1-Day Tour From Shin-Aomori: Jomon Village & Nebuta Museum Highlights of Aomori

Discover the prehistoric world heritage site and the cultural charms of Aomori. 

This tour grants you a day of historic intrigue and cultural depth as you learn about the prehistoric Jomon village, snap photos with the iconic Aomori dog statue, and learn about one of the three major Tohoku festivals based right here in the city! In this tour, you will visit some of Aomori's most popular destinations while discovering the wonderful charms of Japan's northeastern region.

Highlights

• Discover the lifestyles of Japan's prehistoric Jomon people.
• Visit one of the most important UNESCO World Heritage Sites showcasing Jomon prehistoric villages.
• Create your very own Jomon-period inspired souvenir.
• Witness famous colorful Nebuta festival floats and the iconic Aomori-ken dog statue up close.

*For those looking to join the tour from Tokyo, please see the FAQ Section below

Description

This tour will start at Shin-Aomori Station at 9:00 A.M., where your guide will meet you in front of the red Apple Bell (りんごの鈴) display outside of the Shin-Aomori Station ticket office (midori no madoguchi, みどりの窓口 新青森).

We will then head off to our first location via local bus.

Our first stop for the day is a quick visit to see the iconic Aomori-ken giant dog statue.

This colossal dog statue was created by famed artist Nara Yoshimoto, who has an extensive permanent exhibition within the art museum itself. Growing up in Aomori prefecture, his inspirations took hold in both Japanese manga as well as western art. The Aomori-ken Dog statue is a must-see when visiting the area. Your guide will give you some insights about the museum's architectural design as well as you take some memorable photos in front of the statue (weather permitting).

We will then walk to our next location, the Sannai Maruyama Site.

Designated as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan, the Sannai Maruyama Site is a popular destination for both foreign visitors and locals alike. This list of historic sites includes up to 19 different locations among the Hokkaido, Aomori, Akita, and Iwate Prefectures of northern Japan. 

The Sannai Maruyama Site offers visitors a great first-hand look at remnants of Japan's prehistoric hunter-gatherer people. Meticulously excavated in 1992, the site revealed an incredibly preserved settlement from the Early and Middle Jomon period. You can learn much about the period's structures, burial habits, food, and much more at this information-packed ruins site. Your guide will offer insights and tidbits on top of the signs throughout the outdoor site.

We will then head inside to view the permanent exhibition as well as get a chance to create our very own Jomon-inspired souvenir for you to take home.

We will then have some free time for getting lunch at the restaurant and doing some souvenir shopping at the site's facilities. After this, we will return toward Aomori Station via local bus.

Our final destination is the famous Nebuta Museum WA RASSE. Aomori's Nebuta Festival is one of the three well-known festivals of the Tohoku region. Every year from August 2nd through August 7th, the Aomori Nebuta Festival takes place. Of course, if you aren't in the area during this time, this museum offers a close-up look at the festival's history and decorations.

At this museum, you will get to see the colorful paper floats up close and even get to touch some of the materials the masters use to create them. Your guide will give you interesting history and insights to the creation of the festival and how its celebration transformed into what it is today. Partway through our tour of the museum, you will get to experience a taste of the festival with their daily "Nebuta Hayashi" performances. You might even get to try playing a taiko drum yourself!

We’ll wrap up our day by venturing back to Shin-Aomori Station via local train, where your guide will say their goodbyes. The tour will conclude around 3:30 PM. Due to the nature of the tour, specifically using public transportation, it is advised that guests who wish to continue their travels onward schedule their departures later than 4:00 PM.

TOUR MEETUP POINT

SHIN-AOMORI STATION @ 9:00 A.M.

The meetup point is in from of the red Apple Bell (りんごの鈴), located just outside of the ticket office (midori no madoguchi, みどりの窓口 新青森) near the east exit escalators of Shin-Aomori Station.

If you are arriving via JR lines, follow the signs toward the shinkansen transfer gates and find the red Apple Bell to your left in front of the glass windows of the ticket office.

If you are arriving via shinkansen, please look for signs directing you towards the east exit. As soon as you exit the shinkansen gates, you will see the ticket office directly in front of you. Just off to the left you will find the red Apple Bell.

For those coming from outside the station, you will want to enter from the east exit. Take the escalators up and follow the signs toward the shinkansen transfer gates. You will see the ticket office and the Apple Bell on your right.

You may wait near the Apple Bell until the tour begins at 9:00 A.M. Be sure to look for the guide holding a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour sign. 

NOTES

Included

• English speaking guide
• All train fares during the tour
• Entry fee at all locations
• Jomon-inspired crafting experience

Excluded

• Lunch
• Accommodation
• Extra purchases of take-home craft kits or souvenirs
• Transportation to/from the start and end points of the tour

Other Information

• Please note that this tour uses public transport, not a private vehicle. Due to this tour using public transport, timings are subject to some change if traffic is poor, train or bus delays, or the day of travel is particularly busy. 
• This tour involves several hours of walking outdoors. We recommend that you wear shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in. Please check the weather forecast before you head to the meetup point and prepare an umbrella or raincoat if necessary.
• It is recommended that you do not bring any luggage or large bags with you on the tour. It is advised that you check if your hotel can store your luggage for you, send it ahead to your next destination, or store your luggage at or near Shin-Aomori Station.
• There will be free time during the tour for guests to purchase food and souvenirs to remember their trip.

Tour Availability Disclaimer

All listed events, activities, and experiences are subject to availability. Please note that while certain tour options may appear bookable through our platforms, this does not guarantee that every experience can be carried out as scheduled in the tour itinerary. Many activities require direct confirmation with our partner venues, and availability may vary based on the date and other factors. Should any part of your ordered itinerary require adjustment or deviation from the original schedule, or if a specific experience is unavailable, we will contact you promptly to discuss suitable alternatives or amendments.