Aomori: The Onaka Apple Center — Guide Tomohiko

What Is a Private Aomori City Tour Like for Overseas Guests? A Licensed Guide's Report

[Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide accompanied a group visiting from Oceania on a private tour of Aomori City. All members of the group were born in the Year of the Dragon. They were very familiar with Japan, and one of the guests, who had studied Japanese culture at a university in Oceania, spoke Japanese very well.

Their itinerary began on November 15 and included Wakkanai, Sapporo, and Hakodate, then Aomori by rail and ferry, followed by Akita, Nagano, Osaka, Kyoto, and other destinations, before returning home from Tokyo in December.

The guests loved Japanese food and ate natto almost every day. At lunch, seeing the glistening rice, one of them said, "In Oceania we eat Japanese-grown rice, but this is the first time I've seen rice this shiny!" It was freshly harvested new-crop rice from around October.

While reading the description on the box of soba to take home as a souvenir, one of the guests asked, "What does 'koshi ga aru' mean?" Koshi ga aru, koshi ga tsuyoi… hmm, a bit firm? A quick search turned up "firm, chewy texture, al dente," and they understood.

When I asked which historical era of Japan they liked, one replied, "The Meiji era. In Japanese literature, I read Natsume Soseki's 'Kokoro' in Japanese." They were collectors of goshuin (temple seals), and at Saishoin and Seiryuji Temple they chose the goshuin of Dainichi Nyorai.

At the Hirosaki Ninja House, the curator Mr. Sato showed us how enemies (such as Iga ninja) were caught in pitfalls inside the house, and pointed out the beams on the ceiling that still bear marks from hoisting up captured enemies. He also taught us how to throw the "hand-blade tipped with aconite" that the Ainu used when catching bears.

Early in the morning at Seiryuji Temple, with snow falling, I recited the "Jukku Kannongyo" sutra I had brought in the empty main hall, and the guests seemed moved, though with wry smiles.

In Hirosaki, Japan's largest apple-producing area, you can eat apple pies with 50 different flavors at 50 different shops! One of the guests said, "I really want to try that!" They were delighted to eat apple pie at "Kauhiiya Buruman," which faces the outer moat of Hirosaki Castle.

To the guest fluent in Japanese I gave "The Hirosaki Ninja Story" (a picture book introducing representative ninja), and to all the guests I gave "Kogin-zashi coasters with an apple pattern" and "a dozen-page introduction to Kogin-zashi written in both Japanese and English."

One of the guests said that they could not understand at all "the conversation between me and the taxi driver" (Tsugaru dialect, a Japanese regional dialect they were hearing for the first time). That's only natural!

Finally, when I asked why they had gone to Wakkanai, one of the guests said, "I'm very interested in the Ainu and other northern peoples. Do Ainu live in Aomori?" They used to live here. Remains of Ainu settlements have been found near Utetsu on the Tsugaru Peninsula and near Sai Village on the Shimokita Peninsula.

Amid the snow, the guests headed to their next destination, Akita, on the JR "Resort Shirakami" train.

Click here for more details: Aomori Shore Excursion: Custom Car Tour, Licensed Guide

Tour Report by Tomohiko

My name is Tomohiko Kudo.
I live in Aomori city.
I already visited more than 30 nations so far.
After official retirement from the public officer, I could have the Japanese Government Licensed Guide Certificate and am nowadays very pleased to guide overseas tourists all over the world.
Did you know that the Fuji apple is not from Mt.Fuji…but is actually from Aomori Prefecture’ Fujisaki town. Aomori is proud of the biggest apple product in
Japan. We provide 40 apple-pie restaurants to guests.
Let’s enjoy real Japanese culture and history with me. I would enjoy with you real Samuri history, Kimono culture, local traditional festivals, castle,
Japanese garden, temple, shrine, Japanese tea ceremony, food and Sake.
I often go to the local sea food and vegetable markets and eat fresh foods and would love to show you some secret, hidden restaurants that only Aomori locals know about – let’s go on an adventure together.
If you like sushi and fresh seafood, let me introduce to Nokkedon ?
What is it? Come to Aomori and find out! I am waiting for you.