Cape Omazaki

As I wrote in the previous post, on 14th July hubby and I had visited Oirase Stream in Aomori prefecture. Next day, we visited Cape Omazaki located in the same prefecture. Cape Omazaki is the northernmost point of the axe-shaped Shimokita Peninsula and also of the entire Honshu Island. The cape is geographically located in Oma Town, which is a part of Shimokita Hanto Quasi-National Park. The cape looks across over the Tsugaru Strait to southern Hokkaido, where Hakodate City is visible on clear days. Shiokubi-misaki of Hokkaido located on the opposite shore is just 18 kilometers from Cape Omazaki. It is the shortest point between Honshu and Hokkaido.

Map showing geographical location of Cape Omazaki

On the night of 14th July, hubby and I stayed at a hotel in Misawa City of Aomori prefecture. The next morning we left the hotel at about 9 am and visited Cape Omazaki which is also located in Aomori prefecture. The cape is located 137 kilometers northwest of Misawa City and it took us about 4 hours to reach there by our car. When we were about 19 kilometers away from Cape Omazaki, we reached an observation point from where we got a beautiful view from afar of the tip of the cape. The rocky coast and the blue color of the majestic Tsugaru Strait left us breathless and seemed to welcome us to Oma Town. The strait was so calm that day.

Hubby standing next to the map of Shimokita Peninsula at the observation point

Mountain, rocky coast, and the tip of Cape Omazaki (indicated by red arrow)

The coast and the tip of Cape Omazaki

The rocky coast

I am standing at the observation point

On reaching Cape Omazaki, we parked our car at a parking area and walked up to the lookout site of the cape. The vicinity of the cape is developed as a park. The lookout site has several monuments and features several touristy photo opportunities. There is a wooden monument with ‘Shimokita Hanto Quasi-National Park Omazaki’ written on it. Oma Town is well known for tuna fishing industry. In fact, the town is famous all over the country as the base port of Ippon zuri (fishing one by one with single line rod and reel) style of tuna fishing. We saw an interesting monument of a huge tuna fish erected at the lookout site with ‘Oma - Town of Ippon zuri style of tuna fishing’ written on a nearby board. This tuna fish monument is very popular photography subject amongst tourists. In addition, another stone monument inscribed with the words meaning ‘this is the northernmost point of Honshu’ also stands at the lookout site.

Broad view of the lookout site of Cape Omazaki

I am standing at the lookout site

I am standing next to the wooden monument with ‘Shimokita Hanto Quasi-National Park Omazaki’ written on it

I am standing in front of the monument of huge tuna fish

Hubby standing in front of the monument of tuna fish

Hubby standing next to the stone monument with ‘this is the northernmost point of Honshu’ written on it

Hubby and the lower portion of the stone monument

Next we walked past the monuments at the lookout site, and reached several stone steps that led to shallow coastal waters of the Tsugaru Strait at the cape. From this angle, the monuments looked a bit weird as we could only see the back side of the monuments. In addition, we saw an observatory building at the cape that looks out across the strait. We walked down the stone steps, and the magnificent view of the strait from the cape made us realize that we were standing at the tip of Honshu Island.

The back side of the monument of tuna fish and an observatory building at the lookout site of the cape

I am standing at the tip of Honshu Island

Hubby standing at the tip of Honshu Island

Another view of hubby standing at the tip of Honshu Island

Standing at the northernmost point of Honshu Island, right in front of us we saw a lighthouse named Omazaki Toudai. The lighthouse is located on Bentenjima Island, which is a small island 600 meters off Cape Omazaki and is within the borders of Shimokita Hanto Quasi-National Park. The lighthouse illuminates the Tsugaru Strait at the entrance to Mutsu Bay. The original lighthouse was constructed in 1921. It was ruined during World War II but was reconstructed in 1953. It was fully automated in 1993 and is now unmanned.

Omazaki Toudai Lighthouse on Bentenjima Island

Another view of the lighthouse

Hubby and the lighthouse

Next, we walked leisurely towards the southwest of the lookout site area and enjoyed viewing the scenic cape, the lighthouse, and the strait. The water of the strait is so clear and clean. Walking further along the way, we saw a few boats at a small harbor for local fishermen. Afterwards we returned back to the lookout site area.

I am enjoying viewing the strait and the lighthouse

Water of the strait is so clear

A small harbor with boats

The cape is lined with many souvenir shops and restaurants. We went to one of the souvenir shops and bought a pair of cute frog dolls. Near this souvenir shop, we saw a few stalls selling grilled octopuses and squids. A stall owner told us that prior to grilling, octopuses and squids are hung up in the air and in the sun so that they dry out. We bought a grilled octopus tentacle and had it. It was delicious.

The lookout site of the cape and a few souvenir shops across the road

More souvenir shops

Colorful advertisements of various fishing ships and boats of Oma Town

We bought a pair of cute frog dolls

A stall selling grilled octopuses and squids

Hanging octopuses and squids

We had late lunch at a restaurant named Omanzoku located near the cape. The restaurant specializes in tuna fish dishes but offers other types of fishes and seafood as well. Inside the restaurant, we saw a few photo panels showing huge tuna fishes caught by the owner or people related to this restaurant. This restaurant was featured in a popular television food program named ‘Himitsu no Kenmin Show’. Seeing the beautiful pictures of various kinds of dishes on the menu made my mouth water. We had maguro-don (raw tuna slices over a bowl of rice) set and sea urchin sashimi in the shell itself. The food was extremely fresh and delicious.

Omanzoku Restaurant

Photo of a huge tuna fish is displayed on the wall inside the restaurant. The fish weighed 232 kilograms and was caught on August 29, 2010.

Logo of the television program ‘Himitsu no Kenmin Show’ is displayed on the wall of the restaurant

Front side of the menu

Back side of the menu

Maguro-don set

Sea urchin sashimi

Hubby having maguro-don

Hubby having sea urchin sashimi

After lunch we left Cape Omazaki area. We loved the scenic beauty of the cape very much. While walking back towards the car parking area, we saw a large colony of seagulls in a nearby marsh. It was an absolutely stunning view. We headed south towards Aomori City. On our way, somewhere along the rocky coast of Tsugaru Strait, we saw a wooden indicator with several boards showing directions and distances to Paris, Beijing, Seoul, New York, and Hawaii. We had a good laugh seeing such a funny indicator. It took us about 4 hours to reach Aomori City. At about 9 pm we checked into a hotel in the city and retired to bed immediately. The next morning we went to see rice field artwork in Inakadate Village of Aomori prefecture about which I will write in the next post.

Large colony of seagulls in a marsh

A funny wooden indicator with boards showing distances to Paris, Beijing, Seoul, New York, and Hawaii

Hubby standing next to the wooden indicator