Carnival Panorama 18-Day Transpacific Cruise Long Beach to Yokohama
Aomori, Japan -- Sunday, September 8, 2024
Aomori is a port that we are familiar with. This is our fifth visits here and we have done most tourist spots in town. We have taken the train rides to Hirosaki to see the castle on our last few trips here, taking others who were with us but have never seen the castle. Obviously, we want to do something different on this port day here this time around.
Morning has broken...
The iconic A-Spam building near the waterfront.
Just like in Otaru, we noticed that the ship is not going to the normal path but turning to the right side of town instead. Another new pier to dock. We have docked at three different piers in Aomori and this time was the farthest away from the center of town.
New cruise terminal in Aomori.
Performers already setting up as we slowly get into port.
Locals, from kids to older adults, greeted us with beautiful music and dance as we got off the ship. This had to be the biggest group of greeters we've ever had. Too bad we did not have too much time to enjoy their performance because we wanted to get on the shuttle bus for our ride to the train station.
We were probably the second or third bus to the train station. The stop was at the West entrance, which is the back side of the station. We just had to get inside the station, up on the escalator, then took the walk way straight to the East Entrance where most of the buses are. Now that they have this new station, it is much easier to navigate and it is certainly a beautiful building.
We found the stop for bus #6 and got in line with other travelers who were also heading to the museum. After the 30-minute ride, we arrived at the front of Sannai Maruyama Special Historical Site. Admission fee was 400Y per person, if I remember correctly. Then it was a self-guided tour through the museum and the site itself. They do offer some guided tours, but unfortunately only in Japanese.
Here is the description of the site from their official web page. Please check it out and I won't bother you with all the history and detail.
Outside of the museum right near the entrance.
Here are some photos of the actual site.
Some burial sites.
Kind of reminded me of the teepees.
Inside the 'teepee'.
These reminded me of the dwellings in the South Pacific.
One last picture before we leave.
I must say that this is one impressive place to visit in Aomori! So glad that we got to go and visit. If we had more time, I would love to visit the Aomori Museum of Art which is just next door. Next time...
Then we took the same bus from outside the museum back to the train station and found this little restaurant that is not far from it. I found this online which was highly rated by locals. We have done the seafood bowls at the local seafood market and we were ready for something new. There was a line but it did not take long for us to get inside.
Waiting in line for some good food.
Samples inside the display case.
A small restaurant with good food and wonderful service.
Prices were quite reasonable.
The restaurant is right across from this department store where we usually go down to the basement to get local delicacy like dried scallop and seaweed to take home.
After lunch we went to the 100Y store (AKA Daiso) nearby and did some shopping there. The Daiso in Japan is much more worthwhile to visit with most things still 100Y each while the US they cost much more and with the added sales tax. There were many customers, mostly from the cruise ship, enjoying their shopping spree.
Can't miss the A-Spam building where we got some delicious apple pies and apple juice.
Walking along the waterfront back to the train station. Our travel mates did some heavy shopping at the pharmacy inside the train station before we got back to the shuttle stop for our ride back to port.
The line for the shuttle was crazy long.
Finally back on the ship!
Good that we were not in this line of passengers getting back on the ship!
Goodbye Aomori! See you next time!
What a beautiful view!
All the memories of our previous visits here rushed through my mind as we were sailing away. I wonder if they will make this pier a permanent cruise docking facility from now on but this is my least favorite docks in Aomori. Just too far away from town and they have to do something about the shuttles situation.
For video of our day in Aomori, please click here.
"Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other." -- Psalm 85:10
