Aomori

Aomori is located at the northernmost tip of Honshu, with the Ou Mountains extending to the south and the Tsugaru Peninsula and Shimokita Peninsula to the north, encompassing two main agricultural zones in the central part: the Tsugaru Plain and the Nanbu Plain. The annual average temperature is about 10℃ (based on Hirosaki City), and the annual precipitation varies regionally, with about 1,300 mm on the Tsugaru side and about 1,000 mm around Hachinohe City on the Pacific side. In winter, seasonal winds from the Sea of Japan bring heavy snowfall to the Tsugaru region, while the Pacific side receives relatively little snow. The volcanic ash-derived soil spreading at the foot of Mount Iwaki drains well, forming suitable conditions for Apple cultivation. The Tsugaru Plain has wide alluvial soil in the Iwaki River basin, making it a major production area for Daikon, carrots, and Nagaimo (Japanese Yam). The southern part of the prefecture, including Takko Town and Nanbu Town, is the center of Garlic cultivation, while the Nanbu region (around Hachinohe City and Misawa City) functions as a complex industrial zone for dryland farming and the fishing industry. Mutsu Bay is a closed inner bay rich in plankton, known as a suitable location for scallop aquaculture.

Source: MAFF Crop Statistics (Reiwa 5 / 2023), JMA historical weather data

The structural characteristic of Aomori's agriculture lies in the combination of a 'two-wheel system of agriculture and fisheries' and a 'few-item, high-share model'. It ranks 1st nationally in three items: Apple, Burdock Root, and Garlic, 2nd nationally in Nagaimo (Japanese Yam), and 3rd nationally in Daikon, holding a considerable proportion of the national distribution volume for each item. This contrasts with Saitama's multi-item, low-volume model, with concentration on specific items and economies of scale acting as the source of competitiveness. Because the climate differs greatly between the Sea of Japan side of the Tsugaru Peninsula and the Pacific side of the Nanbu region, the suitable areas for each item are clearly divided even within the same prefecture, naturally forming a segregation of production areas. In terms of fisheries, the catch of Surumeika (Squid) ranks 1st nationally, and combined with scallop aquaculture in Mutsu Bay, forming a national supply base in both agricultural and marine products characterizes Aomori's agricultural and fisheries industries.