Northern Tohoku Tour -- Day 6

Mutsu -- Osorezan Temple -- Yagen onsen -- Cape Ooma -- Hotogegaura Coast -- Aomori

itinerary

The last day is a Shimokita Sightseeing day.

Water of Rejuvenation (若返りの水)

Passing Sanzu River (三途の川)

Osorezan Temple

The scenery of Osorezan is very unique. A beautiful lake of Usori, a number of hells made by volcanic hills, and the temple -- each of them makes up one mixed scenery which is hard to find anywhere.

Yagen onsen (薬研温泉) was a very adventurous hot spring for mixed bathing, exposed to the nature and the stream. Felt so good!

海峡いさり火公園

North end of Honshu (本州最北端の地), Hakodate (函館) is seen over the channel.

Tuna-only bowl (まぐろだけ丼) here

Luckily we can eat tuna fished in Ooma only in this season (from Septermber to December).

Hotogegaura (仏ヶ浦)

Good-bye Aomori!

When I returned the car, they demanded 21,500 yen for the front spoiler, which was the maximum price I had estimated. I was so discouraged and walked Aomori harbor and downtown fow a while before getting on the midnight bus to Tokyo.

Northern Tohoku Tour -- Day 5

Miyako -- Jodogahama Coast -- Ryusendo Cave -- Kitayamasaki Cape -- Hachinohe -- Mutsu (stay)

itinerary

Jodogahama Coast (浄土が浜) was rough because of the previous day typhoon

Ryusendo cave (龍泉洞)

Kitayamasaki Cape (北山崎)

Kurosaki observatory (黒崎展望台より)

Sembei Soup (せんべい汁) here

Northern Tohoku Tour -- Day 4

Tamagawa-onsen -- Hachimantai -- Morioka -- Miyako (stay)

itinerary

In the morning after checking out Tamagawa-onsen, I walked around the source of spring part.
There were tens of people: some were sleeping in the small sleeping place for bedrock bathing and others were laying down reading books sleeping on a mat they brought in.

Very active volcanic steam emitting from the rocks.

Hot Spring of Tamagawa-onsen (water amount is largest in Japan!)

I drove my car up to the Hachimantai Plateau. On the top, rain and wind got strong because of a reaching typhoon. If it were fine, I could see Hachiman pond and Gama pond. Instead, the following was the only one picture I took.

Peak of Hachimantai

After leaving Hachimantai quickly, I drove down to Morioka.

Had cold noodle (冷麺) here

I went to South-Morioka Shopping Center to buy a few pairs of socks at Uniqlo.
Then, I drove route 106 from Morioka to Miyako.

Many kinds of fish from Sanriku Sea here

After all, it was a rainy day without so much activities. Kind of a rest day.

Northern Tohoku Tour -- Day 3

Juuniko Refresh Village -- Juuniko -- Lake Tazawa -- Mt. Akita-komagatake -- Tamagawa Onsen (Stay)

itinerary

Log houses in Refresh Village

Ao-ike (Blue Pond: 青池)

Wakitsubo Pond (沸壷の池)

Juuniko (十二湖) was for me the most disappointing place in the whole trip. Ao-ike was fantastic but overall every place was not so mysterious than Shirakami deep forest. I felt it was kind of typical place for sightseeing.

Driving through ocean-view Route 101

Driving through farming area

Arrived at Seven-color Tree (七色木) at Lake Tazawa (田沢湖)

Arrived at eighth station of Akita-komagatake (秋田駒ケ岳八合目)

Volcanoic part

Looking down the drive route to the station

Amida pond (阿弥陀池)

Way to Mt. Oname-dake (男女岳)

Reached the top!

Looking down Lake Tazawa (most impressive scene in this trip!)

Leaves already turned into red in highland!

Scenery of Akita-komagatake was one of highlights in the trip. Amida-ike, Lake-Tazawa, autumn leaves, alpine plants made it very impressive!

In the night I stayed at Tamagawa-onsen. I took the hot spring three times until midnight. The pure spring water is very acid (pH 1.2) but when it's hot you don't feel so stimulus. As it becomes cold in the air, you start to feel stimulus. You have to shower yourself before finishing bathing.
Many guests wore equipped bathrobe. It looks as if it were a hospital. Some stays many days to cure their body.
After a few days, I realized my skin became cleaner and felt my insides work fine. Even though those who studied medical science might not be able to explain, I can say the effect is real. I strongly recommend to visit this hot spring.

Northern Tohoku Tour -- Day 2

Hirosaki -- Shirakami Mountain Area (Anmon Waterfall -- Tsugaru Pass) -- Juuniko Refresh Village (Stay)

itinerary

Viewing Mt. Iwaki (岩木山) from the car

Stopped at a supermarket to buy foods for dinner

I visited Shirakami-sanchi Visitor Center, where they told me that Shirakami line is not paved and takes three and half hours and the way to Anmon Waterfalls was closed because of stone fall.

Third Waterfall of Anmon (暗門第三の滝)g

Second Waterfall of Anmon (暗門第二の滝)

First Waterfall of Anmon (暗門第一の滝)

Beech Forest of Shirakami Mountain Area

Had Shirakami soba at Aqua Green Village Anmon

Mother Beech Tree near Tsugaru Pass

From Anmon Waterfall entrance to Juuniko was unpaved way (called Shirakami line). I had to drive 42km through the road. It was just few days after hard rain and the road condition was not good. After the driving, I found the front spoiler had been removed somewhere in the line. It seemed that my car was caught in the dint made in the road made water of heavy rain. I was speeding a bit so when the car was bounding, the spoiler was damaged.

Tonight I stayed at a log house in Juuniko Refresh Village, where I realized I found seasoning and rice to cook here left home.

The two bad incident made me sad at the night. Went to a nearby onsen to comfort my feeling. Luckily it was a discount day for onsen fee.