April 19, 2026

Aomori is one of the easiest cruise ports to navigate in Japan. The main docking area Shin Chuo Wharf is located right on Aomori Bay, directly in front of the city center. The iconic triangular building you see in the photo above is the Aomori Prefecture Tourist Center that has an observation deck with terrific bay views. Designed to resemble the letter “A” for Aomori, it is the city’s most recognizable silhouette.

One never knows what to expect when disembarking at a port and today we were greeted with the Aomori Sakura Marathon the annual long-distance running event celebrating the cherry blossom season that attracts over 3,000 serious runners. A very competitive group of international runners compete who love this marathon known for its scenic views and for not being as crowded as the Tokyo Marathon, like New York City and London Marathons with 30,000+ runners. A top team of volunteers kept everything organized making sure each runner’s gear was properly categorized for pickup after the race.

And Chongae got to pose with a cherry blossom a little late in blooming.

One thing we have noticed in our travels around the world no matter how traditional a child may dress they still all love modern technology. We were entertained with a shamisen concert before departure. The shamisen is a traditional Japanese three-stringed instrument resembling a banjo, played with a large plectrum called a Bachi. Known for its bright, percussive tone, it has been central to Japanese folk, theater, and classical music for centuries.

We have one more port in Japan to visit, Hakodate, before beginning the 7-day voyage across the International Dateline and arriving in Anchorage, Alaska. We will surely miss the unique places and wonderful people that we have met in Japan.

And Chongae will miss the cherry blossoms!

Thanks for traveling with us.