mutsu Osorezan Park Ohata Line Mutsu City through Mt. Osore to Ohata facing the Tsugaru Strait , is another recommended autumn foliage driving course in Aomori Prefecture.

located at the end of Mt. , you can enjoy the autumn leaves of Aomori cypress, beech, wild cherry, and maple until late October. Along the mountain stream, there are hot spring inns such as Yagen Onsen and Oku Yagen Onsen, where you can stay overnight and enjoy a relaxing hot spring bath while looking at the autumn leaves from an open-air bath.

Yaken Stream＜Information＞

• Name: Yagen Keiryu (Yagen Onsen)
• Location: Yaken, Ohata-cho, Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture
• URL: Ohata Town Tourism Association Official Website

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Osorezan in autumn leaves

Osorezan is closed during the winter season from November to April, but until October 31st, you can stay at a lodging lodge and take a bath in the hot springs with a strong sulfur smell. Osorezan Autumn Pilgrimage from October 12th (Saturday) to October 14th (Monday) , and traffic congestion is expected in the area during these three days, so please pay attention to traffic information.

Osorezan＜Information＞

• Facility name: Osorezan Bodaiji Temple
• Location: 3-2 Tanabe Usoriyama, Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture
• Phone number: 0175-22-3825
• Opening hours: 6:00-18:00
• Opening period: May 1st to October 31st every year (closed during winter)
• URL: Mutsu City Tourism Association Official Website

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Bekomochi, a snack from the Shimokita region

It is a glutinous confectionery made by kneading glutinous rice flour and non-glutinous rice flour with sugar, coloring the dough, shaping it into sticks or plates, combining them into a kamaboko-like shape, and steaming them.
Like Kintaro-ame, artistic patterns appear on the cross section no matter where you cut it, and in the Shimokita region, it is eaten sliced ​​and steamed or grilled on special occasions.

Tohoku Rokken trivia media: NEFT

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[Aomori Prefecture] Aomori prefecture's soul food? What is Kujira Mochi and Bekomochi?

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/21722

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summary

Aomori Prefecture, the northernmost of the six prefectures in Tohoku, has an early fall season, with some places already starting to change color. If you want to enjoy a drive through the autumn leaves in Aomori Prefecture, which is about to enter a long winter, we recommend visiting early.