Somei Yoshino in Aomori

Coming to Aomori for the first time from 20 to 26 April.

I particularly would like to visit some quieter neighbourhoods in Aomori where I can enjoy a somei yoshino bloom, such as along a canal or riverbank, a somei yoshino tunnel, an endless stretch of somei yoshino trees somewhere out there...

Understand that it would be easier to move around with a car in Aomori so will be renting one. Not getting out of Aomori. we just want to eat and explore Aomori leisurely this time.

Will be arriving in Narita Airport at 5.30pm. Aomori is our first destination after which we will come back to Tokyo for a few days.

What would be the best way for us to get to Aomori? Pick up rental car at Narita or somewhere else with a night stop along the way? Or get to Tokyo central to stay the night and start travel to Aomori the next moring, where best to pick up rental car then?

Will it still be cold in Aomori? Is a down or light down jacket necessary?

Any recommendations on good local eateries would also be appreciated. Thank you.

Understand that it would be easier to move around with a car in Aomori so will be renting one.

A car is generally useful to drive around the prefecture, but there could be some places, e.g. popular cherry blossoms spots, where public transportation can be easier.

What would be the best way for us to get to Aomori?

I recommend to take the shinkansen unless you want to drive 700 kilometers one way.

Will it still be cold in Aomori? Is a down or light down jacket necessary?

Expect 15 degrees +/- 5 degrees. Lower in the mountains.

Aomori is both a prefecture and a city.

If you only want to visit the city then public transport, walking and maybe a taxi could be convenient. No need to search for parking lot in areas full of cherry blossoms.
If you want to visit a bit farer places then renting a car in Aomori for a day is a good idea too.

You make it sound like you only want to go to Aomori in Tohoku and donft have time for the trip. Then either take a flight from Narita or the Shinkansen directly to Aomori (and back)
If instead you want to go by car, you should make it into a road trip if several days. Eg 4-5 days of trip through Tohoku to arrive in Aomori and 4-5 days on a different route back to Tokyo. Dropping off the car in Aomori and returning by train/plane might be possible but will incur extra costs

Plane or train to Aomori. No need to waste a day driving.
If wanting good cherry blossom, why wouldn't you go to Hirosaki for their festival?

I guess you have not booked any accommodations in Aomori prefecture. Hirosaki is most famous, but it should have no vacancy at all. Aomori city is a good candidate and you can find some.

At present, the full bloom in Hirosaki will be from 20th to 24th, then it will gone after 2-3 days.

You say quieter, at the same time galong a canal or riverbank, a somei yoshino tunnel, an endless stretch of somei yoshino trees somewhere out thereh. Sorry but I think you underestimate Japanese population and their love for Somei Yoshino. If there is very beautiful Somei Yoshino place, it should be popular and there should be crowds.

https://s.n-kishou.co.jp/w/sp/sakura/sakura_yosou?ba=02

You will find Somei Yoshino spots in Aomori prefecture. The most popular is Hirosaki castle, but there are many others, such as Gappo park in Aomori city, Ashino park in Goshogawara city, Cherry blossom road south of Mt. Iwaki.

I think your best bet would be JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass.

https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/pass/tohokuhokkaido.html

This pass is valid for 6 days. You may better stay one night around Tokyo and start using the pass on 21st. Usually nice sakura spots are close to the train station so you can go there by public transport. With this pass you can even go to Hakodate where Goryokaku park is famous for sakura.

Thank you everyone for your advices.

If I arrive at 5.30pm at Narita, where can I take the Shinkasen straight out to Aomori without the hassle and time to go to Tokyo Station? If its too late for me to catch the bullet train, where should I sleep for the night before leaving for Aomori the next morning?

I plan to visit the major cherry blossom viewing spots in Aomori. Was asking about quieter neighbourhoods or residential wards which never show up when you google for the top or best cherry blossom spots.

You could take the Shinkansen from Ueno station instead of Tokyo station.

But if your flight is long (or delayed) it might be better to either change your flight to continue on to Aomori by pane or take a Shinkansen in the next morning.

Hotel would be best close to Tokyo station.

You could take the Skyliner to Ueno and stay around there if you donft want to go to Tokyo Station. Personally I would probably pick Tokyo, as I find the area around the station easier to negotiate, and less grungy. I agree that the Tokyo Station area has better hotel choices (unless you are on a tight budget, but that doesnft seem to be the case in your situation).

Flying might be better.

Over the years, I have gotten lots of good information at tourist information centers. The people who work at them live in the area and will often know things that you canft easily find doing web searches, especially in English. You have to get them focused on exactly what it is that you want, or else they will generally send you to the famous places that everyone else wants to go to.

I have also had mediocre or poor experiences at some TICs , but I would say those have been in the minority. There appear to be at least a couple of TICs in Aomori, so if you donft get what you want at one you could go to another.