Tsugaru Tsunagaru Pass: Exploring Western Aomori

Tsugaru is the western half of Aomori Prefecture and one of Japan’s great regional characters: apple orchards to the horizon, the twang of the Tsugaru shamisen, a dialect that defeats other Japanese people, and Mount Iwaki presiding over all of it. The Tsunagaru Pass, from a word meaning to connect, bundles the region’s sights and services into one ticket for travellers giving the deep north the time it deserves.

What the pass covers

As with any regional pass, the inclusions evolve, so read the current lineup on the booking page and map it against your route before buying. The format rewards travellers spending a day or more moving between Tsugaru’s towns rather than ticking a single sight.

Around Tsugaru

Hirosaki is the anchor, its castle park famous nationwide for spring blossoms and its old town dotted with Meiji era Western buildings and apple everything. Goshogawara raises the stakes with the Tachineputa, festival floats the height of buildings, kept in a dedicated museum you can visit year round. Add a live Tsugaru shamisen performance, the region’s furious virtuoso string tradition, and you have the essential trio.

Getting there

The Tohoku Shinkansen runs from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori in around three hours, and Hirosaki is roughly 40 minutes onward by JR Ou Line. Local lines, buses and the endearing Tsugaru Railway handle the branch lines of the region, and winter travellers should build slack into connections, since this is serious snow country and proud of it.

We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Details and inclusions can change, so always check the booking page for the latest.