From Hiking Paradise to Undersea Tunnel｜Summer Mutsu Thousand Mile Journey 【13】.

Oirase Stream is located in Towada City, Aomori Prefecture, about a 2-hour drive from Aomori City. It is famous for its clear streams, waterfalls, and different natural scenery in the four seasons. In fact, the best time to visit Oirase Stream is in spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November). In spring, you can enjoy the fresh green and cherry blossoms. In autumn, it is the season of red leaves. The leaves on both sides of the stream are colorful, as if you are in a fairy tale world. We went there in summer, and the lush vegetation and cool streams were refreshing. The Oirase Stream walkway is about 14 kilometers long. As a cross-country enthusiast, I naturally want to walk the whole journey. However, due to limited time, we only walked the most essence part. It is indeed a paradise for hiking. Along the way, we passed many famous waterfalls and attractions. The more we walked, the better we felt, as if we were crossing the primeval forest. Aomori also has a very special attraction, the Seikan Tunnel Memorial Museum. There are many tunnels in the world, but it is rare to build a memorial hall for a tunnel. The Seikan Undersea Tunnel crosses the Tsugaru Strait, connecting the Aomori area of Honshu, Japan and the Hakodate area of Hokkaido. It is 54 kilometers long and 23 kilometers under the sea. The Seikan Undersea Tunnel started construction in 1964 and was completed in 1987, taking 23 years in total. In the memorial hall, the general situation of the tunnel is introduced in a simple and easy-to-understand way through three-dimensional models, images, and display boards, and the engineering, materials, and models of the year are completely displayed to the audience to commend and commemorate this great project. In addition to static exhibitions, the museum also has Japan's shortest private railway, the Seikan Tunnel Tappi Shaft Line. It only takes 9 minutes to reach the specially opened tunnel work pit 140 meters deep under the sea, and watch how the tunnel is excavated. I have a plan to take the Shinkansen from Aomori to Hakodate next time and experience the convenience and safety of this tunnel all the way.