Aomori Ringo

Aomori Prefecture is a fruit kingdom that boasts the highest apple production in Japan. Vast orchards spread especially around Hirosaki, where clear air and a large temperature gap between day and night raise fruit with a harmony of sweetness and tartness. The autumn scenery of bright red apples ripening across the branches speaks of the rich harvest unique to this land.

Highlights

One charm of Aomori apples is the sheer variety, from Fuji packed with honey like sweetness to Orin with its refreshing tartness and Tsugaru with its vivid color, each with its own character. Roadside stands and orchards dot the city, where you can taste freshly picked fruit, and there is also an abundance of apple juice, apple pie, and other apple sweets. You will meet a charm different from the raw fruit.

Enjoying the Seasons

The apple harvest runs mainly from autumn into early winter. Because timing differs by variety, you can enjoy many flavors over a long period. In spring the orchards are dressed in blankets of white blossoms, and in summer the green fruit swells. During harvest time some farms let you experience apple picking, which is popular with families. Feeling the growth of the apples through the four seasons is another delight.

Access and Basic Information

Hirosaki City is about forty minutes to an hour from central Aomori City by car or train. There are many roadside stands and tourist farms in and around the city, and apple picking is popular during the autumn season. Souvenir shops are well stocked with apple products, and a steady stream of visitors take them home as memories of the trip.

A Quick Tip

Apples taste even sweeter when chilled before eating. Comparing different varieties is recommended, and if you ask the farmers at a roadside stand for their seasonal picks, you may make an unexpected discovery.