Awashima Marine Memorial Hall

The first seamen training school in Japan, established in 1897 (the 30th year of the Meiji era) on Awashima Island, which prospered as a port of call for the kitamaebune ships ("northern-bound ships") since the Edo period. It produced many seamen but closed in 1985 (the 62nd year of Showa era). The building has been carefully preserved since then and is now known as the "Awashima Marine Memorial Hall", where valuable materials relating to ships are exhibited and open to the public.

The two-story wooden main building was built in 1920 (the 9th year of the Taisho era), and the classrooms and staff rooms are preserved as they are. There are many wonderful photo-spots in the school building that are characteristic of Taisho Modern. There are plenty of highlights in the hall such as long corridors and glass windows with handrails, and, most of all, the hall on the 2nd floor is magnificent. It may be also interesting to take a photo of the long corridor from a low angle. The unique color of turquoise blue on the exterior wall is used for the window frames inside the building as well, and it is recommended for portraits using the windows.

You cannot miss the various exhibits that will help you to learn about the history from the kitamaebune ("northern-bound ships") culture to modern ships. There are old anchors exhibited in the garden, so it is recommended to take a relaxing stroll. Listening to the story about the school from the island’s residents is another way to enjoy the trip to the island.