Tsugaru Peninsula

• (白神山地) World Heritage Site; one of the largest remaining virgin beech forests in East Asia.
• (下北半島)

Traditionally one of the poorest and remotest areas of Japan, Tsugaru is best known as the birthplace of writer Osamu Dazai, who wrote the mordant travelogue Return to Tsugaru () about his travels around the peninsula, and for the Tsugaru-jamisen, a distinctive local version of the Japanese string instrument shamisen.

By train

Tsugaru is separated from Hokkaido by the Tsugaru Strait. There are trains from Aomori through Tsugaru and across via the Seikan Tunnel to Hakodate. Okutsugaru Imabetsu st. in Imabetsu, interchange with Buses can go to Nakadomari and Sotogahama.

By boat

Mutsu wan Ferry service from Kanita to Wakinosawa in Shimokita Peninsula.

To Kanagi (for the Shayōkan and the Shamisen Hall) and Tsugaru Nakazato, take the Tsugaru Railway from Goshogawara. To Yomogita, Imabetsu and Sotogahama (Cape Tappi and Kanita port) take Tsugaru line from Aomori or Okutsugaru Imabetsu.

• Takayama Inari Shrine

  phone: +81 173-56-2015
  address: Washinosawa-147-2 Ushigatacho, Tsugaru City, Aomori Prefecture 038-3305
  Hundreds of red torii gates snake through a garden at this picturesque shrine near the Sea of Japan.

• Iwakiyama Shrine

  address: 〒036-1343青森県弘前市大字百沢字寺沢２７
  A peaceful mountain shrine partway up Mt. Iwaki. You'll need to climb some stairs to get to the shrine itself. Stop into one of the neighborhood onsen baths for a soul-soothing day trip from the city.

• Cape Tappi

  address: Minnmaya, Sotogahama Town
  The scenic northernmost point of the peninsula. Panoramic views of the Tsugaru Strait, Sea of Japan, and mountains of Hokkaido and Shimokita. There are some souvenir shops and restaurants near the lookout point, along with some monuments and an interesting dragon bridge. Route 339 briefly turns into a pedestrian path here. The hydrangeas, which are abundant, usually bloom in July.

• Rice Paddy ArtThe rice field murals in Inakadate Village have made news around the world. See them for yourself from June to early October. There are two murals, one viewable from the tower at the village office, and the other from a tower near roadside plaza Yayoi no Sato (道の駅弥生の里). There's a shuttle between the two sites.

• Seikan Tunnel Museum

  phone: +81 174-38-2301
  address: 99 Minnmaya Tatsuhama, Sotogahama Town
  If you hope see the tunnel, take Funicular can go to tunnel level.

• Mori no Naka no Kajuen (Orchard in the Forest)

  phone: +81 80-1821-3059
  address: 〒036-1202 Aomori Prefecture, Hirosaki, Totsurazawa, Kutsuwa−426
  Admission gets you a knife, a basket, and permission to eat as much fruit as you want straight from the orchards. It's an additional cost to take fruit home. They grow raspberries, peaches, cherries, plums, strawberries, grapes, pears, walnuts, and others.... but no apples. The fruits in season are posted on the website.

• Tsugaru Kanayamayaki

  phone: +81 173-29-3350
  address: 〒037-0011 Aomori Prefecture, Goshogawara, Kaneyama, Chiyozuru−5−79
  Shop and learn about pottery made from local Kanayama mountain clay. Check out the sculptures (outside and upstairs) made by visiting artists and take a peek at the kilns. The gallery staff insists beer and even water taste better served in kanayamayaki cups. You can make your own pottery too, but keep in mind it takes several months to fire. The restaurant served everything on kanyamayaki dishes, but is "temporarily closed" as of September 2014.

• Naqua Shirakami Resort

  phone: +81 173-72-1011
  address: 〒038-2712青森県西津軽郡鰺ヶ沢町大字長平町字西岩木山75
  Ski resort in Ajigasawa Town. Golf in the summer.

• Tairadate beach

  phone: +81 0174-31-2211
  address: Sotogahama, Tairadate Tanosawa
  Near Tairadate light house.

• Ezo scallop (Hotate gai, 帆立貝） - Ezo scallops farmed in Mutsu bay.
• Japanese basket clams (Yamato Shijimi, 大和蜆) - olso colled Shijimi (蜆), Product lake Jusan (十三湖).
• Yakiboshi (焼干し) - Made by Japanese anchovy, Japanese horse mackerel etc. In addition to making stock (dashi, 出汁).

Cheap

• Odaiba Auto village

  phone: +81 174 31 2211
  address: 67-1 Tairadate Tanosawa, Sotogahama
  Auto campingspace and cottages.

Mid-range

• Tairadate Furofushi Onsen

  phone: +81 174-25-2611
  address: 132-1 Tairadate Negishi Yunosawa, Sotogahama

• Tsugaru Kodomari-Kan

  phone: +81 173-64-3838
  address: 186 aza kodomari, Nakadomari
  Serves fresh fishes.

Tourist Information

• Tsugaru Peninsula Sightseeing attendant

  phone: +81 173-26-7520

• Tappizaki Tourist Information

  phone: +81 174-31-8025
  address: 59-12 Minmaya Tatsuhama, Sotogahama

• Roadstation Imabetsu

  phone: +81 174-31-5200
  address: 87-16 Okawadai aza Kiyokawa, Imabetsu
  near Okutsugaru Imabetsu st.

• Kodomari Sightseeing Association

  phone: +81 173-64-3700
  address: 1080-1 Kodomari aza Sunayama, Nakadomari

• Hakodate - Take Hokkaido Shinkansen.
• Mutsu - Take Mutsu wan ferry.