Without a car, sightseeing in Maizuru is quite difficult.
This time, however, I tried to visit Maizuru by train and on foot.
Make a reservation in advance for the “Navy Harbor Tour Boat.”
Nishi-Maizuru
I was staying at Seikirou in Miyazu.
Regular train departing from Miyazu at 8:57 a.m.
First, take the 8:57 a.m. regular train from Miyazu to Nishi-Maizuru.
Nishi-Maizuru Station
We arrived at Nishi-Maizuru station at 9:33.
The station is quite large.
I had a little over an hour to explore Nishi-Maizuru, so I headed north as soon as I could.
Ruins of Tanabe Castle
After walking about 500 meters, a magnificent gate appeared in front of the Maizuru Police Station.
These are the ruins of Tanabe Castle.
View from Tanabe Castle Museum
Above the gate is the Tanabe Castle Museum, and this is the view from there.
Manhole cover (Tanabe Castle)
At the museum, when I bought an admission ticket, I was given a manhole card of the Tanabe Castle Ruins. This is the first manhole card I got. (The photo is not included in this article.)
At the museum, you will learn that “Hosokawa Yusai was a great man.
Higashi-Maizuru
Take a local train departing from Nishi-Maizuru at 10:57 to Higashi-Maizuru.
The train arrives at Higashi-Maizuru at 11:04.
The train ride is short, but there are not many trains.
Daimon Sanjo intersection
The streets in the north-south direction in Higashi-Maizuru are named from Ichijo to Kujo, starting from the west. The street in front of the station is Sanjo.
The streets in the east-west direction are named after warships, from north to west: Fuji, Yashima, Shikishima, Asahi, Musashi, Hatsuse, and Mikasa. This is indeed a military port town.
The area between Fuji and Yashima is not named after a warship, but rather Daimon.
Go north from the station and turn left at the Daimon Sanjo intersection.
赤れんがパーク
An 800-meter walk from the Daimon Sanjo intersection leads to Akarenga Park.
The Akarenga Warehouses were built as warehouses and ammunition depots for the former Navy.
I had made reservations in advance for the “Navy Harbor Tour Boat,” so I made sure I knew where to go on the boat.
It was lunchtime, so I had “Fuyuzuki Kaizoku Curry” at the Park No. 5 Building Cafe.
I like spicy curry, so I wanted garam masala.
Atago at Kitasui mooring
Return to Daimon Dori (National Route 27) and go west, and you will see the JMSDF’s North Suction Mooring on your right.
You see an octagonal plate! It is an Aegis ship! The Aegis here is the Atago! Amazing!
Actually, I am a total know-it-all. I didn’t know anything about it when I came through here.
Besides, the time was about 12:40 p.m., and a missile had been launched from North Korea at about 12:02 that day. There must have been a lot of information flying around inside the ship. But the exterior was quiet.
Incidentally, we could not visit the North Suction Mooring on this day.
Gate of the Naval Memorial
I arrived at the Navy Memorial Museum about 1.3 km from Akarenga Park.
When I checked in at the entrance, I was given a name plate to wear around my neck, and was greeted kindly by two members of the museum.
Approach to the Main Auditorium of the Maizuru District Superintendent General’s Office
The Naval Memorial Museum is located in the main auditorium of the Maizuru District Superintendent General’s Office.
The approach to the main auditorium was lined with objects shaped like warheads.
Main Auditorium, Maizuru District Superintendent General’s Office
The main auditorium was established in October 1933. In other words, it is a building from before the war.
Standing in the main auditorium, I felt the weight of history.
In the memorial hall, there were various memorabilia and materials on display, including calligraphy.
Here, you can get a pamphlet called “Mamori of the Sea of Japan,” so be sure to ask for it. It will be very helpful in identifying the ship on your way home.
I wanted to visit the Togo residence, which is located beyond the memorial hall, but we were not able to visit it that day.
Maizuru City (Red Brick Warehouse) (photo taken on 2022/05/04)
After visiting the memorial hall, I returned to Akarenga Park.
Since the departure time of the sightseeing boat is 16:00, there is still some time left.
So I decided to visit the Akarenga Museum.
They hand out manhole cards at the reception desk, but I forgot to get one even though I remembered it until just before. Was the card “Akarenga Soko”?
On board a sightseeing ship
We boarded the sightseeing boat.
Since it had not been long since the accident at Shiretoko, there was a lengthy explanation about safety.
In addition to the captain, there were two other crew members, one of whom, the guide, was from the Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Used naval vessels
The guide’s explanations were maniacal. For example, he told us that this ship was in use and would soon be the target of an attack and sunk.
The knowledge that the Aegis will have an octagonal plate was also received from this guide.
The Navy people on board the destroyer were very friendly, waving to us on the excursion.
Higashi-Maizuru station
I was scheduled to catch the 17:02 train from Higashi-Maizuru, so I hurried to the station.
115 series train
I was able to board the scheduled train without incident.
Huh? Is this train the 115 series that I used to see on the pumpkin train? I miss it.
Walking data
Course 1: Nishi-Maizuru Station -> Tanabe Castle Ruins -> Nishi-Maizuru
Distance 1: 2.2 km
Time 1: 1h26m (including tour time, etc.)
Course 2: Higashi Maizuru Station -> Akarenga Park -> Navy Memorial Museum -> Akarenga Park -> (sightseeing boat around the port related to the Navy) -> Higashi Maizuru Station
Distance 2: 10.8 km (measured only on foot)
Time 2: 5h54m (including tour time, etc.)
