Aomori is an attractive modern city, bordered on one side by the Hakkoda mountain range and on the other by the sea and a fine natural harbor. Aomori enjoys mild weather throughout the year regardless of season. In winter the average temperature is approximately 2ßC and only rarely does it fall as low as -10ßC. On the other hand, snow is so plentiful that dealing with the yearly snowfall is one of the continuing challenges facing our city planners. Sitting at the southern end of the international waters of the Tsugaru Straits, Aomori is situated at approximately the same latitude as New York, Beijing, and Rome.