View source for Aomori

{{About|the Japanese city|the prefecture that is named after this city|Aomori Prefecture|other uses|}}
{{distinguish|Māori language|Amorites}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
| name                   = Aomori
| native_name            = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|青森市}}}}
| native_name_lang       = ja
| official_name          = Aomori City
| settlement_type        = [[List_of_capitals_in_Japan|Prefecture capital]] and [[Core cities of Japan|Core  city]]
| image_skyline          = File:Aomori Montage.jpg
| imagesize              = 305px
| image_caption          = <small>From top to bottom, left to right: The [[Hakkōda Mountains]], [[Aomori Nebuta Matsuri]], [[Sannai-Maruyama Site]], [[Seikan Ferry]] Memorial Ship ''Hakkōda Maru'', the waterfront of Aomori as seen from [[Aomori Bay]], the [[Aomori City Forestry Museum]], and [[Asamushi Onsen]]</small>
| image_alt              = 
| image_flag             = Flag of Aomori, Aomori.svg
| flag_alt               = 
| image_seal             = Aomori City Emblem.svg
| seal_alt               = 
| image_shield           = 
| shield_alt             = 
| image_blank_emblem     = 
| nickname               = 
| motto                  = 
| image_map              = {{maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=260|plain=yes|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=9}}
| image_map1             = Aomori in Aomori Prefecture Ja.svg
| map_alt                = 
| map_caption            = Location of Aomori in Aomori Prefecture
| pushpin_map            = Japan
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_map_alt        = 
| pushpin_map_caption    = 
| coordinates            = {{coord|40|49|22|N|140|44|49|E|region:JP-02|display=it}}
| coor_pinpoint          = 
| subdivision_type       = Country
| subdivision_name       = {{JPN}}
| subdivision_type1      = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1      = [[Tōhoku region|Tōhoku]]
| subdivision_type2      = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2      = {{Flag|Aomori}}
| subdivision_type3      = 
| subdivision_name3      = 
| established_title      = Utō-mura
| established_date       = ?
| established_title2     = Aomori-mura
| established_date2      = 1626
| established_title3     = Aomori-machi
| established_date3      = 1 April 1889
| established_title4     = Aomori-shi
| established_date4      = 1 April 1898
| founder                = 
| named_for              = 
| seat_type              = 
| seat                   = 
| government_footnotes   = 
| leader_party           = 
| leader_title           = Mayor
| leader_name            = Hideki Nishi <small>(since June 2023)</small>
| leader_title1          = 
| leader_name1           = 
| total_type             = 
| unit_pref              = 
| area_magnitude         = 
| area_footnotes         = 
| area_total_km2         = 824.61
| area_land_km2          = 
| area_water_km2         = 
| area_water_percent     = 
| area_note              = 
| elevation_m            = 0 to 1584
| elevation_ft           = 0 to 5197
| elevation_footnotes    = 
| population_total       = 264945
| population_as_of       = 1 August 2023
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_est         = 
| pop_est_as_of          = 
| population_metro       = 310,640
| population_demonym     = Aomorian
| population_note        = 
| timezone1              = [[Japan Standard Time|JST]]
| utc_offset1            = +09:00
| postal_code_type       = Postal code
| postal_code            = 
| area_code_type         = 
| area_code              = 02201-2
| blank_name_sec1        = 
| blank_info_sec1        = 
| blank1_name_sec1       = 
| blank1_info_sec1       = 
| blank_name_sec2        = Phone&nbsp;number
| blank_info_sec2        = 017-734-1111
| blank1_name_sec2       = Address
| blank1_info_sec2       = 1-22-5 Chūō, Aomori-shi, Aomori-ken
| blank2_name_sec2       = [[Expressways of Japan|Expressways]]
| blank2_info_sec2       = [[File:JP Expressway E4.svg|x20px|link=Tōhoku Expressway]] [[File:JP Expressway E4A.svg|x20px|link=Aomori Expressway]] [[File:JP Expressway E4A.svg|x20px|link=Michinoku Toll Road]] [[File:JP Expressway E64.svg|x20px|link=Tsugaru Expressway]]
| website                = {{Official|1=http://www.city.aomori.aomori.jp/}}
| module                 = {{Infobox place symbols
 |embedded = yes
 |tree = [[Abies mariesii|Maries' fir]]
 |flower = ''[[Rosa rugosa]]''
 |bird = [[Ural owl]]
 |insect = [[Firefly]]
 |fish = 
 }}
}}
[[File:Aomori City Hall.jpg|thumb|Aomori City Hall]]
[[File:Hakkoda Ropeway.jpg|thumb|Hakkoda Ropeway]]

{{nihongo|'''Aomori'''|青森|Aomori|extra={{IPA|ja|aoꜜmoɾi|IPA}}; {{lit}} "Blue Forest"| lead=yes}}, officially '''Aomori City''' ({{langx|ja|青森市|label=none}}, {{Transliteration|ja|Aomori-shi}}), is the capital [[Cities of Japan|city]] of [[Aomori Prefecture]], in the [[Tōhoku region]] of [[Japan]]. {{As of|2023|08|01}}, the city had an estimated population of 264,945 in 136,781 households,<ref>{{cite web |title=人口・世帯数等（住民基本台帳） |trans-title=Population and number of households (Basic Resident Register) |url=http://www.city.aomori.aomori.jp/shimin/shiseijouhou/aomorishi-konnamati/toukei/jinkou-seitaisuu.html |language=ja |date=1 April 2020 |access-date=24 April 2020 |archive-date=8 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508131819/http://www.city.aomori.aomori.jp/shimin/shiseijouhou/aomorishi-konnamati/toukei/jinkou-seitaisuu.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and a population density of 321 people per square kilometer spread over the city's total area of {{cvt|824.61|sqkm|sqmi|sp=us}}. Aomori is one of Japan's 62 [[core cities of Japan|core cities]] and the core of the [[Aomori metropolitan area]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2010 Metropolitan Employment Map |url=http://www.csis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/UEA/uea_map_e.htm |work=[[University of Tokyo]] |access-date=6 July 2020 |archive-date=29 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729211717/http://www.csis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/UEA/uea_map_e.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Etymology==
[[file:Wiki-utou2.jpg|thumb|right|[[Rhinoceros auklet]] (ウトウ)]]
The original name of the Aomori was Utō, named for the {{Nihongo|[[Rhinoceros auklet]]|ウトウ}}, a seabird that is closely related to the [[puffin]]. In 1626 the name was  changed to {{Nihongo||青森|Aomori|extra2="blue forest"}}, but this was not fully embraced until 1783.<ref name="「青森」地名伝承の誤解=41"/>
''Aomori'' literally means blue forest, although it could possibly be translated as "[[Distinguishing blue from green in language#Japanese|green]] forest". The name is generally considered to refer to a small forest on a hill which existed near the town. This forest was often used by fishermen as a landmark. A different theory suggests the name might have been derived from the [[Ainu language]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-12-29 |title=My Trip to Aomori, Japan for three nights and four days |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/culture/2024/11/135_221065.html |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=The Korea Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Aomori Ferries |url=http://www.ferryto.co.nz/ports/Aomori.html |access-date=2024-12-20 |publisher=Ferry To New Zealand}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:SannaiMaruyama.jpg|thumb|Sannai-Maruyama Site]]
=== Pre-Tokugawa Period ===
The area has been settled extensively since prehistoric times, and numerous [[Jōmon period]] sites have been found by archaeologists, the most famous being the [[Sannai-Maruyama Site]] located just southwest of the city center dating to 5500–4000&nbsp;BC, and the [[Komakino Site]] slightly farther south dating to around 4000&nbsp;BC. The large scale of these settlements revolutionized theories on Jōmon period civilization. 
=== Later History ===
During the [[Heian period]], the area was part of the holdings of the [[Northern Fujiwara]] clan, but remained inhabited by the [[Emishi]] people well into the historic period. After the fall of the Northern Fujiwara in the [[Kamakura period]], the territory was part of the domain assigned to the [[Nambu clan]], and into the [[Sengoku period]], it came under the control of the rival [[Tsugaru clan]], whose main castle was located in [[Namioka, Aomori|Namioka]]. After the start of the [[Edo period]], what would become the core of present-day Aomori was a minor port settlement in the [[Hirosaki Domain]] called {{Nihongo|Utō|善知鳥村|Utō-mura}}. The town was rebuilt in 1626 under orders of the ''[[daimyō]]'', [[Tsugaru Nobuhira]] and renamed "Aomori", but this name did not come into common use until after 1783; however, the historical accuracy of this claim is debated since there is no written material from the time to definitively connect Utō to Aomori. Some evidence even claims that Aomori and Utō co-existed in different parts of the city in its current state. It was not until 1909 that a local scholar claimed that the village of Utō became Aomori.<ref name="「青森」地名伝承の誤解=41">{{cite web |title=「青森」地名伝承の誤解=41 |url=http://www.mutusinpou.co.jp/%E6%B4%A5%E8%BB%BD%E3%81%AE%E8%A1%97%E3%81%A8%E9%A2%A8%E6%99%AF/2016/02/39973.html |language=ja |date=1 February 2016 |access-date=27 November 2019 |archive-date=20 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920012047/http://www.mutusinpou.co.jp/%E6%B4%A5%E8%BB%BD%E3%81%AE%E8%A1%97%E3%81%A8%E9%A2%A8%E6%99%AF/2016/02/39973.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

After the [[Meiji Restoration]], the [[abolition of the han system|feudal domains were abolished]] and replaced with [[Prefectures of Japan|prefectures]], of which a total of six were initially created in the territory of modern Aomori Prefecture. These were merged into the short-lived Hirosaki Prefecture in July 1871.{{cn|date=July 2024}} However, due to the historic enmity between the former Tsugaru territories in the west and the former [[Nambu clan|Nambu territories]] in the east, the prefectural capital was relocated from [[Hirosaki]] to the more centrally located Aomori immediately after the merger and the prefecture was renamed Aomori Prefecture on 23 September 1871. However, the municipality of Aomori was not given town status within [[Higashitsugaru District, Aomori|Higashitsugaru District]] until 1 April 1889, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. It was later designated as a city on 1 April 1898.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

The [[Ministry of Colonial Affairs (Japan)|Hokkaidō Colonization Office]] began operations of a ferry service from Aomori to [[Hakodate, Hokkaido|Hakodate]] in Hokkaido from 1872. In September 1891, Aomori was connected with Tokyo by rail with the opening of the [[Tōhoku Main Line]]. The [[Ōu Main Line]] running along the [[Sea of Japan]] coast opened in December 1894. The development of modern Aomori was primarily due to its prefectural capital status and the singular importance as the terminus of these rail lines and the [[Seikan Ferry]], which officially opened in 1908.{{cn|date=July 2024}} The [[8th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)|8th Division]] of the [[Imperial Japanese Army]] were stationed in Aomori from 1896. In the winter of 1902, 199 of 210 soldiers on a military cold-weather readiness exercise perished while attempting to cross the Hakkōda Mountains from Aomori to Towada in what was later called the [[Hakkōda Mountains incident]].

Much of the town burned down in a large fire on 3 May 1910.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aomori in the Modern Era/ Meiji to Showa {{!}} あおもり北のまほろば歴史館 |url=https://kitanomahoroba.jp/modernhis-en.html |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=kitanomahoroba.jp}}</ref> The port facilities were expanded in 1924, and the city received its first [[Aomori City Bus|bus]] services in 1926.{{cn|date=July 2024}} [[Japan Air Transport]] began scheduled air services from 1937.

Towards the final stages of [[World War II]], on the night of 28–29 July 1945, Aomori was subject to an [[strategic bombing|air raid]] as part of the [[strategic bombing]] campaign waged by the United States against military and civilian targets and population centers during the [[Japan campaign|Japan home islands campaign]]. The [[Bombing of Aomori in World War II|28–29 July bombing]] claimed 1,767 lives and destroyed 88% of the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bombing of Aomori {{!}} Operations & Codenames of WWII |url=https://codenames.info/operation/bombing-of-aomori/ |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=codenames.info}}</ref>

In the post-war period, Aomori was rebuilt as the local political and commercial center. The [[Tsugaru Line]] railway opened between Aomori Station and [[Kanita Station]] in 1951. [[Aomori Airport]] was opened in 1964 in nearby Namioka.<ref name="airport">{{cite web |title=概要 |trans-title=Overview |url=http://aomori-airport.jp/wordpress/?page_id=8 |publisher=Aomori Airport Administration Office |access-date=8 February 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416074516/http://aomori-airport.jp/wordpress/?page_id=8 |archive-date=16 April 2015}}</ref> The city was connected to Tokyo by highway in 1979 with the opening of the [[Tōhoku Expressway]].<ref>{{cite web |title=高速道路開通の歴史 |trans-title=Expressway History |url=https://www.ne.jp/asahi/expressway/dataroom/tohoku_expwy.htm |language=ja |access-date=8 January 2020 |archive-date=5 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405071708/https://www.ne.jp/asahi/expressway/dataroom/tohoku_expwy.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Construction began on a new airport within the city of Aomori in 1982. Aomori's landmark pyramidal [[Aomori Prefecture Tourist Center]] opened in 1986. The new airport was completed on 19 July 1987.<ref name="airport" /> On 1 October 2002, Aomori was proclaimed a [[Core cities of Japan|core city]], granting it an increased level of local autonomy.

On 1 April 2005, Aomori absorbed the town of [[Namioka, Aomori|Namioka]] to create the new and expanded city of Aomori; but lost a portion of Namioka to the town of [[Fujisaki, Aomori|Fujisaki]] (from [[Minamitsugaru District, Aomori|Minamitsugaru District]]) on 1 September 2007.<ref>{{cite web |title=青森市が進めるコンパクトシティについて |trans-title=Aomori Compact City Promotion |url=http://www.thr.mlit.go.jp/compact-city/contents/study/200704/newpage003_01.htm |language=ja |date=April 2007 |access-date=8 February 2020 |archive-date=24 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924120624/http://www.thr.mlit.go.jp/compact-city/contents/study/200704/newpage003_01.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=広報あおもり平成19年9月15日号PDF版 |trans-title=Aomori Public Information 15 September Heisei 19-PDF version |url=http://www.city.aomori.aomori.jp/contents/kohoaomori/H190915/20070915_04.pdf |work=Aomori Official Website |publisher=Aomori City |access-date=8 February 2020 |language=ja |date=19 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110324105150/http://www.city.aomori.aomori.jp/contents/kohoaomori/H190915/20070915_04.pdf |archive-date=24 March 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Geography==
Aomori is located in central Aomori Prefecture, the northernmost prefecture of [[Honshu]]. It is located in the northeastern part of the Tsugaru region, which refers to the western half of the prefecture, and is centered on Aomori Plain, facing Aomori Bay, a branch bay of [[Mutsu Bay]], to the north, and the [[Hakkōda Mountains|Hakkōda]] and Higashidake Mountains, which are the northern end of the [[Ōu Mountains]] to the south to the east. Among other smaller rivers, the city has two large rivers flowing through it, the [[Komagome River]] and its tributary, the Arakawa River. Parts of the city in the southeast are within the borders of [[Towada-Hachimantai National Park]] and is a tourist destination throughout the four seasons. In the northeast is [[Asamushi-Natsudomari Prefectural Natural Park]]. There are many [[onsen|hot springs]] in the city, including [[Sukayu Onsen]] at the foot of Mt. Hakkōda and [[Asamushi Onsen]] on the coast.
{{wide image|Aomori bay 2007 APR cropped.jpg|700px|View of Aomori from Aomori Bay with [[Hakkōda Mountains]]||none|dir=rtl}}

===Surrounding municipalities===
[[Aomori Prefecture]]
*[[Fujisaki, Aomori|Fujisaki]]
*[[Goshogawara, Aomori|Goshogawara]]
*[[Hirakawa, Aomori|Hirakawa]]
*[[Hiranai, Aomori|Hiranai]]
*[[Itayanagi, Aomori|Itayanagi]]
*[[Kuroishi, Aomori|Kuroishi]]
*[[Shichinohe, Aomori|Shichinohe]]
*[[Towada, Aomori|Towada]]
*[[Yomogita, Aomori|Yomogita]]

===Climate===
Like most of the Tōhoku region, Aomori has a humid temperate climate with warm summers, and cold, though not extreme, winters. The city has a cold, [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfa'') closely bordering the [[Humid subtropical climate|Humid Subtropical climate]] (Köppen ''Cfa'') using the {{cvt|0.0|°C}} isotherm with both January and February monthly averages being too cold to be of the latter, characterized by warm, short summers and long, cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Aomori is {{cvt|10.7|°C}}. The average annual rainfall is {{cvt|1285|mm|in|sp=us}} with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around {{cvt|23.5|°C}}, and lowest in January, at around {{cvt|-2.1|°C}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://en.climate-data.org/asia/japan/aomori/aomori-5405/ |title=Aomori climate data |access-date=24 April 2020 |archive-date=12 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112024222/https://en.climate-data.org/asia/japan/aomori/aomori-5405/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Aomori and the surrounding areas are known for having the [[Snowfall#Records|heaviest snowfall]] in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Ogura |first2=Jon|last2= Jensen|first1=Junko |date=2019-02-25 |title=Aomori, Japan: World's snowiest city? |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/aomori-japan-snowiest-cities/index.html |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> In 2016, [[AccuWeather]] ranked Aomori City as the snowiest city in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/top-10-snowiest-major-cities-around-the-world/375130|title=Top 10 snowiest major cities around the world|publisher=AccuWeather|last=Kuhne|first=Michael|date=January 21, 2016|access-date=September 9, 2025}}</ref> In February 1945, the city recorded a maximum snow cover of {{cvt|209|cm|in|sp=us}}, but the record low of {{cvt|&minus;24.7|C|0}} was recorded 14 years earlier. In contrast, [[Sapporo]]'s heaviest snowfall which occurred in 1939 was {{cvt|164|cm|in|sp=us}}, and [[Wakkanai, Hokkaido|Wakkanai]] which is located further north has recorded similar maxima. The particularly heavy snow is caused by several winds that collide around the city and make the air rise and cool, resulting in quick, thick cloud formation followed by intense [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]].

In summer, a cool wind called "Yamase" often blows from the east, which sometimes results in abnormally cool weather and poor harvests. Additionally, thick fogs from the [[Oyashio Current]] are often observed in mountainous areas in the summer. Due to this fog, flights to [[Aomori Airport]] are often cancelled.<ref>{{cite web |author=Hiroshi Takai |title=Characteristics of the Yamase Winds over Oceans around Japan Observed by the Scatterometer-Derived Ocean Surface Vector Winds |url=https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jmsj/84/2/84_2_365/_pdf/-char/en |work=Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan |pages=365–373 |year=2006 |access-date=17 July 2020 |archive-date=17 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717053857/https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jmsj/84/2/84_2_365/_pdf/-char/en |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{Weather box
| collapsed = Y
| single line = Y
| metric first = Y
| location = Aomori (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1882−present)
| Jan record high C = 13.5
| Feb record high C = 19.4
| Mar record high C = 21.4
| Apr record high C = 28.3
| May record high C = 33.6
| Jun record high C = 33.5
| Jul record high C = 36.0
| Aug record high C = 36.7
| Sep record high C = 36.1
| Oct record high C = 30.5
| Nov record high C = 24.1
| Dec record high C = 21.1
| Jan record low C = -23.5
| Feb record low C = -24.7
| Mar record low C = -18.4
| Apr record low C = -12.2
| May record low C = -1.4
| Jun record low C = 4.0
| Jul record low C = 6.5
| Aug record low C = 8.9
| Sep record low C = 3.0
| Oct record low C = -2.4
| Nov record low C = -12.1
| Dec record low C = -20.6
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 139.9
| Feb precipitation mm = 99.0
| Mar precipitation mm = 75.2
| Apr precipitation mm = 68.7
| May precipitation mm = 76.7
| Jun precipitation mm = 75.0
| Jul precipitation mm = 129.5
| Aug precipitation mm = 142.0
| Sep precipitation mm = 133.0
| Oct precipitation mm = 119.2
| Nov precipitation mm = 137.4
| Dec precipitation mm = 155.2
| year precipitation mm = 1350.7
| Jan mean C = -0.9
| Feb mean C = -0.4
| Mar mean C = 2.8
| Apr mean C = 8.5
| May mean C = 13.7
| Jun mean C = 17.6
| Jul mean C = 21.8
| Aug mean C = 23.5
| Sep mean C = 19.9
| Oct mean C = 13.5
| Nov mean C = 7.2
| Dec mean C = 1.4
| year mean C = 10.7
| Jan high C = 1.8
| Feb high C = 2.7
| Mar high C = 6.8
| Apr high C = 13.7
| May high C = 18.8
| Jun high C = 22.1
| Jul high C = 26.0
| Aug high C = 27.8
| Sep high C = 24.5
| Oct high C = 18.3
| Nov high C = 11.2
| Dec high C = 4.5
| year high C = 14.9
| Jan low C = -3.5
| Feb low C = -3.3
| Mar low C = -0.8
| Apr low C = 4.1
| May low C = 9.4
| Jun low C = 14.1
| Jul low C = 18.6
| Aug low C = 20.0
| Sep low C = 15.8
| Oct low C = 9.1
| Nov low C = 3.4
| Dec low C = -1.4
| year low C = 7.1
| Jan humidity = 78
| Feb humidity = 76
| Mar humidity = 70
| Apr humidity = 65
| May humidity = 71
| Jun humidity = 78
| Jul humidity = 80
| Aug humidity = 78
| Sep humidity = 76
| Oct humidity = 73
| Nov humidity = 73
| Dec humidity = 78
| year humidity = 75
| Jan sun = 48.5
| Feb sun = 72.3
| Mar sun = 126.0
| Apr sun = 179.1
| May sun = 201.4
| Jun sun = 180.0
| Jul sun = 161.4
| Aug sun = 178.0
| Sep sun = 162.4
| Oct sun = 144.4
| Nov sun = 85.4
| Dec sun = 50.4
| year sun = 1589.2
| snow colour = green
| Jan snow cm = 195
| Feb snow cm = 141
| Mar snow cm = 64
| Apr snow cm = 4
| May snow cm = 0
| Jun snow cm = 0
| Jul snow cm = 0
| Aug snow cm = 0
| Sep snow cm = 0
| Oct snow cm = 0
| Nov snow cm = 23
| Dec snow cm = 143
| year snow cm = 567
| unit precipitation days = 0.5 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 24.0
| Feb precipitation days = 20.0
| Mar precipitation days = 16.7
| Apr precipitation days = 12.2
| May precipitation days = 11.3
| Jun precipitation days = 9.5
| Jul precipitation days = 10.2
| Aug precipitation days = 10.8
| Sep precipitation days = 11.6
| Oct precipitation days = 14.6
| Nov precipitation days = 18.9
| Dec precipitation days = 23.6
| year precipitation days = 183.3
| source 1 = Japan Meteorological Agency<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/index.php?prec_no=31&block_no=47575&year=&month=&day=&view= |script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値） |publisher=[[Japan Meteorological Agency]] |access-date=19 May 2021 |archive-date=21 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521153223/https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/index.php?prec_no=31&block_no=47575&year=&month=&day=&view= |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/sayakasofiamori/status/1759534345298252150|title=x.com}}</ref>
| source = 
}}

==Demographics==
A person living in or from Aomori is referred to as an Aomorian.<ref>{{cite book |author=Nanette Gottlieb |title=Language in Public Spaces in Japan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9pjJAwAAQBAJ&q=Aomorian&pg=PA96 |page=96 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0415818391 |date=2012 |access-date=6 July 2020 |archive-date=13 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313013226/https://books.google.com/books?id=9pjJAwAAQBAJ&q=Aomorian&pg=PA96 |url-status=live }}</ref> Per Japanese census data,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-aomori.php |title=Aomori population statistics |access-date=20 January 2018 |archive-date=15 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515074427/http://citypopulation.de/php/japan-aomori.php |url-status=live }}</ref> the population of Aomori has remained relatively steady over the past 40 years.
{{Historical populations
| percentages = pagr
| align = none
| cols = 1
| graph-pos = bottom
| 1920 |48941
| 1930 |77103
| 1940 |99065
| 1950 |106417
| 1960 |235116
| 1970 |261743
| 1980 |309768
| 1990 |308782
| 2000 |318,732
| 2010 |299,520
| 2020 |275,340
| 2023 |264,945
}}

==Government==
Aomori has a [[mayor-council]] form of government with a directly elected mayor and a [[unicameral]] city legislature of 35 members. The city also contributes 10 members of the 48 member Aomori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city falls within the [[Aomori 1st district]], a single-member constituency of the [[House of Representatives of Japan|House of Representatives]] in the national [[Diet of Japan]], which also includes the city of [[Mutsu, Aomori|Mutsu]], the [[Higashitsugaru District, Aomori|Higashitsugaru District]], the [[Shimokita District, Aomori|Shimokita District]], and the northern half of the [[Kamikita District, Aomori|Kamikita District]].<ref>{{cite web |title=青森県の衆議院小選挙区の区割りについて(平成29年以降) |trans-title=About the division of Aomori Prefecture's House of Representatives single-member constituency (2017-) |url=https://www.pref.aomori.lg.jp/soshiki/senkan/suugiin_kuwariH29.html |language=ja |access-date=23 April 2020 |archive-date=4 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604054250/https://www.pref.aomori.lg.jp/soshiki/senkan/suugiin_kuwariH29.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Economy==
{{unreferencedsect|date=July 2024}}

Aomori serves as the regional commercial center for central Aomori Prefecture. Agriculture and [[commercial fishing]] form only 4% of the city economy, with [[Secondary sector of the economy|manufacturing]] forming 16.2% and the [[Tertiary sector of the economy|service sector]] forming 78.2%.

==Education==
Aomori is the only prefectural capital in Japan which has no [[List of national universities in Japan|national university]], instead, nearby Hirosaki became the site for the prefecture's highest educational facility. The city has 45 public elementary schools and 19 public junior high schools operated by the city government, as well as two private junior high schools. The city has 10 public high schools operated by the Aomori Prefectural Board of Education and three private high schools. The prefecture also operates eight special education schools for the handicapped.

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Universities and colleges===
*[[Aomori Public University]]
*[[Aomori University of Health and Welfare]]
*[[Aomori University]]
*[[Aomori Chuo Gakuin University]]
*[[Aomori Akenohoshi Junior College]]
*[[Aomori Chuo Junior College]]

===High schools===
*[[Aomori Prefectural Aomori High School]]
*Aomori Prefectural Aomori Chūō High School
*Aomori Prefectural Aomori Higashi High School
*Aomori Prefectural Aomori Kita High School
*Aomori Prefectural Aomori Hokuto High School
*Aomori Prefectural Aomori Kōgyō High School
*Aomori Prefectural Aomori Minami High School
*Aomori Prefectural Aomori Nishi High School
*Aomori Prefectural Aomori Shōgyō High School
*Aomori Prefectural Aomori Toyama High School
*Aomori Akenohoshi High School
*Aomori Yamada High School
*Tōō Gakuen High School
{{col-2}}

===Junior high schools===
*Aburakawa Junior High School
*Arakawa Junior High School
*Asamushi Junior High School
*Furukawa Junior High School
*Higashi Junior High School
*Kita Junior High School
*Koda Junior High School
*Minami junior High School
*Namioka Junior High School
*Namiuchi Junior High School
*Nishi Junior High School
*Okidate Junior High School
*Sannai Junior High School
*Shinjo Junior High School
*Takada Junior High School
*Toyama Junior High School
*Tsukuda Junior High School
*Tsukurimichi Junior High School
*Tsutsui Junior High School
*Uramachi Junior High School
*Yokouchi Junior High School
{{col-end}}

==Transportation==
===Airport===
*[[Aomori Airport]] - (established in 1964 with international flights from 1995) is about a 35-minute drive from the city center, with a bus service available. There are daily flights to [[Haneda Airport|Tokyo]], [[Itami Airport|Osaka]], [[Nagoya Airfield|Nagoya]] and [[New Chitose Airport|Sapporo]]. There are also international flights to [[Incheon International Airport|Seoul]] and [[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport|Taipei]].

*[[Odate–Noshiro Airport]] - is located quite far from the city centre as it was located in Northern Akita Prefecture. It is solely used by [[All Nippon Airways]] service to [[Haneda Airport|Tokyo]] as the airline did not served the Tokyo-Aomori route.

===Railways===
[[Aomori Station]] has been the main station of the city since 1891. The two trunk lines of the Tōhoku region, the [[Tōhoku Main Line]] (now the [[Aoimori Railway]]) and the [[Ōu Main Line]], terminated at Aomori Station and continued to Hakodate by the [[Seikan Ferry]]. In 1988, [[Seikan Tunnel]] replaced the ferry's role as the connector of Honshu and Hokkaido's rail networks, but the station still functioned as the connecting point between main line trains and trains for the Aomori-Hakodate section.

The [[Tōhoku Shinkansen]] opened in 2010 with a new terminal at [[Shin-Aomori Station]]. The Shinkansen provides high-speed service between {{STN|Shin-Aomori|x}}, {{STN|Hachinohe|x}}, {{STN|Morioka|x}}, {{STN|Sendai|x|Miyagi}} and {{STN|Tokyo|x}}.
{{East Japan Railway inline}} – [[Tōhoku Shinkansen]] 
*{{STN|Shin-Aomori|x}}
{{JR East inline}} – [[Ōu Main Line]]
*{{STN|Aomori|x}} - {{STN|Shin-Aomori|x}} - {{STN|Tsugaru-Shinjō|x}} - {{STN|Tsurugasaka|x}} - {{STN|Daishaka|x}} - {{STN|Namioka|x}}
{{JR East inline}} – [[Tsugaru Line]]
*Aomori - {{STN|Aburakawa|x}} - {{STN|Tsugaru-Miyata|x}} - {{STN|Okunai|x}} - {{STN|Hidariseki|x}} - {{STN|Ushirogata|x}} - {{STN|Nakasawa|x}}
{{Aoimori Railway Line inline}}
*Aomori - {{STN|Higashi-Aomori|x}} - {{STN|Koyanagi|x|Aomori}} - {{STN|Yadamae|x}} - {{STN|Nonai|x}} - {{STN|Asamushi-Onsen|x}}

===Highways===
*{{jct|country=JPN|Exp|E4}} – Namioka Interchange – [[Aomori Interchange]]
*{{jct|country=JPN|Exp|E4A|dab1=A}} – [[Aomori Interchange]] – [[Aomori-chūō Interchange]] – [[Aomori-higashi Interchange]]
*{{jct|country=JPN|Exp|E4A|dab1=M}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Exp|E64}} – Namioka Interchange
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|4}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|7}}
**[[Aomori Belt Highway]]
**[[Aomori West Bypass]]
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|45}} (unsigned)
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|101}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|103}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|280}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|394}}

===Seaports===
*[[Port of Aomori]] – The [[Seikan Ferry]] and [[Tsugaru Kaikyō Ferry]] operates ferries to [[Hakodate, Hokkaido|Hakodate]]. It takes about four hours to go by ferry from Aomori to Hakodate. From 1908 to 1988 the ferry served as the primary transport between the island of [[Honshū]] and the northern island of Hokkaido. In March 1988, the [[Seikan Tunnel]] opened up, traveling under the [[Tsugaru Strait]], this quickly replaced the slow-moving ferry as the primary transportation between the two islands.{{fact|date=October 2023}}

==Sports==
Aomori has hosted several international [[curling]] events, two in 2003 (including the [[2003 Asian Winter Games|Asian Winter Games]]), and the local women's "[[Team Aomori]]" was selected to represent Japan at the [[2006 Winter Olympics]] in [[Turin]], Italy<sup>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311012729/http://wcc2007-aomori.jp/english/aomori/curling.html]</sup> and at the [[2010 Winter Olympics]] in [[Vancouver|Vancouver, British Columbia]], Canada. From 17 to 25 March 2007, Aomori hosted the World Women's Curling Championships<sup>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070323042853/http://wcc2007-aomori.jp/english/index.html]</sup>.

===Sports facilities===
*[[Aomori City Baseball Stadium]], otherwise known as Gappo Park Stadium
*Aomori Stadium
*[[Aomori Velodrome]]

==Parks and recreation==
[[Gappo Park]] is Aomori's oldest public park and its most iconic green space. Located to the east of the center of the city, it contains a public beach, [[water gardens]], various ornamental trees, and the [[Aomori City Baseball Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news |title=面積広げた合浦公園-14 |trans-title=Expanded area of Gappo Park-14 |url=http://www.mutusinpou.co.jp/%E6%B4%A5%E8%BB%BD%E3%81%AE%E8%A1%97%E3%81%A8%E9%A2%A8%E6%99%AF/2014/11/33737.html |language=ja |newspaper=Mutsu Shimpō |date=3 November 2014 |access-date=14 April 2020 |archive-date=20 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920013422/http://www.mutusinpou.co.jp/%E6%B4%A5%E8%BB%BD%E3%81%AE%E8%A1%97%E3%81%A8%E9%A2%A8%E6%99%AF/2014/11/33737.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Other parks in the city include the centrally located [[Aoimori Park]]<ref>{{cite web |title=青い森公園 |trans-title=Aoimori Park |url=https://www.pref.aomori.lg.jp/kotsu/build/kouen_03_01.html |publisher=Aomori Prefecture Government |language=ja |date=8 May 2020 |access-date=28 August 2020 |archive-date=29 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029045744/https://www.pref.aomori.lg.jp/kotsu/build/kouen_03_01.html |url-status=live }}</ref>,[[Aoimori Central Park]], and [[Nogiwa Park]].<ref>{{cite web |title=都市公園 |trans-title=City parks |url=http://www.city.aomori.aomori.jp/koen-kasen/shiseijouhou/aomorishi-konnamati/koukyoushisetsu/itiran/37.html |publisher=Aomori City |language=ja |date=16 January 2020 |access-date=28 August 2020 |archive-date=28 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028033050/http://www.city.aomori.aomori.jp/koen-kasen/shiseijouhou/aomorishi-konnamati/koukyoushisetsu/itiran/37.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Local attractions==
[[file:Tohoku epco n1.jpg|thumb|right|A float from Aomori's Nebuta Festival]]
[[file:HakkodaStatue2.jpg|thumb|right|The Memorial Statue of the Hakkoda Death March portrays [[Fusanosuke Gotō]]]]

[[Aomori Nebuta Matsuri]] is a famous [[Japanese festivals|festival]] performed from 2–7 August annually and is listed as one of the [[100 Soundscapes of Japan]] by the Japanese [[Ministry of the Environment (Japan)|Ministry of the Environment]].<ref name="Hundred">{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/air/life/nihon_no_oto/index.html |title=100 Soundscapes of Japan |publisher=[[Ministry of the Environment (Japan)|Ministry of the Environment]] |access-date=8 December 2015 |archive-date=20 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620230830/https://www.env.go.jp/air/life/nihon_no_oto/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Besides this, major attractions of Aomori include ruins, museums, and mountains. The [[Hakkōda Mountains]] have good locations for trekking with hot spas (''[[onsen]]''), such as [[Sukayu Onsen]].{{fact|date=October 2023}}

*[[Aomori Bay Bridge]]
*[[Aomori City Forestry Museum]]
*[[Aomori City History and Folk Arts Museum]]
*[[Aomori Museum of Art]]
*[[Aomori Prefectural Museum]]
*[[Asamushi Aquarium]]
*[[Asamushi Onsen]]
*[[Komakino Site]], a National Historic Site
*[[Munakata Shiko Memorial Museum of Art]]
*[[Namioka Castle]] ruins, A National Historic Site
*[[Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse]]
*[[Ōmori Katsuyama Site]], a National Historic Site
*[[Sannai-Maruyama Site]], a Special National Historic Site <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sannaimaruyama.pref.aomori.jp/english/index.html |title=Sannai-Maruyama Site official website |access-date=8 June 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820154014/http://sannaimaruyama.pref.aomori.jp/english/index.html |archive-date=20 August 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Seiryū-ji]]
*[[Shinmachi Street]]
*[[Sukayu Onsen]]
*[[Takayashikidate Site]], a National Historic Site
*[[Uramachi Shinmeigū]]

==Sister cities==
*{{flagdeco|JPN}} [[Hakodate, Hokkaido|Hakodate]], Hokkaido<ref>{{cite web |title=青森・函館ツインシティ |url=http://www.city.aomori.aomori.jp/kikakuchousei/shiseijouhou/aomorishi-konnamati/kokusai-kouikikouryuu/seikan_twin/index.html |language=ja |access-date=3 December 2019 |archive-date=3 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203010457/http://www.city.aomori.aomori.jp/kikakuchousei/shiseijouhou/aomorishi-konnamati/kokusai-kouikikouryuu/seikan_twin/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> – since 1989. Aomori and Hakodate share a "[[twin cities]]" relationship referred to as the "Seikan Economic and Cultural Area".
*{{flagdeco|HUN}} [[Kecskemét]], [[Bács-Kiskun County]], Hungary<ref name=International>{{cite web |url=http://www.clair.or.jp/e/exchange/shimai/prefectures/detail/2 |title=International Exchange |work=List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures |publisher=Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) |access-date=27 November 2019 |archive-date=20 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220101836/http://www.clair.or.jp/e/exchange/shimai/prefectures/detail/2 |url-status=live }}</ref> – since August 1994
*{{flagdeco|ROK}} [[Pyeongtaek]], [[Gyeonggi-do]], South Korea<ref name=International/> – since 1995
*{{flagdeco|PRC}} [[Dalian]], Liaoning, People's Republic of China<ref name=International/> – since December 2004
*{{flagdeco|ROC}} [[Hsinchu County]], Taiwan<ref name=International/> – friendship city since October 2014

==Notable people==
*[[Noriko Awaya]], singer
*[[Takaharu Furukawa]], archer
*[[Takanori Hatakeyama]], boxer
*[[Yuji Hayami]], science-fiction writer
*[[Shigeru Izumiya]], entertainer
*[[Ibuki Kido]], voice actress
*[[Yaho Kitabatake]], children's fiction writer
*[[Ichirō Kojima]], photographer
*[[Daimaou Kosaka]], comedian
*[[Daisuke Matsuzaka]], baseball player
*[[Keizo Miura]], skier
*[[Yuichiro Miura]], skier
*[[Shiko Munakata]], woodblock artist
*[[Kodai Naraoka]], badminton player
*[[Ren Narita]], wrestler
*[[Hitoshi Saito]], judoka
*[[Kyoichi Sawada]], photographer
*[[Akimitsu Takagi]], crime fiction writer
*[[Bushūyama Takashi|Bushuyama Takashi]], sumo wrestler
*[[Kiyoshi Tanabe]], professional boxer
*[[Shūji Terayama]], modern artist
*[[Takanosato Toshihide]], sumo wrestler
*[[Daigo Umehara]], fighting game player
*[[Ryushi Yanagisawa]], wrestler and mixed martial artist
*[[Akiko Yano]], singer-songwriter

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official|1=http://www.city.aomori.aomori.jp/}} {{in lang|ja}}
* {{Cite AV media|last = Reel Life|first=|date = 1945|title= 1945 Sapporo and Aomori Japan, immediate post war, early occupation|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXIOe_K25tA|format= video|location= Sapporo and Aomori|publisher= Youtube |access-date =October 4, 2025}} - Actual video footage of the damage to and occupation of Sapporo and Aomori at the end of WWII.

{{Sister bar|auto=y}}
{{Aomori}}
{{Metropolitan cities of Japan}}
{{Most populous cities in Japan}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Aomori (city)| ]]
[[Category:1898 establishments in Japan]]
[[Category:Aomori metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Cities in Aomori Prefecture]]
[[Category:Port settlements in Japan]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Japan]]