Aomori Prefecture ([a̠o̞mo̞ɾʲikẽ̞ɴ]) is a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku region. The prefecture's capital, largest city, and namesake is the city of Aomori. Aomori is the northernmost prefecture on Japan's main island, Honshu, and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east, Iwate Prefecture to the southeast, Akita Prefecture to the southwest, the Sea of Japan to the west, and Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait to the north. Aomori Prefecture is the 8th-largest prefecture, with an area of 9,645.64 km2 (3,724.20 sq mi), and the 31st-most populous prefecture, with more than 1.18 million people. Approximately 45 percent of Aomori Prefecture's residents live in its two core cities, Aomori and Hachinohe, which lie on coastal plains. The majority of the prefecture is covered in forested mountain ranges, with population centers occupying valleys and plains. Aomori is the third-most populous prefecture in the Tōhoku region, after Miyagi Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture. Mount Iwaki, an active stratovolcano, is the prefecture's highest point, at almost 1,624.7 m (5,330 ft).
Hachinohe is a city located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 August 2023, the city had an estimated population of 216,416 in 110,195 households, and a population density of 708 persons per km2, making it Aomori Prefecture's second largest city by population. The city has a total area of 305.56 square kilometres (117.98 sq mi).
Hachinohe Station is a railway station operated by the East Japan Railway Company in Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan.
The Aoimori Railway Line is a regional rail line in Aomori Prefecture, Japan that is operated by the Aoimori Railway Company. It connects the terminal station of the Iwate Galaxy Railway Line, Metoki Station, in the town of Sannohe to Aomori Station, the terminus of several rail lines in the city of Aomori. The Aoimori and Iwate Galaxy Railway Lines are former sections of the Tōhoku Main Line that connected Tokyo to Aomori that were rendered obsolete for long-distance passenger services by the completion of the high-speed Tōhoku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori stations. Though local passenger services are run on the line by the Aoimori Railway Company, the East Japan Railway Company continues to operate limited services, such as the sightseeing train Resort Asunaro, along the line, and the Japan Freight Railway Company transports freight along the line.
The Tōhoku Expressway is a south-north national expressway, and the longest expressway in Japan at 679.5 kilometers (422.2 mi). Its southern terminus is in Kawaguchi, Saitama in the Greater Tokyo Area, at the Tokyo Gaikan Expressway and Kawaguchi Route near Araijuku Station, and its northern terminus is at Aomori Interchange in Aomori, Aomori in the northern part of the Tōhoku region, where it meets the Aomori Expressway and Aomori Belt Highway near the Sannai-Maruyama Site.
The 5th Asian Winter Games, also known as Aomori 2003, took place from February 1 to 8, 2003 in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
Masami Tanabu is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet. A native of Hachinohe, Aomori and graduate of Rikkyo University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2004 after serving in the Aomori Prefectural Assembly for two terms and then in the House of Representatives for six terms.
The Aomori Expressway is a two-lane national expressway spur route in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company and is signed E4A as a direct extension and spur route of the Tōhoku Expressway.
The Hachinohe Expressway is a 4-laned national expressway in the prefectures of Iwate and Aomori in the Tōhoku region of Japan. It is a spur of the Tōhoku Expressway, primarily serving the city of Hachinohe. Signed as E4A, it is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.
National Route 45 is a national highway of Japan connecting Aoba-ku, Sendai and Aomori, Aomori. Alongside Japan National Route 6, it is a main route along the Pacific coast of eastern Japan. It is paralleled closely by the incomplete Sanriku Expressway between Sendai and Hachinohe.
National Route 454 is a national highway of Japan that traverses southern Aomori Prefecture and briefly crosses into the northeastern edge of Akita before returning in to Aomori. It connects Hachinohe in eastern Aomori to Ōwani in the western part of the prefecture.
The Aomori Bay Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It was constructed in order to alleviate cargo ship traffic. It is a very notable part of Aomori's skyline.
The Tohoku Free Blades (東北フリーブレイズ) are an Asia League Ice Hockey team based in Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan.
Hitomi Obara née Sakamoto is a female wrestler from Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan. She is Captain in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. On 8 August 2012, Obara won the women's 48kg freestyle wrestling gold in her first Olympic Games at London's Excel Arena.
Yoko Kondo is a Japanese ice hockey player, and is considered one of her country's best defenseman. She is the only player to qualify for both the 1998 and 2014 Winter Olympics. Kondo is the oldest player on the 2014 team, for which she switched to the forward position.
The Aomori Wat's are a professional basketball team based in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture, Japan that compete in the second division of the Japanese B.League.
The Niida Indoor Rink, officially Technol Ice Park Hachinohe (テクノルアイスパーク八戸) is an arena in the city of Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan. It is used for ice hockey and figure skating; and is the home arena of Tohoku Free Blades of the Asia League Ice Hockey.
The Michinoku Toll Road is a two-lane toll road in Aomori Prefecture connecting the cities Aomori and Hachinohe via Shichinohe. It serves as an alternative to Japan National Route 4, bypassing the towns Hiranai and Noheji by cutting directly through the Hakkōda Mountains and other mountains of the northern Ōu Mountain Range. The road is managed by the Aomori Prefecture Road Corporation and is numbered E4A as an extension of the Tōhoku Expressway.
The Kamikita Expressway is a free two-lane expressway in Aomori Prefecture connecting the towns of Shichinohe and Rokunohe. Alongside other tolled roads, the expressway is part of a series of highways that will link the Hachinohe Expressway to the Aomori Expressway. The road is managed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and is numbered E4A as an extension of the Tōhoku Expressway. It is routed concurrently with an alternate route of Japan National Route 45.
