Aomori Prefecture Tourist Information Center (ASPAM)

Aomori Prefectural Tourist Center ASPAM is a facility beloved by many visitors as an information hub that showcases the charms of Aomori Prefecture’s tourism, local products, and culture all in one place. Its landmark is a unique 76-meter-tall equilateral triangular building shaped like the letter “A” in “AOMORI,” located along the waterfront near the Aomori Bay Bridge. At night, the entire building is beautifully illuminated, and the fantastical scene reflected on the sea surface leaves a lasting impression on visitors.

■ 1st Floor: Product Plaza
On the first floor is the Aomori Prefecture Product Plaza, where a wide variety of local specialties and regional products are available. As soon as you step inside, you are greeted by the fragrant aroma of freshly baked apple pie, naturally drawing you in. In addition to sweets and processed foods made with fresh Aomori apples, traditional crafts such as Tsugaru Vidro glassware and Tsugaru-nuri lacquerware are also on display and for sale, offering not only the pleasure of looking, but also the enjoyment of choosing items by hand.

There is also an excellent selection of local sake, miso, dried fish, and seafood products, and seasonal fruits and limited-edition items appear on the shelves throughout the year, so there is always something new to discover each time you visit.

■ 2nd Floor: Experience and Exhibition Zone
The second floor is an “Experience and Exhibition Zone,” where visitors can enjoy Aomori’s culture and festivals with all five senses. One of the most popular attractions is the **Aomori Theater**, a 360-degree panoramic 3D digital image theater. Here, you can experience the Aomori Nebuta Festival, which colors the summer season, as well as the seasonal natural beauty of places such as Lake Towada and Mount Hakkoda, through powerful visuals and immersive surround sound.

In addition, the demonstration corner for “Tsugaru kogin-zashi,” one of Aomori’s representative traditional crafts, may allow visitors to observe skilled artisans at work as they perform delicate embroidery. It offers a close look at the beauty and strength of handcrafts nurtured over many years by the women of Japan’s northern regions.

■ 13th Floor: Observation Deck
The top floor, the 13th floor, features an observation deck where visitors can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view from a height of 51 meters above ground. From here, you can take in sweeping views of Aomori City, Aomori Bay, the Hakkoda mountain range, and the Tsugaru Peninsula. On clear days, you may even be able to see the mountains of Hokkaido beyond the Tsugaru Strait. The scenery at dusk and the night view are also beautifully striking, offering breathtaking sights worthy of any travel memory.

■ Appeal as a Multifunctional Tourist Hub
The name “ASPAM” is formed from the initials of “Aomori,” “Sightseeing,” “Products,” and “Mansion.” True to its name, it also functions as a hub for disseminating tourism information. Inside the facility, visitors can find tourist brochures from across Aomori Prefecture, model itineraries, and transportation information.

There is also a restaurant serving local dishes and a light snack corner, allowing visitors to casually enjoy Aomori’s food culture. Since it offers everything from seeing, shopping, eating, and experiencing in one place, it is an ideal facility both as a starting point for sightseeing and as a place to conclude a trip. Seasonal events and special exhibitions are also held throughout the year, making every visit a chance to discover a different side of ASPAM.

Aomori Prefectural Tourist Center ASPAM is a popular destination for visitors from both inside and outside the prefecture, offering a comprehensive experience of Aomori’s nature, culture, traditions, and cuisine. For anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of and appreciation for Aomori’s charms, it is a place well worth visiting.