Voyager Tree

Kashiwashohachimangu Shrine

Kashiwashohachimangu Shrine

Joenji Buddhist Temple

The receptionist and resident monk here were very kind and offered me some tea while my book was getting the temple signature.

Joenji Buddhist Temple marking, made in my Temple book by the local monk.

Bairinji Temple

Choshiji Temple

Kawanamu Temple

Sotokuji Temple

Seiunin Temple

Shodenji Temple

My local monk certification and temple marking in my temple book.

Akamon Temple

A local monk made the temple marking in my Temple book.

Erinji Temple

Eisenji Temple

This is one of many temples in Hirosaki. In this particular area, there are numerous temples back to back, each offering similar styles of decor yet all unique and beautiful.

Book signed by a local temple monk.

This Ramen was amazing! There was a great, small restaurant in front of the temple.

Beautiful place I randomly came across.

A nice shrine with a beautiful zen garden, located right in the middle of downtown Aomori.

I had to get this visit certified by one of the monk caretakers, of course. It’s quite common for visitors of shrines to have a book they take to each shrine and have a monk make the shrine’s mark in the book. It’s just a memoir and certified record of your pilgrimage there.

And, as always, my day of travel and pilgrimage through Japan ends with some delicious Japanese Ramen, this time with Karaage (fried chicken) on the side.

A nice aquarium in Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture.

Octopus (looks like an alien)

More Octopus pics (above)

Seal! (Cute little guy)

Penguins (loveable little creatures)

I wanted to take one home!

Jellyfish

Squid (I think)

Dolphins! (Super cool)!

This is a nice aquarium up north in Aomori, Japan. If anyone is in this particular area or near by, I would recommend it.

The Sannai-Maruyama is a famous site which had been known since the Edo Period. Excavation survey, which was started in 1992, revealed a large a large settlement of the Early and Middle Jomon Period (about 5,500 to 4,000 years ago). Many pit-dwellings, pillar-supported buildings, mounds, burial pits and jars, as well as numerous number of pottery and stone implements, wooden objects, bone and antler artifacts were discovered.

Given to it’s significance ahead, Aomori Prefectural Government decided to preseeve this site in 1994. We started the maintenance and public viewing project of Sannai-Maruyama in 1995, and the Jomon Jiyukan was opened in November 2002. Sannai-Maruyama Site was registered as a national historical site in March 1997, as a special national historical site in November 2000, and 1,958 artifacts were registered as important cultural properties in May 2003.

Aomori Prefecture will continue to preserve and maintain the Sannai-Maruyama Site as a park where visitors can experience the Prehistoric “Village” life of the Jomon Period.

(Ref: museum pamplet)

This was a pretty cool place. You can go inside the old homes and see how it’s set up. You really get taken back in time at this site.

The Aomori Museum of Art was designed by architect AOKI Jun, who took inspiration for the design from archaeological excavations on the neighboring Sannai-Maruyama site. Over narrow channels dug deep in the ground, like excavation trenches, a mass encompased by white brick is placed and it’s volume randomly shifted.

(Ref: Museum pamplet)

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Unortunately, no pictures could br taken inside yhe museum, so I only have a couple I snuck in from inside. It is an awesome museum with some great artwork inside!!!

And I had some amazing noodles afterwards in some mom and pop shop close by!

Seikan Ferry and Aomori City

Hirafu-maru, which began it’s operation as a railroad ferry in 1908, is the start of the history of Seikan Ferry. Since then, Seikan Ferry connected Aomori Port (Honshu side) and Hakodate (Hokkaido side) for 80 years, transporting 160 million passengers and 250 million tons of cargo. It’s total navigatiom distance is 80 million kilometers, which is equivalent to 2,019 circles around the earth.

While Seikan Ferry was the basis and symbol of Aomori City’s economic growth, al 12 boats operating received devastating damages, including sinking by air raid, during World War II. There are also other sad moments in it’s history, such as the “Toya-maru” sea disaster. The sound of the departure gong and paper tape stirred travelers sentiment, and dolphins could be seen swimming by as if racing the ferry boats. Seikan Ferry, which had been loved and enjoyed by everybody, dropped the curtain of it’s History on March 13, 1988, to meet changing times with the opening of the Seikan Tunnel, much to the disappointment of many people.

(Ref: museum pamplet)

These were the first class seats back in the day, when the ferry was operational. There was a 2 hour long documentary playing on a loop, on a tv screen in the front. Visitors are encouraged to sit here and watch the movie. I was walking around all day so I too, a quick 15 minute nap and proceeded with my own private tour. The seats are most def still comfortable, and they fully recline back.

This seems to be a spacious and nice quarters, although kind of creepy with that Japanese doll there.

This manakin scared the crap out of me! I didn’t expect to see someone before i looked in here, lol.

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This is a small shrine the crew members would pray too before every trip (or a recreation of it). There is a sign here that says the crew would pray to it before leaving on a trip, for the safety of the crew and passengers. It asked visitors to pay respect and bow once, clap your hands twice, make a wish and the bow respectfully and deeply after that.

A view of the Aomori bridge from the ship. It’s pretty cool how you can walk around top side, unescorted, and enjoy the view.

These manakins are very realistic!

A nice little park in front of the Ship Memorial. Japan has a ton of small and large parks all over, at least up here in Aomori Prefecture.

Hakkoda-maru:

Hakkoda-maru, which began it’s operation on August 12, 1964, had the longest service among the 55 successive Seikan Ferry with a period of 23 years and 7 months. It also played an important duty as the last boat of Seikan Ferry. Many citizens loved it’s bright yellow color, and today it can be found moored and displayed as the Seikan Ferry Memorial Ship near the former pier.

Main data of Hakkoda-maru:

Entire length: 132.0 m

Entire width: 17.9 m

Gross Ton: 5,382.65 tons

Total output: 12,800 horsepower

Passenger capacity: 1,286 persons

Number of vehicles that can be loaded: 48 vehicles.

(Ref: museum pamplet)