Hakkoda-maru Memorial Ship, Museum ship at Yanakawa Port in Aomori, Japan
The Hakkoda-maru Memorial Ship is a former steel train ferry with multiple decks showing the interior of a working passenger and cargo vessel. The hull contains a vehicle deck for loading trains, passenger spaces, an engine room, and a navigation bridge at the top.
The vessel was built to transport trains between Aomori and Hakodate across the Tsugaru Strait, a route that linked rail and sea transport. It served from 1964 to 1988 and has since become a museum ship shaping the Yanakawa waterfront.
The ship displays dioramas showing life at Aomori Station during the 1950s and illustrating the connection between maritime and rail transport. You can see how people and goods moved between different means of transportation and what role this port played in daily travel.
The ship is easy to reach from the harbor and can be fully explored in a few hours. Stairs between decks are steep, so wear sturdy shoes and watch for slippery surfaces.
The engine room contains eight large diesel engines that powered the heavy vessel. These machines offer a rare look at the engineering and force required to run such large ferry operations.
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