As most people visit Aomori via airplane or shinkansen (bullet train), businesses offering rental cars are frequently found nearby or even inside many of Aomori’s major transport hubs.

This includes the car rental terminal at Aomori Airport and the multiple outlets outside the shinkansen stations of Shin-Aomori Station and Hachinohe Station. This makes renting a car in Aomori a breeze!

There are also rental cars available in major stations like Hirosaki Station and Aomori Station, making it easy for those coming by highway bus to find a ride. Most offer a wide range, allowing you to choose a make and price that suits your travel style.

Located in Towada, Oirase Gorge is Aomori’s definitive fall foliage spot! Between late October to early November, the beech, rhododendrons, maples, and more adorning the gorge’s 14km track engulf the region in vivid colors.

Being just a 90-minute drive from both Aomori Airport and Shin-Aomori Station, Oirase Gorge is surprisingly easy to access and can be thoroughly explored on a short Aomori autumn road trip.

While driving through the tunnels of foliage is alone enough beauty for most, the true highlights of Oirase Gorge are the grand waterfalls and mountain streams dotting the riverside walking trails.

Of particular note is the Ashura no Nagare, a powerful stream flowing between rocks and trees, along with the Choshi Otaki Waterfall, which offers incredible sightseeing all year round. Encompassed by mystical fall foliage, you won’t be able to put your camera down!

Within the area’s roads are spaces to pull over and park, allowing you to effectively tour the area by car rather than solely on foot. For an encounter with some of Aomori’s best fall foliage, the easy-to-access and pristine beauty of Oirase Gorge is an extremely safe bet!

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Also located in Towada, Tsutanuma Pond is another of Aomori’s most celebrated fall foliage spots peaking between mid to late October. Tsuta Nananuma, one of the area’s many ponds, is particularly renowned for its jaw-dropping scenery as the surrounding primeval forest of Japanese beech trees turns bright red.

While if the weather is nice, you’ll be able to relish stunning views at Tsutanuma Pond no matter what time you visit, we particularly recommend heading out during the early morning.

The fall foliage bathed in the intense morning sun makes the forest seem like it's on fire, creating an even more vivid reflection on the pond’s surface. You’ll see many passionate photographers braving the morning chill to capture this marvel on film.

You can explore the area and all the other tiny hidden ponds on the “Numa Megurino Koji” trail (except Akanuma Pond).

After snapping the perfect photos, we recommend slowing down and leisurely strolling to soak up the autumn atmosphere fully. Be aware that the temperature can drop significantly, and the trail may even freeze during the early morning, so be careful and wear the appropriate shoes.

You can get to Tsutanuma Pond after a 60-minute drive from JR Aomori Station. Park at the free car park in front of the Tsuta Onsen Ryokan inn and walk 10 minutes to find the pond.

However, the car park may become full during the early morning, so if you really want to see the sunrise during the peak foliage season, we suggest spending the night at the Tsuta Onsen Ryokan or another nearby accommodation facility and heading out early the next day.

Furthermore, to prevent overcrowding on the observation deck, roadside parking, and traffic jams, along with the spread of COVID-19, the local management office asks visitors to respect the following:

1. Early Morning: Permission to enter the Tsutayacho no Mori forest will require advanced reservation. Entrance capacity will be limited.
2. Early Morning/Daytime: A fee will be levied against visitors to assist with environmental preservation and traffic management.

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For those wanting to enjoy autumn scenery without straying too far from the city, then Hirosaki Park in Hirosaki is your best bet!

Peaking between mid-October to early November, this conveniently located park can be reached after just 10 minutes by car from JR Hirosaki Station. Here you can relish the rustic atmosphere of a quaint 400-year-old castle town illuminated by fiery fall foliage.

The park’s lavish collection of maple and cherry trees radiate with shades of red and yellow, making for enthralling strolls alongside a plethora of highlights like the castle’s turret and gate.

In addition, the “Hirosaki Castle Chrysanthemum and Autumn Leaves Festival” is held from early November, lighting up the park after dark to form an entirely different beauty from the daylight scenery.

When coming by car, you can park at the opposite-facing Hirosaki City Hall Parking Lot (first hour free) or the parkside car park (costs a fee).

Those without time for a stroll can still drive around the park and see plenty of fall foliage surrounding the castle’s outer moat. Plus, autumn is apple season, so if you find yourself with extra time, we strongly recommend trying apple picking or treating yourself to a helping of apple pie!

You can join an autumn-only apple picking experience at the Hirosaki Apple Park, just a 10-minute drive from Hirosaki Park.

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Nakano Momiji-yama, located in Kuroishi roughly 40-minutes by car from Aomori Airport, is one of Aomori’s most esteemed maple leaf sightseeing spots.

The park’s vermillion bridge, torii gates, and promenades of stone steps bring to mind the rustic atmosphere of ancient Kyoto.

In the past, Isabella Bird, a prominent British explorer and writer, remarked that “everything here is beautiful!”

The fall foliage at Nakano Momiji-yama peaks between mid-October to early November, and there are numerous photo spots set up to capture this phenomenon fully.

This includes “Kanpudai,” where the fallen leaves form a flashy carpet of red, along with Fudo Falls, which boasts crystal clear water surrounded by 200-year-old maple trees. The forest is also lit up at night during this time, allowing you to rediscover its beauty again after sunset.

*The 2021 autumn light-up has been canceled.

While there is a free parking zone around the car park entrance, it will likely be busy during the peak fall foliage season, and you may not be able to enter. In this situation, we suggest using the free car park at the nearby Tsugaru Traditional Craft Center and walking to Nakano Momiji-yama.

Nearby is the Lamp no Yado Aoni Onsen hot spring inn, a hidden gem encompassed by rugged greenery, allowing one to escape the modern world and stay amongst the nature of Kuroishi.

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Located in the southern region of Aomori City, Jogakura Ohashi Bridge can be reached after a 50-minute drive from JR Aomori Station.

Spanning 255m, it is one of Japan’s largest bridges and serves the important role of connecting Tsugaru with Nambu. It is also celebrated as one of Aomori’s best sightseeing spots, offering an incredible 360° panorama of intense fall colors around mid-October.

Free parking is available at both ends of the bridge, allowing you to stop your car and walk across at your own pace. The jaw-dropping tapestry of reds and yellows attracts photographers from across the country, with the Jogakura mountain stream flowing 122m below creating a stunning yet somewhat terrifying sight!

After crossing the Jogakura Ohashi Bridge and heading towards Hakkoda, you’ll also be treated to a corridor of fall foliage on the Hakkoda Gold Line road. Further on is Sukayu Onsen, famous for the “Hiba Sennin Buro” bathhouse, where you can stop to relax and heal in its nourishing waters.

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To fully enjoy autumn in Aomori, we strongly recommend making the most of your time by renting a car and driving. With this autumn road trip itinerary, you’ll be able to witness a wide range of different autumn sights combined with delicious local dishes, onsen hot springs, and fascinating cultures.

But don’t feel that you need to rush - take your time, thoroughly soak in the scenery, and plan an Aomori autumn foliage trip that suits you!

Text by: Ringoame inc.
*The information presented in this article is accurate as of October 2021. For the latest information, always confirm on the official sites.