Japan Guide
Northern Honshū
ASPAM
The harbour-front ASPAM (Aomori Prefectural Centre for Tourism and Industry) building – a sleek glass pyramid about ten minutes' walk northeast of the station – is a good place to start exploring the city. There's usually a video of the Nebuta Matsuri festival playing in the entrance hall, but the highlight is a twenty-minute panoramic slide show of the region including its festivals and scenery (hourly 10am–5pm; ¥600). It's not really worth forking out for the thirteenth floor observation lounge (daily 9am–10pm; ¥400, or ¥800 with the Panorama Theatre), but take a look at the second floor, where they occasionally have demonstrations of local crafts. The two streets right in front and parallel to the ASPAM have several kitsch antique shops. Price: Daily 9am–6pm