AOMORI SHORE EXCURSIONS: SANNAI MARUYAMA, NEBUTA MUSEUM & TSUGARU SHAMISEN

Aomori, at the top of Japan's main island, is famous for its summer festival floats, huge paper figures lit from inside. If your ship is not there in early August, the museum is the next best thing. Two routes, each about 6 hours.

Route 1: Culture of Aomori

• Sannai Maruyama, the remains of a large Jomon village from about 5,000 years ago, with rebuilt houses and a tall wooden tower. It is a World Heritage site.
• Showa Daibutsu at Seiryuji Temple, a big seated bronze Buddha.
• Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse by the port, where real festival floats from the last festival are shown.
• ASPAM, the triangle-shaped building by the water, for local food and craft shopping (apples are the big thing here).

Route 2: Aomori and Goshogawara

• Tachineputa no Yakata in Goshogawara, home of floats that stand taller than a house. A big screen shows the festival itself.
• Tsugaru Shamisen Hall, with a live performance of the fast, loud local style of shamisen.
• Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse.
• ASPAM for shopping.

Route 2 has a longer drive to Goshogawara. If you are only going to see one show, the shamisen is the one people talk about afterwards.

How our Japan shore excursions work

• Private tour for your group only, from about 5 people in a minivan up to 40 in a full coach.
• A licensed English-speaking local guide meets you at the cruise terminal.
• We plan the day around your ship's times and bring you back to the pier well before all-aboard.
• The times on this page are a guide. Send us your ship name and port date and we fit the day to it.

Included

• Licensed English-speaking guide
• Private vehicle with driver, highway tolls and parking
• Entrance fees for the sights listed in the route you choose

Not included

• Lunch and drinks (your guide will point you to a good place)
• Tips for the guide and driver

Price

The price per person depends on how many people are in your group: a group of 30 pays much less each than a group of 6. Tell us your ship, date and group size and we will send a price.

See all our Japan shore excursions.