Aomori Port

Aomori Port was opened in 1623 by order of Tsugaru Nobuhira, the second lord of the Hirosaki Domain, with the goal of shipping rice collected as annual tribute to Edo (present-day Tokyo) by sea. Tribute rice was a system in which people paid rice to the domain in place of taxes, a common practice during the Edo period. Domain lords shipped rice to major cities such as Edo, sold it, and converted it into funds to support the domain’s finances. When the port was built, the area was known as Utou-mura, and there was even an idea to name it Utou Port. However, a forest of lush green trees along the shore served as a landmark for ships entering the harbor, and this is said to have led to the name "Aomori" ("blue/green forest"). Until the Seikan Tunnel opened in 1988, the port was known as a departure and arrival point for the Seikan ferries. Today, Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry and Seikan Ferry still connect Aomori and Hakodate in about four hours, with a total of 16 round trips per day—useful for travelers who want to drive to Hokkaido with a rental car. Aomori Port also welcomes large cruise ships, with around 20 calls per year.