Japan
Aomori in January
❄️ Snowy winterCold and often rainy.
🎒 Pack: winter coat, gloves & hat · compact umbrella or rain jacket
Why January scores 7.7What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort5.6
- !Cold (2°C highs / -3°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point -2.8°C)
- !Wet: ~140 mm rain, ~3 heavy-rain days
- Air quality10.0
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~5 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline9.0
- ·Normal precautions
| Jan | May | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 7.7 Very good | 9.3 Excellent |
| Season | ❄️ Snowy winter | 🌷 Spring |
| High / low | 2° / -3° | 19° / 9° |
| Rain | 140 mm | 77 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt -3° | dew pt 10° |
| PM2.5 | 5 µg/m³ | 9 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Aomori weather-station normals. Rainfall: Aomori weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsJanuary 2027
Holiday weekA long local holiday falls this month. Expect crowds at sights, fuller trains and flights, and higher hotel prices on those dates. Book ahead.
- New Year 1–3 Jan · 3 days off in a row
- Coming of Age Day 9–11 Jan · 3 days off in a row
- Year-end & New Year break 29 Dec – 3 Jan
Most businesses and some attractions close; trains and flights are busy around the start and end. Source: Japan National Tourism Organization
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Nature calendarBlossoms, leaves & seasons in Aomori
- Snowy daysIn JanuaryTypical datesSnow likely Nov–Apr (most in Jan: ~30 days)
Average number of days with snowfall at Aomori. About 195 cm of snow falls in an average Jan.
Source: Aomori weather-station normals (national weather service, via Wikipedia climate table)
- 2026 forecast: Oirase Gorge2026 forecastPeak from ~15 Oct 2026
Last year the peak began 28 Oct. JWA expects most of Japan to be on time or a little later than usual this year.
Source: Japan Weather Association (tenki.jp), forecast 14 Oct 2026
- Cherry blossom 2026 (what actually happened)2026 actualFirst blooms 13 Apr 2026, full bloom 16 Apr 2026
Observed by JMA at the city's official sample tree. The 2027 forecast isn't out yet: Japanese weather companies such as the Japan Weather Association usually publish the first one in January, and we add it then.
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency
- Cherry blossomTypical datesFirst blooms ~22 Apr, full bloom ~26 Apr
Typical dates (1991–2020 normal). In 2021–2026 first blooms came between 7 Apr and 17 Apr (13 Apr in 2026). Blossoms last about a week after full bloom.
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency
- Autumn leaves: Oirase Gorge (day trip)Typical datesUsually mid-Oct to early-Nov
Usual peak viewing window for this spot.
- Autumn leaves: Hirosaki ParkTypical datesUsually mid-Oct to mid-Nov
Usual peak viewing window for this spot.
- Autumn leaves: HakkodaTypical datesUsually late-Sep to late-Oct
Usual peak viewing window for this spot.
Explore AomoriEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyAomori is the northern Honshu port city famous for its summer Nebuta festival and apples, and a base for Lake Towada, Oirase Gorge and the snowy Hakkōda mountains.
New Year (Hatsumōde)Across Japan
Shrine visits, temple bells and traditional foods to start the year.
Chinese New YearAcross Japan
Lunar celebrations in Yokohama Chinatown and Nagasaki.
Coming up later
Hirosaki Cherry Blossom FestivalDate variesUsually late April to early May
About 2,600 cherry trees bloom around Hirosaki Castle and its moats.
Why go: One of Japan's most famous blossom spots; peak timing varies with the weather.
Where: Hirosaki Park, Hirosaki (about 45 minutes from Aomori)
Aomori Nebuta MatsuriEvery year2-7 August every year
Huge illuminated paper floats parade through the city with drummers and dancing haneto.
Why go: Visitors can join the haneto dancers if wearing the costume; hotels sell out early.
Where: Central Aomori
Oirase Gorge autumn leavesDate variesUsually mid to late October
Seasonal autumn colour along the forest stream.
Why go: Roads get congested at weekends during the peak.
Where: Oirase Gorge and Lake Towada
Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse
A waterfront museum displaying full-size illuminated Nebuta floats from the festival.
Sannai-Maruyama Site
A large Jōmon-era settlement site with reconstructed buildings, part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
Aomori Museum of Art
A museum next to Sannai-Maruyama known for the large Aomori-ken dog sculpture by Yoshitomo Nara.
Hakkōda Ropewaygreat in Jan
A ropeway into the Hakkōda mountains, known for snow-covered 'snow monster' trees in winter and autumn colours.
Oirase Gorge
A forest stream walk with waterfalls leading to Lake Towada.
💡 Autumn leaves usually peak in late October.
A-Factory
A market building near Aomori station selling local apple cider and food products.
Nokke-don
A do-it-yourself seafood rice bowl where you buy toppings with tickets from different stalls.
💡 Aomori Gyosai Center (Furukawa fish market)
Scallops (hotate)
Mutsu Bay scallops, served raw, grilled or in miso.
💡 Seafood restaurants and markets
Miso curry milk ramen
An Aomori city ramen with a miso and curry broth mixed with milk and butter.
💡 Ramen shops in central Aomori
Aomori apples
Aomori is Japan's largest apple-producing prefecture; apples are eaten fresh and in juices and sweets.
💡 Markets and A-Factory
Apple products
Juice, cider, dried apple and apple pastries.
💡 A-Factory and Aomori station shops
Tsugaru-nuri lacquerware
Layered lacquerware with mottled patterns from the Tsugaru region.
💡 Craft shops
Kogin-zashi
Geometric cotton embroidery traditional to the Tsugaru region.
💡 Craft shops
Tsugaru Vidro glass
Colourful hand-blown glassware made in Aomori.
💡 Craft and souvenir shops
Airport transfer Kiwitaxi
Partner links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects scores.