TravelBlog

Walking the Abandoned JR Shihoro Line: Horoka Station Ruins & the Phantom Bridge of Taushubetsu in Hokkaido Old JR Shihoro Line – Horoka Station Ruins These are the remains of the Horoka Station platform, where the old JR Shihoro Line tracks—last used in December 1978—are still visible. The old tracks, now overgrown with green, instantly brought the *Stand by Me* soundtrack to mind. You can follow the tracks all the way to the station ruins—but I stopped short after seeing a warning sign about bear sightings. Too scary to continue alone... I only walked a little way down the track ...

Visiting the Taushubetsu River Bridge Observation Point｜A Vanishing Bridge Beneath the Lake & Encounters with Wildlife Taushubetsu River Bridge Observation Point I stopped by the observation point where you can view the Taushubetsu River Bridge from about 750 meters away. This area is dotted with remnants of the old JR Shihoro Line—like an open-air museum of railway heritage. Getting up close to the bridge is apparently difficult, so there were many photographers with DSLR cameras lined up at the lookout. The gentle flow of the river, the surrounding grasslands, and the bridge that looks like ancient ruins—it all felt like ...

A Solo Stroll Through Hakodate’s Retro Architecture｜Exploring the Orthodox Church, Old Public Hall & Red Brick Warehouses Wandering Solo Around Hakodate Today’s the day I hop on a ferry from Hokkaido back to Aomori on the mainland. Before that, I set off from my hotel and headed into downtown Hakodate. When I first arrived in Hokkaido, I didn’t really get a chance to explore the city—so now’s my last chance for a quick wander before catching the ferry. Hakodate Orthodox Church When I think of Hakodate, I picture hills, churches, and night views. Since I’m leaving in the afternoon, the ...

My First Lucky Pierrot Experience: Hakodate’s Wildly Popular Local Burger Joint You Can’t Miss! Ah, the legendary Lucky Pierrot… When it comes to local food in Hakodate, this is the place to go! Lucky Pierrot (lovingly nicknamed “Lappy”) is a burger chain that only exists in southern Hokkaido, mostly around Hakodate. First impressions? The store’s appearance is WILD — loud, colorful, and impossible to miss even from afar 😆 And the menu? Insanely extensive. There’s no way one visit would be enough! Right next to the Bay Area Main Store is another bold local legend, Hasegawa Store — making this ...

Shinada Diner in Mutsu Is Incredible! Retro Atmosphere, 350 Yen Ramen, and Heartwarming Hospitality Shokudo Shinada After visiting Osorezan, I found myself hungry and in need of lunch—so I headed to “Shokudo Shinada,” a charming little diner in Mutsu City run entirely by a sweet elderly lady. Ramen for just 350 yen, fried rice for 400 yen, yakisoba starting at 250 yen… the prices here feel like a time warp! When was the last time you saw these prices? The whole place feels like you’ve stepped back into the Showa era. What a gem! Since it was hot out, I ...

Visiting Wakinosawa Wild Monkey Park – A Quiet Shimokita Escape to See the Northernmost Japanese Macaques Wakinosawa Wild Monkey Park Today, I planned to take a ferry from the Shimokita Peninsula to the Tsugaru Peninsula. With some time to spare before departure, I stopped by to visit the Japanese macaques of Shimokita. Wakinosawa, located in the Shimokita Peninsula, is known for its population of wild animals like monkeys and serows. The Japanese macaques that live here are the northernmost wild monkeys in the world and have been designated a National Natural Monument of Japan. Around 50 monkeys live in the ...

We Took the Mutsu Bay Ferry: From Shimokita to Tsugaru by Car The Mutsu Bay Ferry connects two major peninsulas in Aomori Prefecture—Shimokita and Tsugaru. It’s about a 1-hour journey by boat from Wakinosawa (Shimokita Peninsula) to Kanita (Tsugaru Peninsula). According to the owner of the Ryutobi Ryokan I stayed at, this ferry service is operated by just one captain. So if the captain is off-duty, the ferry doesn’t run! She told me that in the past, a guest couldn’t cross from Shimokita to Tsugaru because the ferry was suspended that day. I had taken a ferry from Aomori to ...

Visiting Ryomazan Yoshitsune Temple In Minmaya, Sotogahama Town, Aomori Prefecture, a local legend tells that Minamoto no Yoshitsune did not die in Hiraizumi as history claims. Instead, he secretly fled north and crossed the Tsugaru Strait from this area to reach Hokkaido. The famed Japanese author Osamu Dazai also visited this temple while writing his novel Tsugaru. From the temple grounds, you’re greeted with a sparkling ocean view. While you can climb a steep set of stairs from the main road, driving up to the parking lot is highly recommended—those stairs are no joke! From here, you can take in ...

The Northernmost Station on the Tsugaru Line: Minmaya Station I made my way to Minmaya Station, the northernmost terminal of the Tsugaru Peninsula. Though once a key stop, the station has been out of operation since a record-breaking rainstorm in 2022 devastated the Tsugaru Line between Kanita and Minmaya, and there are currently no plans for restoration. The unused tracks are slowly being swallowed by wild grass, and the station, devoid of passengers or staff, feels eerily silent. Is this the beginning of the end for Minmaya Station? Minmaya Station opened in 1958 as the final stop on the Tsugaru ...

Stay Where Dazai Osamu Once Did: A Cultural Visit to the Historic Okutani Ryokan and Tappikan in Cape Tappi Former Okutani Ryokan The former Okutani Ryokan, where famed novelist Dazai Osamu and woodblock artist Munakata Shikō once stayed, has been preserved and reopened as the Tappikan Tourist Information Center at Cape Tappi. Inside, you’ll find displays on Aomori-born artist Munakata Shikō and many handwritten calligraphy boards and artworks left by famous visitors. Admission is free—and to my surprise, I was even gifted a tiny “kingyo nebuta” goldfish lantern as a souvenir. So thoughtful! One of the highlights is a room ...