Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture [2 Day 1 Night Model Course] Tradition x Art x Vegan (Part 1)

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Kuroishi Recommended 2 Day 1 Night Course (Part 1)
Have you ever heard of Kuroishi City in Aomori Prefecture?
Kuroishi City is located approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes by train or 1 hour by bus from JR Shin-Aomori Station, the bullet train station that is the gateway to Aomori Prefecture. It takes about 30 minutes by train (Konan Railway) from Hirosaki Station, the nearest station to Hirosaki Park, a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, so we recommend that you visit the city together with Hirosaki City.

2 Day 1 Night Tour of Kuroishi City

Kuroishi City is a castle town with a strong sense of history and tradition, with streets that have remained unchanged since the Edo period, the "Nakamachi Komise Street" selected as one of the "100 Best Streets in Japan," a hot spring village with a history of over 400 years, and cute traditional Kokeshi dolls. Kuroishi is a popular tourist destination for those who love old townscapes, but recently it has also become a place with many attractive spots, such as an increasing number of health-friendly vegan restaurants and a place where visitors can experience making beautiful traditional crafts like art!

In this issue, we will introduce a recommended 2-day/1-night model course with a theme of tradition, art, and veganism in Kuroishi, divided into Part 1 and Part 2.

The times and other information in this article are current at the time of writing (May 2024).

Recommended 2-day/1-night course in Kuroishi City: Day 1

Itinerary for Day 1
On the first day, you will mainly tour the central area, which is about a 10-minute walk from Kuroishi Station!

12:00 Vegan OK! Local gourmet "Kuroishi Tsuyu Yakisoba

Exterior view of "Japanese Restaurant Miyuki
Upon arrival in Kuroishi, first take a breather and enjoy a leisurely lunch. Miyuki Japanese Restaurant, located on Nakamachi Komise Street, where the historical townscape still remains, is a popular restaurant among the locals. You can enjoy soba noodles and sushi, but we recommend the local specialty, "Kuroishi Tsuyu Yakisoba" (fried noodles with soy sauce).
Kuroishi Tsuyu Yakisoba, a local specialty
This local delicacy is a must-try when you come to Kuroishi. The tsuyu yakisoba at Japanese Restaurant Miyuki has a strong and gentle taste of dashi broth. The dashi broth flavor will whet your appetite, and the shrimp tempura that comes with it is a nice touch!

Kuroishi Tsuyu Yakisoba" is served at about 30 restaurants in the city, each with its own special flavor, but only Japanese Restaurant Miyuki is vegan (as of May 2024). If you wish to order vegan-friendly dishes, please call ahead to make a reservation.
For the official website of "Japanese Restaurant Miyuki", visit

13:00 Make the one and only Neputa lantern in the world! Making Neputa Lanterns

Handmade goods and experience studio IRODORI exterior
Beautiful and colorful!
Once you have had your fill, challenge yourself to a unique local production experience!
Head to "Handmade Goods and Hands-on Workshop IRODORI," located on the same Nakamachi Komise Street, about a 1-minute walk from Matsunoyu Koryukan. The store is filled with colorful lights, creating a fantastic atmosphere that makes you want to take pictures. The material for these colorful lanterns is actually...

Here!
Kuroishi Neputa
Kuroishi Neputa!
Aomori Nebuta Festival is the most famous Nebuta festival in Aomori Prefecture, but there are actually many other Nebuta and Neputa festivals held in various locations in Aomori Prefecture. In Kuroishi, the Kuroishi Neputa Festival is held every year from July 30 to August 5, attracting both tourists and locals.

The "nebuta" or "neputa" (floats) are often destroyed after the festival, but at this store, the Kuroishi Neputa is repurposed. The shop repurposes them into colorful, modern lanterns and fans to create new art.
A scene from the experience
You can purchase the lanterns, or if you make a reservation in advance, you can have your own original lantern made. You can choose the color and pattern of the lantern you like, so you can make it to your own taste! Make your own one-of-a-kind lantern as a memory of your trip♪
For reservations for "Neputa Lantern Making Experience", visit

▼Click here for an article about IRODORI, a handmade goods and experience workshop.

15:00 Walk around Kuroishi city center where retro townscape still remains!

After making a beautiful lantern, go on a tour of the town! Kuroishi, with its many old and retro buildings, is the perfect place for a town tour. You can go around with a sightseeing pamphlet in your hand, but we recommend you to take a city tour with a local guide.
A tour of the town
The Yokomachi Jumonji Machi Sodatekai, a non-profit organization in Kuroishi City, offers in-depth guided tours that can only be experienced here. Recommended is the "Kuroishi Machinaka Ura-meguri Tour," which is held throughout the year. You can enjoy learning about the history and culture of Kuroishi, which prospered as a merchant town. You will also have the rare opportunity to meet local people and hear directly from shopkeepers of long-established stores.

Please note that advance reservations are required for the Machiaruki tour. The tour usually starts at 10:00 a.m., but other times may be available, so please inquire at the time of reservation.
Appearance of "Matsunoyu Koryukan," the meeting place
Retro interior of "Matsunoyu Koryukan
The meeting place for the Machiaruki tour is the Matsunoyu Koryukan, about a 1-minute walk from the Japanese-style restaurant Miyuki. It is a facility that was renovated from a public bath that was loved by local residents and reborn as a place for community interaction.

Inside, there is a rest area for anyone to use, various pamphlets about the city, and Kuroishi-like souvenirs such as "KOKESU," a fusion of kokeshi doll and chess game, available for purchase. Free coin lockers are also available, so it is convenient to leave your luggage here.
For reservations for "Machiaruki", visit

17:30 Digital detox at a fantastic lamp inn

After finishing walking around town, take the Konan Bus "Nijinoko Line" from the "Nakamachi" bus stop and get off at "Nijinoko Koen". After getting off, take the reserved "Aoni Shuttle Bus" to the secluded "Lamp no Yado Aoni Onsen" deep in the mountains.

Reservations are required to use the Aoni Shuttle Bus. Please remember to make a reservation in advance through the official website of Aoni Onsen.
Fantastic open-air bath
The inn is characterized by its lack of electricity and radio waves! This is the perfect place for a digital detox. There are no TVs, and the night time spent with only the faint light of a lamp is a unique experience.

The hot spring has four different baths, including an indoor bath and an open-air bath with the delightful scent of hiba (Japanese cypress). The open-air baths are mixed, but there are also women-only hours.
Food served at the inn

The food served at the inn can also be made vegan. Dishes made with plenty of fresh local ingredients are sure to heal your body from the inside out. You may even feel like you have stepped back in time when you enjoy your dinner by the light of a lamp.

If your stay is on a Friday, there will be a live Tsugaru shamisen performance! Please take your time to heal and get ready for the next day.


The meals provided are for illustrative purposes only. It may differ from the picture.
*The live Tsugaru shamisen performance may be cancelled due to the circumstances of the performer.

For the official website of "Lamp no Yado Aoni Onsen", visit

Summary of Recommended Model Course Day 1

On the first day, we will visit the central part of Kuroishi City and experience the history, culture, and art unique to Kuroishi.

On the second day, we will visit the Nuruyu area, which has long been famous as a hot spring resort, to see traditional kokeshi dolls, which have been attracting increasing attention, a stylish cafe serving vegan lunches, and places where artistic pottery is made. and other places where artistic pottery is made!

Click here for the article about the second day

For train + accommodation "Aomori Area" reservations, please visit 【 JR East View Dynamic Rail Package 】
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