【Must-See for U25】Discover the JAL Skymate Campaign to Aomori for Less Than 5,000 Yen One Way!

※This article is a multilingual version based on automatic translation from Japanese text
English (English)/Chinese (中文（简体））/Korean (한국어)/Thai (แบบไทย)

From September 1 (Mon) to October 9 (Thu), 2025, JAL is running a special domestic flight sale exclusively for travelers aged 12 to 25! With a JAL Card, you can fly anywhere in Japan for a flat rate of just 4,950 yen. Even without a JAL Card, you can still enjoy very affordable airfares—truly an amazing campaign designed to encourage young people to travel.

However, when planning a trip by plane, most travel articles assume travel by Shinkansen, making them less useful as references for air travel. This is especially true for many Skymate-eligible travelers who don’t yet have a driver’s license, and would prefer destinations where a car isn’t necessary.

That’s why in this article, based on an actual trip to Aomori by plane, we’re introducing a 2-day/1-night model course for Aomori that you can fully enjoy even without a car!

What is Sky Mate?

For those wondering, “What exactly is Sky Mate?”, here’s an explanation.
Sky Mate is a service that allows JAL Card members or JAL Mileage Bank members between the ages of 12 and 25 to purchase domestic JAL flight tickets at a lower price than the standard fare, limited to same-day travel. This service is available year-round and can also be used by foreign nationals.

This time, JAL is running a special sale where Sky Mate fares become even cheaper—but only for JAL Card members.
The sale period is from September 1, 2025, to October 9, 2025. During this period, the discounted fare is an astonishing flat rate of 4,950 yen, regardless of the departure or arrival airport!

If you are 25 or under, this is a great chance to apply for a JAL Card (student cards are free of annual fees while enrolled).
For more details on the JAL Card, please check here.

Day 1: From Haneda to Aomori! Enjoy seafood bowls and the charm of Nebuta

6:45 Haneda Airport departure → 7:55 Aomori Airport arrival

Getting up early is tough, but taking the first flight of the day allows you to make full use of the day! After arriving at Aomori Airport, take the shuttle bus to Aomori Station.

8:15 Aomori Airport departure → 8:50 Aomori Station arrival Shuttle bus fare: 980 yen

【Gourmet】Luxurious morning! Seafood bowl experience at Aomori Gyosai Center

Time: 9:00〜10:30

▼ Key Points! ✔ Create your own seafood bowl with 12 tickets for 2,200 yen! ✔ Experience fresh seafood from the morning, unique to Aomori ✔ Choose your favorite ingredients little by little to complete your original seafood bowl

The "Nokke-don" at Aomori Gyosai Center is synonymous with Aomori tourism! You purchase 12 tickets for 2,200 yen and go around the facility collecting your favorite seafood ingredients to create a seafood bowl.

Important note: The number of tickets required varies by ingredient. Also, there are shops beyond the street that continues from the ticket sales office, so look around the entire area before starting to select ingredients!

• Address: 1-11-16 Furukawa, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture
• Business hours: 5:00〜16:00 (Sundays 5:00〜15:00)
• Closed: Tuesdays, New Year holidays
• Official website:https://nokkedon.jp/

【Experience・Photo Spot】Powerful Nebuta viewing at Nebuta House Wa-Rasse

Time: 11:00〜12:00

▼ Key Points! ✔ Indoor museum where you can experience the power of Nebuta even in winter ✔ Cultural experience where you can learn about Nebuta history and production process ✔ Haneto experience and hayashi music experience also available (held at 11:10, 13:10, 15:10, 17:10)

"Nebuta House Wa-Rasse" is accessible by walking around Aomori Station area. You can see the giant Nebuta actually used in festivals up close, and be overwhelmed by their power. If timing allows, try participating in Nebuta hayashi performance or Haneto experience!

• Address: 1-1-1 Yasukata, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture
• Business hours: 9:00〜19:00 (May〜August), 9:00〜18:00 (September〜April)
• Admission: General 620 yen, High school students 460 yen, Elementary and junior high school students 260 yen
• Official website:https://www.nebuta.jp/warasse/

Day 1 afternoon: Experience history and art at Sannai-Maruyama Site and Aomori Museum of Art

Transportation

Aomori Station → Shin-Aomori Station → Sannai-Maruyama Site

• 12:14 Aomori Station departure, Ou Main Line local to Hirosaki → 12:19 Shin-Aomori Station arrival
• 12:30 departure Nebutan bus → 12:41 Sannai-Maruyama Site arrival → 7-minute walk to Prefecture Museum of Art

【Gourmet・Experience】Experience Jomon culture at Sannai-Maruyama Site

Time: 12:50〜14:30

▼ Key Points! ✔ Visit the large-scale Jomon period settlement ruins from 5,500 years ago ✔ Enjoy lunch at the attached restaurant "Restaurant Star of Five Thousand Years" ✔ Different expressions of the ruins depending on the season (snow scenery in winter, full view in summer)

First, have lunch at the attached restaurant "Restaurant Star of Five Thousand Years"! After enjoying creative dishes themed on the Jomon period, visit the actual ruins. You'll be amazed by the sheer scale of the site.

• Address: 305 Sannai Maruyama, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture
• Business hours: 9:00〜17:00 (June〜September until 18:00)
• Admission: General 410 yen, High school and university students 200 yen, Junior high school students and under free
• Official website:https://sannaimaruyama.pref.aomori.jp/

※Source: Aomori Museum of Art Official Website(https://www.aomori-museum.jp/)

【Photo Spot】Meet the "Aomori Dog" at Aomori Museum of Art

Time: 14:40〜17:00

▼ Key Points! ✔ The famous "Aomori Dog" is 5 times larger than you imagine and incredibly powerful! ✔ Many modern art pieces that even small children can enjoy without getting bored ✔ The architecture itself is worth seeing as an art piece

When you actually see the "Aomori Dog," the symbol of Aomori Museum of Art, you'll be surprised by its size. The museum houses many contemporary art works and is structured to be enjoyable even for those who aren't art enthusiasts.

• Address: 185 Yasuda Chikano, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture
• Business hours: 9:30〜17:00 (Saturdays June〜September until 20:00)
• Admission: General 520 yen, University and high school students 260 yen, Junior high school students and under free
• Official website:https://sannaimaruyama.pref.aomori.jp/

Transportation: Prefecture Museum of Art station 17:15 departure Nebutan bus → 17:30 Shin-Aomori Station arrival

Accommodation: Comfortable stay at Toyoko Inn Shin-Aomori Station East Exit

Best value accommodation experience

▼ Recommended here!
✔ Free breakfast service from 6:30〜9:00 even with room-only plan
✔ Local menu items also available at breakfast♪
✔ Great access from Shin-Aomori Station!

Toyoko Inn Shin-Aomori Station East Exit is a business hotel with attractive cost performance. It's a nice bonus that free breakfast is included even when booking a room-only plan! You can also enjoy Aomori-style menu items at breakfast.

Rest well from the fatigue of Aomori sightseeing and prepare for tomorrow's Hirosaki sightseeing.

For details, please check here.

Day 2: Enjoy cherry blossoms at Hirosaki Castle before heading home

※Source: Hirosaki Park Official Website(https://www.hirosakipark.jp/)

【Photo Spot】Enjoy seasonal spectacular views at Hirosaki Castle

Travel time: About 1 hour 10 minutes

• From Shin-Aomori Station to Hirosaki Station via Ou Main Line
• From Hirosaki Station, take bus #181 to Sakuragaoka 2-chome, get off at City Hall, 6-minute walk

▼ Key Points!
✔ One of Japan's premier cherry blossom spots in spring! Be moved by the overwhelming amount of cherry blossoms
✔ Boat service operates during cherry blossom season, allowing you to enjoy cherry blossoms from the water
✔ Reasonably priced admission at 320 yen

Hirosaki Castle is especially famous for its spring cherry blossom season, but you can enjoy beautiful scenery whenever you visit. The view of Mount Iwaki from inside the castle is also spectacular!

• Address: 1 Shimoshirogane-cho, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture
• Business hours: 9:00〜17:00 (April〜November)
• Admission: 320 yen (High school students and under free)
• Official website:https://www.hirosakipark.jp/

Return journey

Return to Hirosaki Station and take the bus from Hirosaki Station to Aomori Airport to return to Haneda.

Summary: Experience the best value Aomori trip

The 1-night 2-day Aomori model course introduced this time is the best value travel plan utilizing the special sale for SkyMate eligible travelers.

The appeal of this course:

• Enjoy Aomori's charms with one-way flights for 4,950 yen
• Fully enjoyable using public transportation even without a car
• Diverse experiences including seafood gourmet, history, art, and nature
• Efficiently visit Aomori's representative spots in 1 night and 2 days

Air travel allows you to shorten travel time and enjoy plenty of sightseeing at your destination. The special feeling of air travel that you can't experience with the Shinkansen will surely make your travel memories more impressive.

Why not take full advantage of the special sale period from September 1 to October 9, 2025, and thoroughly enjoy Aomori's charms?

Recommended hotels for Aomori tourism: For cost performance, try "Toyoko Inn Shin-Aomori", or if you want a more comfortable stay, check out other hotels in Aomori City.