By air
Aomori's airport is served by Japan Airlines. JAL flights arrive from Tokyo Haneda Airport, Nagoya Centrair Airport, Osaka Itami and Kansai Airports, Sapporo Chitose Airport, and Fukuoka Airport. Buses connect the airport to the main train station for �560. The bus ride lasts 35 minutes.
By train
Aomori is the northern terminus of Japan's Shinkansen train service. From Tokyo, Tohoku Shinkansen Hayate and Hayabusa trains run to Shin-Aomori station, from which regular trains shuttle passengers over to the more centrally-located Aomori station. The trip on the Hayate takes approximately 3 hours 40 minutes, including average transfer and waiting times at Shin-Aomori, while Hayabusa trains are slightly faster. Ticketed passengers are permitted to travel to Aomori station in the non-reserved car of any train, even if a limited express train heading towards Aomori departs first.
The regular one-way fare from Tokyo to Aomori is �16,370 on the Hayate and �16,870 on the Hayabusa, and so the better deal for the round-trip is to purchase a JR East Rail Pass (�20,000 for 4 non-consecutive days OR 5 consecutive days). If your travel plans include other parts of the country, such as Hokkaido, the better option will be the regular Japan Rail Pass. Note that the Green Car version of the rail pass is valid for Green Cars on the Hayate and Hayabusa, but any version of the pass will cover just the basic fare for the premium first class seating on the Hayabusa called "GranClass". Travelers using "GranClass" will be pampered with an all-leather seat resembling business class on an airplane, a personal on-call train attendant, high-quality meals and complimentary alcoholic beverages. Rail pass holders willing to partake in such an experience will have to fork over the limited express and GranClass fare (�16,490 from Tokyo). Without a Rail Pass, "GranClass" costs �26,360 between Tokyo and Aomori.
Hakucho and Super Hakucho trains run
