26/10/2018 / Last updated : 29/01/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Michi-no-eki Futatsui and Lake Tazawa　田沢湖

Summer 2018, Juniko lakes (twelve lakes) are our destination for the day but when we arrive we are not impressed. So underwhelmed, in fact, that we circle the car park and leave. Michi-no-eki Futatsui Lunchtime finds us at Futatsui on route 7. This is a re-new michi-no-eki, open only about three weeks at this point. It is a very large affair, masses of parking and a good deal of open space around. The building itself is rather grand with a high timber roof of intricate rafters. The restaurant serves the usual suspects but is reasonably priced. The Yoneshirogawa (Yoneshiro River) flows behind it and there is a flight of broad steps […]

25/10/2018 / Last updated : 16/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Mt. Haguro, Dewa Sanzan Jinjya, by way of the stairs　羽黒山

Day 52, October 2016, We spend a very wet night, with the car rocking in the wind, but the morning rain is intermittent. The toilet in this road station has a notice requesting visitors to keep the place clean and there is a picture of a cute, cartoon lady with a big, smile happily cleaning the bowl. In reality, the elderly lady cleaning the facility is a sour faced, harridan. She looks daggers at a youngish woman, from a large camper van, who comes out of the Ladies with a dog litter tray. This sort of thing is, understandably, frowned on by local road station personnel and should be avoided […]

16/10/2018 / Last updated : 08/02/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Sakata-Domon Ken Gallery　酒田

Chokaisanso, Hotel. Day 51, October 2016, Wake early, about 15 minutes before the 6:30 alarm, to find D. peering out of the window trying to identify the birds chirping loudly outside. They are sparrows. Off for an early bath, only to find the rotenburo hogging, old man wallowing again. Luckily, he leaves and I have the bath to myself. Soaking, enjoying the cold wind on my face and watching the high, blue sky laced with white strato-nimbus (guessing) and with ragged, grey rain clouds racing beneath. I can’t see the mountain from this side of the building but there is a good view into the distance and a glow of […]

10/10/2018 / Last updated : 10/05/2023 d.d Festival

Aomori Nebuta 2018　青森ねぶた

Today or tonight is Aomori Nebuta, the main event for this trip. Unfortunately our electrical problem recurs, so we make for Honda in Aomori. Our plans are now disrupted as the car has to stay at Honda for the day. Before we abandon the car, we check the free camping at the ferry port. This is something of a morass so we write that off as an option. Being reliant on your vehicle for transport and accommodation causes problems if you have mechanical problems. On Nebuta night in Aomori, vacant hotel rooms just do not exist. Helpful Honda In the end we leave the car at Honda as they say […]

07/10/2018 / Last updated : 07/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Nakajimadai, beech wood and Kisakata　中島台、象潟

Day 49, October 2016, Yes the rain eased, but returned with a vengeance several times during the night judging by the drumming on the van roof.　The morning is damp but bright and very warm; we hang about so D. can check Higashiyuri road station’s local produce. Nakajimadai, Shishigahana Wetland We set off finally and drive to a beech tree and wetland area (Nakajimadai Shishigahana wetland) on Mt.Chohkai. Beware of bears signs abound as we set off for a walk through the beech woods, our anti-bear bell tinkling. The path is, as usual, along a wooden walkway and is very slippery due to the autumn leaves. I slip a couple of […]

04/10/2018 / Last updated : 07/02/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Tono Furusato village, Legends of Tono 遠野

Day 48, October 2016, The serious wind of the night has dropped and the morning is bright and clear but rather cold. Hot coffee for breakfast with Akita apples. D. looks around the Tono Windy Hill produce shop where some strange tree fruit that I have never seen before is on display. The Akebi, apparently, is about 8 to 10 cm. long and 4 or 5 in diameter. I am not tempted to taste it. Tono Furusato Village The interest of the shop exhausted, we move on to visit Tono Furusatomura, a village of old, traditional houses. This is another collection of buildings collected from various locations and put together […]

04/10/2018 / Last updated : 10/05/2023 d.d Festival

Hirosaki Neputa ’18. Inakadate Tambo Art　弘前ねぷた、田舎館田んぼアート

Bandaisan SA to Hirosaki BanEtsu highway – Tohokudo highway about 485km　　　　　　　 All day on the highway from Bandai san SA to Hirosaki. Arriving in Hirosaki, we check the Road Station Hirosaki. This has a busy market and although parking is limited in a the front, there is more space available at the rear. The toilets are better than the first impression suggests but we decide to check michi-no-eki Inakadate. Tambo Art at Inakadate 2018 Inakadate is a much better prospect from […]

02/10/2018 / Last updated : 29/01/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Aomori festival road trip 2018, Getting There.

Planning to attend the Aomori Summer festivals on a month long road trip but concerned about summer heat when sleeping in our vehicle. We take the highways to minimize the nights in hot southern prefectures. Also choose the route and overnight stops to keep to the higher elevations. Fukuoka – Yoshiwa SA (Chugoku highway) Kyushu highway – Chugoku highway 256.7km As a typhoon is sweeping down the length of Japan, unusually from Kanto to Kyushu, we delay our departure for Aomori by one day. Finally we leave around 8pm, when the remnants of the typhoon […]

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