When comparing Aomori vs Takayama, the Slant community recommends Takayama for most people. In the question“What are the best cities to visit in Japan besides Tokyo and Kyoto?” Takayama is ranked 11th while Aomori is ranked 13th. The most important reason people chose Takayama is:
The Hida Folk Village is modeled after a traditional town, where you can see artisans work on their crafts and go shopping.
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Pros
Pro Nebuta festival
Pro Friendly, affordable restaurants
Since Aomori is a small coastal city, the restaurants carry an air of local pubs, where everyone knows everyone else, and they're very friendly and welcoming to foreigners.
Pro Aomori apples
Aomori ships the majority of the apples that get consumed around Japan, including the expensive $10+ per apple gifts that get presented in special occasions. Thus, Aomori is the prime location to try these apples at a more affordable price.
Pro Traditional crafts and shopping streets
The Hida Folk Village is modeled after a traditional town, where you can see artisans work on their crafts and go shopping.