AOMORI -- A volunteer citizen's group is making efforts to get people to learn more about Aomori, organizing a tour and passing on local tidbits to tour participants.
Early one morning, 12 participants in a tour gathered at the Aomori Kanko Koryu Joho Center (Aomori city tourism exchange information center) near JR Aomori Station. The tours are organized by the volunteer group Aomori Machiteku. Volunteer guides introduce people to the city free of charge.
The tour guide this day, Yoshitaka Abe, was ready to head out to the streets with the 12 participants, who belong to a club for the elderly.
The walking route, which takes two hours or so, starts at the Shinmachi-dori street and heads toward the ASPAM facility, which deals with local information and products. The entire two-kilometer course also includes a stroll along the edge of Aomori Port.
They visited Narita bookstore on Shinmachi-dori. "This shop's store window is said to be the oldest in Aomori Prefecture," Abe smoothly told the participants.
"This place used to be a tidal flat. The name Yasukata is said to be derived from a sense felt by crew members of ships that are berthed there on stormy days," Abe explained, after they arrived in the neighboring town of Yasukata.
Abe showed old photos to compare Aomori city in the past and present. He also gave a brief quiz about dogu clay dolls and other monuments in the city, and did other creative things.
"I live in this city, but [his explanation offered details] I didn't know anything about it. There were so many interesting things, so I wasn't bored at all," said a 69-year-old woman on the tour.
In addition to this tour of the city's landscape, there also is a history and culture tour that goes to places related to Shiko Munakata -- a famous woodblock print artist from Aomori -- and a place related to Aomori's origin. A gourmet and shopping tour is also popular, and there are seasonal courses.
Aomori Machiteku was formed in 2010 -- the year the Tohoku Shinkansen line was extended to Aomori -- to explore possibilities for tourism. Volunteer guides show visitors tourist sites and secret spots in the central part of the city.
Over 9,000 participants so far
About 30 volunteers have registered with the group as guides, including five foreigners studying in Japan who speak English, Chinese and other languages. They give a helping hand to travelers from overseas.
The number of participants in the tours organized by Aomori Machiteku has totaled more than 9,000 so far. About 1,100 people joined the tours in fiscal 2017, which included many repeat customers.
When a large passenger ship anchors in Aomori Port, the volunteers guide foreign tourists at the request of the city government.
They also give lectures at elementary and junior high schools, welfare facilities for the aged and other places in the city, with the aim of conveying the attractions of the city to local people as well.
"Guides are missionaries to talk about local appeals. In order to inherit local culture, residents must know what the charms are," the head of the center, Masayuki Kudo, 54, said.
For tour reservations, call (017) 723-4670.
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