Seikan Renrakusen Memorial Ship, Hakkoda-Maru

Hakkoda-Maru was a cargo-passenger ship which connected Aomori and Hakodate Ports. Between its building in 1964 and the last voyage in 1988 due to the opening of Seikan Tunnel, it served the longest, for 23 years and 7 months, of all the Seikan train ferries and is docked in Aomori Port now as a museum ship.

You can look into the wheelhouse, radio shack, engine room, etc. which you normally cannot. Dioramas and videos let you learn about the history of the Seikan Train Ferry. The highlight is the vast space with rails for bringing in freight trains. A ship which can carry freight trains is rare in the world. A few train cars from the National Railway era are on display now.

Aomori Port reminds many of Sayuri Ishikawa’s hit song, “Tsugaru Strair Winter Scenery.” At Hakkoda-Maru-mae Plaza in front of the museum ship, there is a monument of the song. When someone approaches, a censor turns on the song.