Mountains ablaze with vibrant azaleas along the Tsutenomiya Azalea Path in Aomori

Text by MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network Editorial Department
 

With the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen, the area around Nanbu Town in Aomori Prefecture has become even more lively. Located next to Nanbu-Towada Station is Tsutenomiya Shrine, a place to pray for bountiful harvests and peace. Come May, the town’s designated flower—the azalea—bursts into full bloom season, and the shrine also holds the “Tsutenomiya Azalea Festival.” This year’s event runs from May 11 to 25. Visitors to Nanbu Town can enjoy the sight of up to 500 clusters of mountain azaleas lining the 5-kilometer road leading to the shrine, visible from the rest area up front.

Especially from the wooden torii gate at the shrine entrance, looking up the mountain reveals slopes covered in bright red blooms. With seven different varieties of azaleas, primarily mountain azaleas, the flowers along the staircase become even more vivid and eye-catching, as if filtered through a lens. At night, special lighting is set up along the path to showcase the beautiful nocturnal azalea display.