Association of North East Asia Regional Goverments

• Introduction
• Culture & Tourism

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History

• Before the early Edo period, Aomori was a small fishing village called Uto. As the Edo period began, Uto-mura was brought under the control of the Tsugaru samurai clan, and became part of the Tsugaru Domain (han). As the clan established the capital in Hirosaki, Uto-mura also began to develop.
• In 1612, the Port Development Officer of Tsugaru, Moriyama Yashichiro, under orders of the daimyo, Tsugaru Nobuhira, began the development of Uto-mura, adopting the name to Aomori and making it into the local seaport and trade center for Hirosaki. During the Meiji Restoration the Han System was abolished and the prefecture system was established. In July 1871, Aomori became a part of Hirosaki prefecture, succeeding the area covered by the Tsugaru han. Due to a merger on September of that year, Hirosaki prefecture(encompassing the same area as present-day Aomori prefecture) was founded. The prefectural capital however, was moved from Hirosaki to Aomori soon after the merger and the prefecture was renamed to Aomori Prefecture.

Topographic Features

• The Aomori Prefecture is situated on the northernmost tip of the Japanese main island.
• The Aomori Prefecture is situated on the northernmost tip of the Japanese main island facing Hokkaido, with Tsugaru Strait in between. The Ou Mountains that run from north to south divides the prefecture, thus, forming very different climates in the east and the west - lots of snow on the Japan Sea (East Sea)side and low temperatures even in the summer on the Pacific Ocean side. Aomori Prefecture has abundant nature still left within : the Shirakami-Sanchi Mountain Range which embraces the world's largest virgin forest of beech trees and Lake Towada-ko known for its mystic beauty, etc. Aquaculture and agriculture industries of Aomori are especially well developed. In particular, the prefecture boasts the highest production of apples.

Basic Information

Economic Status

Others

• Contact：Bureau of International Tourism Strategies, Department of International Economy
• Address： 青森県 青森市 長島 1-1-1
• Tel.：+81-17-734-9218
• Fax.：+81-17-7348119
• Official Website : www.pref.aomori.lg.jp