Seikan Train Ferry Memorial Ship Hakkōda-maru, Aomori.

“Until the opening of the Seikan Tunnel in 1988, ferries were the primary means of travel between Honshu and Hokkaido, and Aomori served as the hub for travellers to transfer between train and ferry. With the opening of the railway tunnel, the ferries lost much of their importance, although car ferries continue to connect Aomori with Hakodate today. One of the former ferries, the Hakkōda-maru now serves as a memorial to the bygone era. After completing its final voyage in 1988, the Hakkōda-maru retired to Aomori Port where it remains permanently moored as a museum ship. One of its sister ships, the Mashumaru, has similarly been preserved in Hakodate.”