Aomori Museum of Art

Saturday, August 14

One of the many reason I love my husband is because of our common interest in art. He knows that I have a strange attraction to the macabre and he aroused my curiosity to magazines such as Juxtapoz and Hi-Fructose. Anyway, we were at an aquarium and he picked up a flyer for a limited-run exhibition on robots (another favorite Japanese icon of mine). Needless to say, I excitedly agreed to venture to Aomori City with kids in tow to see the exhibit.

There are two costs for the museum, the permanent collection (¥500) and the temporary exhibit (¥1,100). If both are viewed on the same day, there is a ¥200 discount, which is what we did.

Unfortunately, the museum prohibits the photography of any kind (even without flash) inside the museum L.

I would have relished the opportunity to take capture some of the images … a wooden and leather chair shaped in the form of a robot on one knee, old television and stereos reused to form a robot, the original humanoid corpse of Astro Boy, to name a few. Robots in the exhibit included both pre-war and post-war images. Original animated work, magna, and countless action figures of Gundam, Transformers, Tetsujin, Ultraman, Astro Boy and others fill the over five exhibition rooms.

Another exhibition that appealed to me was by Yoshitomo Nara, from Hirosaki City, is a prefectural native. Most of his work centers on children with eyes filled with sorrow. The museum manages over 150 pieces of paintings, drawings, and two installations.

The museum also commissioned Yoshitomo Nara to build two things, one of which is Aomori-ken, an 8.5m tall white dog outside the museum. Onlookers can see the statue from Exhibition Space F the inside the museum or from outside the museum. Outside viewing is not accessible for those in wheelchairs or with strollers because of the lack of elevators. To get to Aomori-ken dog, one would walk up one flight of stairs, walk across the building, then down two flights of stairs.

From October 9, 2009 through January 10, 2010, Studio Ghibli will appear as the museum’s next featured exhibit. If you are a fan of Hayao Miyazaki’s animated movies (Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away) and do not get a chance to go to Tokyo’s Ghibli Museum, I suggest that you take the time to see this exhibition.

Aomori Museum of Art Hours: 09:30 – 17:00

Closed: Every 2^nd and 4^th Monday, December 27-31

Phone: 017-783-3000; Website: http://www.aomori-museum.jp/en/

First of all, I’d like to say, be weary of the directions provided by the museum’s web site because they are COMPLETELY not to scale. If you are already in the city center, it appears you can take Namidate-dori to the museum, which you can, but it will meander through residential streets with very few English signs. From personal experience, taking Route 44 or 120 southbound onto Route 7 west are better alternatives.

Aomori Museum of Art getting there from Misawa AFB

http://traveling-tengco.blogspot.com/2010/08/aomori-city-maps.html

Follow driving directions numbers 1 - 15 from my Aug 2010 blog: Aomori City Directions and Maps.

Get in the left lanes for Route 7 toward Aomori Airport. Continue along Route 7 passing Routes 103, 120, and 44 – all of which lead you to Aomori City Center.

Do not fret if you cannot locate road signs for Aomori Museum of Art. Most road signs will read Route 7: Hirosaki and Fujisaki. In addition, follow signs for Sannai-Maruyama Site, as it is next to the museum.

Look for the Sannai-Maruyama Site and Aomori Museum of Art exit on the left side.

Turn right at the bottom of the hill. Follow signs to the museum. There are two parking lost. This first one is disable-accessible. The second parking lot is the main one.

Aomori Big Buddha

Saturday, August 14: Daibutsu at Seiryu-ji Temple in Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture

There are over 20 large Buddha across Japan, each one having its own special feature. The Aomori Daibutsu, built in 1984, sits at 21.35m, and weighs 220 tons. Its insō, or hand positions, symbolizes the state of meditation. Ryuko Oda, a Buddhist priest and founder of Seiryu-ji Temple petitioned for its construction as a reminder of gratitude to those who died during WWII and as a symbol of Buddha’s teaching: the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

We visited Buddha during Obon week, when Japanese honor and pray for their deceased family and loved ones. At many temples and cemeteries during Obon, twilight signifies Buddhist services for the dead, which include lighting ceremonies (Festival of Ten thousand Lights). Though beautiful, I just couldn’t bring myself to visit during that time because I would feel like uninvited guests Harold and Maude at a funeral. Instead our family visited the Daibutsu early Saturday morning and I was able to take some unencumbered-people photos.

Bridge to temple entrance

Pagodas metamorphosed via Korea and China, but originally took the form of a stupa in India. The five stories represent five elements in the Buddhist universe, from the bottom: earth, water, fire, wind, and sky. Following the five stories are nine rings. Thereafter, the topmost chamber is believed to house the Buddha’s remains.

Chōzuya: This small pavilion contains ladles and water. It should be used to wash hands and rinse out mouths before praying in the main hall. If you choose to follow Japanese custom, please make sure you dispose of your used water at the foot of the basin and not back into the clean water basin.

Colorful pinwheels on the right slope (may be purchased to) honor unborn children. A Bodhisattva stands on the slope to protect them.

Japan’s longevity rate means that more people live longer lives. Many older people who start to forget things (like the old man and woman who cling to the feet of the statue) pay tribute to Bokeyoke Kannon in hopes of living a longer, healthy life, dementia-free.

Panoramic view of Buddha grounds

Detail of Buddha's face and crown

Omikuki and ema are two types of lucky charms found at temples. Omikuki, characterized by white mini-scrolls of paper, hold prewritten fortunes.
Conversely, worshipers write hopeful prayers or wishes onto small, wooden tablets with pictures called ema.

View from the left path

Ichigan Kannon: Translated, it means one wish. Give monetary offering and ring bells.

This is the fourth Buddha I have visited. Other I’ve seen include:

1. Stone Buddha carved into mountain side 31.05m (1783 CE), Nihon-ji Temple at Nokogiriyama, Chiba Prefecture
2. Bronze Buddha 13.35m (1252 CE), the Great Buddha at Kamakura, Kanagwa Prefecture
3. Bronze Buddha 14.98m (752 CE), Todai-ji at Nara City, Nara Prefecture

For a list and description of other large Buddha statues in Japan, checkout the website, Japanese Buddha Statuary:

http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/big-buddha-japan.shtml

Aomori Big Buddha getting there from Misawa AFB

http://traveling-tengco.blogspot.com/2010/08/aomori-city-maps.html

Follow driving directions numbers 1 - 14 from my Aug 2010 blog: Aomori City Directions and Maps.

Turn left when you see the Buddha sign.

Aomori City Directions and Maps

Getting to Aomori City from Misawa Air Force Base via Michinoku Toll Road

My husband and I have driven to Aomori City both via scenic route and toll road. Although Aomori City is only 70km away, it takes about 90-120 minutes vial toll road because there are many winding roads that only permit one-lane each for two way traffic. It cost ¥830 each way (¥1660 round trip) via toll road. The scenic route is free and takes about 2.5 hours.

Since internet maps searches aren't useful to people who cannot read Japanese, I've decided to take photos for directions to the places my family and I visit in hopes of helping others stationed in Misawa City. Misawa Air Force Base offers some written directions and maps to most major tourist attractions, but it's easier to read and look for major landmarks when driving with children in the car. Pictures may appear grey because of inclement weather and not all images were taken on the same day.

1. Go forward out the main gate, through the first traffic light.

2. Turn right at the second traffic light to Aomori/Towada.

3. Continue on this street until it becomes a Y-intersection. Turn right.

4. Go forward and cross White Pole Road (one way street going from left to right).

5. Once you pass the traffic light, you are now on Route 8. The blue road sign will read Noheji 33km.

6. Continue forward past Kamikitacho Station.

7. Turn left at Highway 394. Circle K will be on your right. The blue road sign will read TOLL ROAD (Mi-chi-no-ku is in Japanese hiragana).

8. You are actually on Highway 173 (I know it’s confusing!). Go over the bridge past Maeda grocery store (red & white swan).

9. Very shortly, look for the blue road sign on your right that reads, Michinoku Toll Road. Turn right.

10. Continue going forward on Michinoku Toll Road, past Circle K and the Route 4 intersection. This is the last convenience store and public bathrooms for another 40km.

11. Continue forward. A blue road sign will note that you are on Highway 242: Aomori 40 km. It may feel longer because of the winding, two-lane road. After three tunnels, there will be a toll gate. Pay ¥830 per car and pass another two tunnels to Aomori City.

12. You are now on Route 123. Do NOT enter Aomori Expressway on your left (unless you are in a hurry to get to the city center faster and want to pay extra yen). Stay on this road until it comes to the Route 44 T-intersection.

13. Detail of sign at traffic light. Aomori City: turn left at the intersection. Asamushi City: turn right at the intersection.

14. Continue on Route 44 until you arrive at the Y-intersection (Shell gas station on the right). Aomori City: turn right on to Route 4. Big Buddha: continue forward on Route 44.

15. There will be another traffic light and Japanese blue road sign. Turn left on Route 4 for Aomori City (turn right for Asamushi City).

16. The road is two lanes and will widen to five lanes. Stay in the center and right lanes for Central Aomori. Get in the left lanes for Route 7 to Aomori Museum of Art, Hirosaki City, and Goshogowara City.

I know sometimes it's a hassle asking for and collecting maps from different organizations. So, I've compiled and scanned some maps I obtained from different Japan Tourist Information Centers and other on-line sites.

Click on the map for a larger view.

This Blogger site does not support PDF files so I was not able to upload them. If you would like a copy of the map sent to you in PDF format, please e-mail me.

Aomori City Downtown Map

Aomori City Downtown Map - Dining Legend

Aomori City Downtown Map - Shopping Legend

Aomori City Map

Aomori City Downtown Map - Hotels

Aomori Area Map

Aomori City Downtown Map - Japanese Version