Shimokita Peninsula

城市概覽

Shaped like an axe pointing west, the peninsula has a thin "axe handle" connecting the mountainous "axe blade" to mainland. The coasts maintain a thin scattering of population but the interior is as remote a region as you can find in Japan. The largest population center is the drab town of Mutsu.

如何抵達

No matter how you look at it, Shimokita is a long way from anywhere.

By air The closest airports are in Misawa and Aomori; from there you'll have to take a train or bus. Misawa has direct service to Tokyo and Osaka; Aomori also has direct service to Nagoya and Fukuoka.

By ferry Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry offers a service from Hakodate on Hokkaido to Ōma at the northwestern tip of the peninsula. There are between two and four services per day, depending on the season. Drivers and bikers are encouraged to make reservations in advance, especially in high season. The current fare for one foot passenger is ¥2200 one-way. There are no buses or taxi ranks direct from Oma ferry port; either reserve a taxi in advance, or ask the taxi drivers which are waiting for passengers who have reserved. Otherwise, there are bus stops in the town along a route leading up to Cape Oma (Oma-zaki). Buses are infrequent. Mutsu wan Ferry offers service from Wakinosawa to Kanita in Tsugaru Peninsula, crossing Mutsu Bay.

By train The JR Ominato Line from Noheji (on the Aoimori Railway) travels up the axe handle to Mutsu. Direct Shimokita rapid service trains are available from Aomori and Hachinohe (the former being the northern terminus of the Tohoku Shinkansen line from Tokyo). The Ominato Line can also be reached by taking the Aoimori Railway from Hachinohe to Noheji. The Japan Rail Pass covers travel between Aomori/Hachinohe and Noheji provided you do not make stops in between. The JR East Rail Pass that provides coverage for travel within the Tohoku area also covers travel on the entire Aomori Railway line so it is not subject to the same limitation.

By bus Direct buses run from Tokyo to Mutsu, taking over 10 hours in the process.

當地交通

Most tourists in the area either bring or rent cars. Getting around without your own set of wheels is not easy, especially off-season. Intermittent buses do connect the main towns. If you travel by bus, be sure to pick up an Aomori Card (available to passport-showing foreigners only) in either Aomori or Mutsu's tourist office for 50% discounts on travel. The other (often faster) option is hitchhiking. Be prepared for long waits, though, as many roads on the peninsula are very lightly trafficked, even in high season. On the west side of the peninsula, ferries run between Wakinosawa, Sai and several points in between.